Meet The 2023 Speakers

Loek Berendsen has been the Global Strategic Advisor - Digital Customer Experiences Stores with IKEA since October 2022, based in The Netherlands. He is providing thought leadership and perspective, for the adoption of new technologies and / or trends where appropriate, and develop/deliver a 'Physical Meeting Points' strategy that works within the IKEA franchise setup, with key responsibilities in digital, omnichannel and customer experience. As a global omnichannel strategist and retail transformation expert Loek's knowledge revolves around different pillars all focused on omnichannel and unified commerce.

Nick King, as the Market Research & Insight Director at Auto Trader, analyses and interprets the trends in consumer adoption of technology and what this means for manufacturers and retailers. By doing so, can demonstrate strategies for customer acquisition and retention through digital and traditional offline channels. He has a particular focus on best practice in digital retailing today; how to stand out in digital marketplace - what are successful retailers doing today to win and; what will be the must have technologies - AI, VR, augmented reality.

Graham Johnston recently joined the Donaldson Group as their Retail & Distribution CEO, bringing together the retail, eCommerce and distribution businesses. He was previously the Senior Director for Omnichannel Customer Support & Transformation at Asda and formally headed up omnichannel transformation for Three UK. For the past 10 years, Graham has led large-scale transformations in customer interactions, focussed on innovation to bridge the gap between physical and digital. Graham also hosts his own podcast series 'Think Omnichannel' where he speaks to fellow Omnichannel experts about the use of digital innovation to create better customer experiences.

Moses Rashid is the Founder and CEO of The Edit LDN - a global online marketplace for limited sneakers, streetwear and collectables. Having successfully founded and established companies in digital advertising and hospitality, Moses turned his personal passion for sneakers from a hobby starting in his bedroom in Jan 2020, into a multi-million pound global online business, with three large retail concessions spaces in both Harrods and Galleries Lafayette, in just two short years. Featured in Forbes, The Times, GQ, Hypebeast and more - Moses & The Edit LDN are an authority in the limited sneaker space, globally.

Jessica Christenson has over 15 years of consultancy experience within retail and technology. Her diverse experience has focused on global, high-growth, start-up digital retailers and the technology innovators who enable them across the US, UK, Europe and Australia. Before joining Mirakl to lead the sales team in 2022, Jessica spent six years scaling Zalando's successful marketplace via Partner Program, including integrators Tradebyte and Anatwine. She carries with her hands-on knowledge on how to create new revenue channels through platform models, such as marketplace and dropship models based on her expertise and understanding of the industry's landscape, trends and competitors within Europe.

Angeliki Galanopoulou joined Google in 2018, where she has been working with omnichannel retailers ever since. She is consulting partner on how to build a customer-first strategy and drive profitable growth through paid media. Angeliki has over 10 years of experience in digital marketing and outside of her day-job, she coaches and mentors small business owners on how to digitise their businesses.

James Gentile is a proven category expert in the design of bespoke network solutions based on current market innovations, with 25 years’ experience in the IT and technology industry. In his role as a Solution Manager at Exponential-e, James partners with sales teams to develop solutions using the customer’s requirements/pain points and transforms them to business outcomes. His work covers SSE/SASE, SD-WAN, Ethernet networking, internet services, LAN & Wi-Fi, and cyber security.
He believes that leading edge technology delivers true customer value when the technical design process has succeeded in getting beneath the subtleties of a problem to reach the right solution. Before joining Exponential-e in 2013, James worked for 13 years as a solutions architect at a global telecommunications company, responsible for a broad range of designs ranging from network and switching to Cloud computing.

Geoff Bull has been the Chief Marketing Officer at Swyft since its launch in April 2020, where he is responsible for building the Swyft brand, delivering amazing customer experience, along with driving performance and business growth. Swyft Home is a fast growth, VC backed, DTC start-up that's on a mission to change the furniture market. Geoff has 17 experience years leading teams in marketing, digital marketing, brand marketing, digital product development and digital strategy, for Wiggle, Johnlewis.com, MORETH>N, Chain Reaction Cycles and Riverford.

Lee Jones is the Chief Executive Officer of Worldline Merchant Services UK Limited and, alongside his team, has an unparalleled track record of helping organisations deliver a reliable, secure and fuss-free checkout experience. Having held a variety of leadership roles with market leading technology companies over a 20-year period, Lee is passionate about driving solutions that deliver real value to his customers. Leading Worldline Merchant Services UK Limited into new markets, where the introduction of cashless payments (such as mobile payments) is just starting to emerge, while supporting existing customers in their ambition to meet and exceed shopper expectations, is something which highly interests Lee. Lee is proud of the trust customers have placed in Worldline Merchant Services UK Limited and his team. Being able to help organisations reduce the cost, complexity and burden of PCI while assuring their revenues and enabling them to increase their customer satisfaction scores is at the heart of Worldline Merchant Services UK Limited.

