"The retail sector in the Middle East is experiencing growth catalysed by economic development, growing population and more discerning and loyal customers. Concept Media has a proven track record and a team of experts who are in touch with the developing trends of the retail industry and as such, we are confident that they will effectively engage key retailers in the Middle East region," said Ian McGarrigle, Congress Director, World Retail Congress.
"Today retail companies are striving to offer sophisticated retailing through alternative sales channels, which will continue to position them effectively within the market," said Aldrin Fernandes, Chief Executive Officer, Concept Media. "Changing behaviour and expectations of consumers demands constant monitoring, measuring and managing the needs of customers. Concept Media has always been involved in supporting initiatives for developments of the retail industry in the Middle East, making us the ideal partner for this event," said Mr. Fernandes.
Emap Communications identifies the tremendous potential in the Middle East, which makes it an ideal market with opportunities for growth through global sourcing, off-shoring and the development for modern retailing. "The participants will be keen to draw on the experiences of Middle East retailers, who have spurred growth in local economy, and made the region attractive for investment," said Pierre Pereira, Managing Director, RetailME.
The event will bring together leading retail industry personalities including Mohamed Alshaya, CEO of the AlShaya Group, who is also a member of the Congress Advisory Board, Sir Terry Leahy, CEO, Tesco, Anders Dahlvig, President & CEO, Ikea Group, Motoya Okada, President, AEON and José Luis Duran, CEO, Carrefour.
The event has also attracted support from the Majid Al Futtaim Group, Chalhoub Group, Damas, Paris Gallery and Istithmar Retail, all of who have confirmed their participation and will also be guest speakers at the upcoming event.
The World Retail Awards are also set to premier at the event, with the domestic, cross border and multinational retailers from around the world competing on a level playing field. The Congress is organised by Emap Communications, with Visa confirmed as the Congress headline partner and KSA (Kurt Salmon Associates) as Awards headline partner. Co-sponsors include CBRE, Deloitte and Oracle.
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Concept Media appointed Middle East Sales Agents for World Retail Congress
- United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, October 11 - 2006 at 12:14
- PRESS RELEASE
Concept Media and UK-based Emap Communications have signed a Memorandum of Understanding appointing the Dubai-based publishing company as the official sales agent for the Middle East and RetailME magazine as the official media partner for the upcoming World Retail Congress, to be held in Barcelona from March 28 to 30, 2007.
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Notes and media contacts
For more information about the programme content please visit www.worldretailcongress.com.For further information, please contact:
Kishani Gunasekera
T: +9714 390 3948
Nilanjana Ghosh
Tel: +9714 3903128
Katherine Jacques
Tel: +44 (0)20 7868 6754
WORLD RETAIL CONGRESS:
Created in direct response to the demands of retailers in both developed and emerging markets, and supported by major international players including Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Carrefour, Ikea, AlShaya, AS Watson and Best Buy, the World Retail Congress will bring together the world's retail leaders for high-level debate with international policy makers. The aim is to drive growth in the global retail economy, promote the benefits of global retail excellence and gain sustainable, competitive edge in domestic and international markets. With thousands of key retail professionals and politicians expected to attend, the focus will be on discussing and influencing the issues for change.
THE ORGANISERS:
Emap is one of Europe's largest and most influential media companies whose purpose is to create 'must-have' information and entertainment. It employs around 5,500 people based in over 50 offices in the UK, France and around the world.
Emap is the largest organiser of trade exhibitions in the UK, the second largest conference organiser and the second largest trade magazine publisher.
CONCEPT MEDIA:
Concept Media is a UAE-based publishing house that offers a variety of publications across various industry segments.
RetailME, the flagship magazine, is the region's leading business retail magazine operating under license from Emap Communications. The company is also the publisher of the Dubai Health Directory - the first official directory of the Department of Health and Medical Services and has also recently partnered with Emirates Post to publish their first directory.