Within his current role at Bella Freud as Marketing Manager, Joseph O’Donnell looks after all digital marketing, ranging from brand communications to CRM. He works closely with the Heads of Commerce and Creative Director to tell their brand story. In his time at Bella Freud, the business has grown to more than double its annual revenue, with a strategic focus on ROI through digital media and the introduction of customer acquisition methods with marketing in-store, customer retention, and VIP/PR/influencer outreach.

Gareth Jones is Head of eCommerce at Pour Moi, a fast-growing fashion company that wants to bring the feeling of being fabulous to customers all over the world. As a digital enthusiast, Gareth is well versed in the significance of both an online presence and the technology that can support it. As a result, he knows just what steps must be taken to offer a white glove experience that drives growth and reputation. Since joining Pour Moi, Gareth’s comprehensive on-site expertise and website overhaul contributed to a 150% growth in sales on Black Friday from the previous year. From personalisation to UX and digital transformation, Gareth has a thorough understanding of eCommerce optimisation and hands-on experience of driving success through his initiatives.

Octavia Benham has been at Dreams for six years, joining after graduating from King's College London. Moving from the merchandising team into eCommerce in 2019, she helped steer the online team through Covid, going on to fill the role of Head of eCommerce in 2021. Growing the team over the last two years, her focus remains on optimising the customers experience online whilst driving trade, online and in store, to navigate through an ever-changing retail landscape.

Jim Edwards has 12 years of experience bringing entrepreneurial behaviours into blue-chip organisations. Having worked at Unilever, Allianz, a start-up incubator in Munich, Germany, and now Kimberly-Clark, he understands what it takes to ideate, experiment, and develop propositions within the spaces of horizon 1, 2 and 3 innovations. With experience also working in a start-up, Jim knows both worlds and can help larger organisations leverage the benefits of working with their external ecosystem and bring the outside, in.

Krisi Smith is the visionary behind the incredible tea innovation at Bird & Blend Tea Co. Nearly nine years after launching, she continues to tirelessly work in an incredibly hands-on way to grow the business, do good in the world and create magic through tea. Now with a team of 100+, 15 retail stores & a thriving international online store, Bird & Blend is leading the way in tea innovation in the UK.

Vishal Talreja has been a senior operator in the retail and hospitality industry for 20+ years. He has been leading Itsu's property strategy since 2018 and utilising his in-depth sector knowledge, which has resulted in many successful openings. Prior to Itsu, Vishal worked with leading businesses including Yo!Sushi, KFC and Yum! Brands.

Ellie Starr has been the Senior Strategic Partnerships Manager at Just Eat since 2019, where she is responsible for leading a sales team to acquire national branded restaurant groups, grocery & convenience brands and retailers onto the Just Eat platform. Previous roles included Strategic Partnerships Manager with Debut and National Sales Team Manager at Wowcher.

Bunty Stokes is currently the Consultant Managing Director at Asquith, eco activewear clothes for yoga. She was Managing Director of Sunuva from 2015-2020. Over the five years that Bunty was there, the company looked to leveraging the sales opportunity in ecommerce - not just in wholesale but to grow and develop the team around that, and scale up for future growth. Prior to that, she ran the UK business at Vente-Privee from 2009-2011, after which she set up her own consultancy firm and worked with companies including eBay and Cocosa. Bunty was previously Sales & Merchandising Director for Brandalley.co.uk from 2007- 2009 and also worked for TKMaxx owners TJX for five years from 2002- 2007, as a Senior Buyer and later as a Divisional Merchandise Manager.

Janis Thomas is responsible for leading eCommerce and marketing at Look Fabulous Forever, the innovative DTC cosmetics and skincare brand designed to meet the needs of older women. She is an expert in driving digital marketing to deliver increased revenue and profitable growth in ecommerce & subscription businesses and she has grown diverse brands from Birchbox to Playboy. Janis has held senior consumer marketing roles in eCommerce, digital media and entertainment businesses.