Concept Media represents US-based Offshore Engineer and Singapore-based Asian Oil & Gas in the Middle East. Millionaire, a bi-monthly luxury lifestyle publication is a recent addition to its portfolio.
Based in Dubai Media City, Concept Media is a member of Concept Group a provider of integrated marketing communications through its group companies.
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS:
- Mohamed Alshaya, CEO, Alshaya Group
- Kishore Biyani, MD, Pantaloon
- Eric Broussard, VP, Amazon Services Europe
- Ian Cheshire, CEO, B&Q
- Anders Dahlvig, President & CEO, Ikea Group
- Tony DeNunzio, Exec. Chairman, Maxeda, Formerly Vendex KBB
- José Luis Duran, CEO, Carrefour
- Pablo Isla Álvarez de Tejera, Deputy Chairman & CEO, Inditex
- Isak Halfon, Executive Vice President International Expansion, Mango
- Gilbert Harrison, Chairman, Financo
- Stephen Hoch, Patty & Jay H Baker Professor of Marketing, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
- Andrew Jennings, COO & President, Saks Fifth Avenue
- Bijou Kurien, President & Chief Executive-Life Style, Reliance Industries
- Sir Terry Leahy, CEO, Tesco
- John Lovering, Chairman, Debenhams & Somerfield
- Terry Lundgren, President, Chairman & CEO, Federated Department Stores
- Yazgan Mussainf, Principal Retail Industry Specialist, IFC, World Bank Group
- BS Nagesh, Customer Care Associate & MD, Shoppers' Stop
- Motoya Okada, President, AEON
- Jim O'Neill, Head, Global Economic Research, Goldman Sachs International
- Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary General, UNCTAD*
- David Perdue, Chairman & CEO, Dollar General
- Jorge Pont, Assistant to the Chairman, Director of International Affairs, El Corte Inglés
- Alan Roberts, Chairman, Ethical Trading Initiative
- Marian Salzman, Executive Vice President, JWT
- Matt Rubel, CEO, Payless Shoes
- Arvind Singhal, Chairman, Technopak
- Ravi Thakran, Group Director, South Asia, LVMH
- Lukas Casey, Co-Head, IFC Retail Hotels and Property Team, World Bank Group
- Claudio Del Vecchio, Chairman & CEO, Brooks Brothers
- Joseph Wan, CEO, Harvey Nichols
WORLD RETAIL CONGRESS ADVISORY BOARD:
- Mohammed AlShaya, Chairman, AlShaya Group
- David Bosshart, GDI
- Anders Dahlvig, CEO, Ikea
- Malcolm Dalgleish, Managing Director, CB Richard Ellis
- José-Luis Duran, CEO, Carrefour
- Xavier Durieu, Secretary General, Eurocommerce
- Steven Goh, Chairman, Retail Asia
- Gilbert W. Harrison, Chairman, Financo
- Lawrence Hutter, Managing Partner Global Consumer Business, Deloitte
- Maureen Johnson, MD, WPP The Store
- Sandy Kennedy, President, RILA
- Christopher Knee, International Association of Department Stores
- Alfonso Merry del Val, Director, Telefonica and former Chairman Continente and President Carrefour Spain
- Lucy Neville-Rolfe, DCA, Tesco
- Stuart Rose, Marks and Spencer
- Arvind Singhal, Chairman, Technopak (India)
- Mark Olbrich, Chairman, Komex Ltd
- David Shriver, Director Group Financial Communications, Carrefour
- Dan Stanek, Executive VP, Retail Forward
- Stephen Sunnocks, European President, Gap
- Richard Traish, MD Europe, KSA
- Ian Wade, CEO, AS Watson
- Galen Weston, Chairman and President, George Weston Group
- Bob Willett CIO, Best Buy
Posted by Anne-Birte Stensgaard, Senior News EditorWednesday, October 11 - 2006 at 12:14 UAE local time (GMT+4)
Replication or redistribution in whole or in part is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AME Info FZ LLC / Emap Limited.
This article was updated on Tue Oct 31 2006.
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