Charlotte Rees-John is the Head of of Consumer Goods and Services sector. at Irwin Mitchell, as well as being an Employment Partner with over 20 years’ experience. She acts for a number of key clients including Costa Coffee, PureGym and McArthurGlen, and has worked for many other well-known brands in the consumer sector including Mothercare, McDonald’s, Arcadia Limited, Whitbread, Top Shop and Pets at Home, to name just a few. Charlotte advises on all areas of employment law but is particularly recognised for her commercial advisory work, advising on large scale restructures involving collective consultation, multi-jurisdictional project work, TUPE and matters involving potential brand damage/media interest. She also takes a keen interest in diversity and inclusion, (D&I) and has worked with a number of clients to create and implement clear D&I Strategies as part of their overall ESG commitments. Charlotte is passionate about the consumer sector and leads the full-service consumer team, overseeing the client relationships - helping to develop and win new opportunities for her colleagues, as well as for clients through referrals and networking opportunities. She has considerable experience in franchising, having advised both franchisees and franchisors in relation to brand protection through establishing clear, value driven, people practices. She has also advised and supported brands looking to continue their success in the UK from overseas. Charlotte is recognised as a ranked lawyer by Chambers and Partners and by her clients as being a commercial, straight talking and as a trusted legal advisor.

Tim Stevens is an experienced operations manager with a demonstrated history of working in the retail industry. He is currently Head of Logistics at Women's Best since, a womens sportswear and nutrition brand, based in central London. He was previously Head of Logistics at Bulk for nearly three years and before that, had roles at Menzies Distribution and Find Me a Gift, as Operations Manager.

Andy Letting is currently the Senior Programme Lead - Innovation with Unilever, he was previously Group Apps & Retention Lead at Kingfisher. A senior digital professional, he is a results driven and commercially focused senior-level digital executive with extensive senior management experience, successful in strategic leadership, change management, digital channel development in the media, gaming and travel sectors.

Linda Campbell entered the retail sector 25 years ago and in that time has gained vast experience across the beauty sector globally across physical stores and online retail. As UK Managing Director, Linda was responsible for one of The Body Shop's biggest global markets, operating three channels with over 240 Retail Stores, circa 2000 Body Shop at Home Consultants and the UK e-Commerce division. Linda has always been passionate about beauty and began her retail career with Estee Lauder then climbing the ranks of the UK beauty sector in roles at Space NK and L'Oreal and most recently The Body Shop. Linda is driven by the potential and vision of entrepreneurial women in the beauty sector, describing Anita Roddick and Space NK founder Nicky Kinnaird as her retail inspirations. She is also a fierce advocate for, and example of, the potential of the retail sector to offer an opportunity to have a career path from shop floor to the boardroom

Rowland Gee has been the Chairman of The Board at Cell Workout Athleisure for the past four years. He is an experienced retail manager with over 35 years of public company experience in the retail, marketing and design sector - he was CEO of Moss Bros Group from 1989-2002 and helped develop Hugo Boss retail operations in the UK to 17 stores. With two co-authors, Rowland wrote The Retail Start Up Book published by KoganPage, which was released in 2019 and is specifically targeted at the retail start up community. He has also founded Grey4Gold.com (G4G) and has recently completed a contract to mentor retail businesses in Wales, and with Cherwell District Council, Shropshire Councils on re-invigorating town centres and on the restoration of the UK high streets.

Aron Cody-Boutcher was CMO of Onbuy until November 2021 and has over 15 years of experience in senior marketing and ecommerce roles. He was previously Chief Customer Officer of Seasalt, where he drove record growth figures amidst a tough retail environment. Aron has also managed UK and Ireland ecommerce sales for Nisbets and developed global marketing infrastructure for Clarks.

Dan Saunders was the Pure Play eCommerce Channel Manager at Stanley Black & Decker until January 2023, where his main duties include to plan and execute local market eCommerce and digital marketing to increase sales, grow online channels, and grow new and existing online customers. Work 'hand in glove' with the commercial teams to ensure a seamless consumer journey and an optimised brand experience. Define the e-strategy for existing brick and mortar retail, plus define the strategy and identify key local market 'pure play' e-tailers they should be working with. Dan has worked in marketing for 18 years; within digital marketing he has worked closely with the directors and heads of service to identify new business opportunities and strategies. Alongside this, Dan works on his own eCommerce and Amazon store promoting other products and services. Having an in-depth understanding of different markets and competitors in the area to maintain a competitive advantage which is used to work alongside key stakeholders in managing the translation of the business strategy into clear plans.

Headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, Darren Williams is the Global Head of Leasing for Impress, leading site selection, negotiation and legals to lease in all seven markets, with more to follow as they continue their rollout. He is the Founder of Williams Harding Consulting working with start-ups, expanding and distressed businesses, primarily in retail and hospitality but also outside of these sectors. Darren is also a Non Executive Chairman of a men's skincare company Scrubd and a Trustee at Action 4 Youth. Darren has formally held senior roles in several businesses in retail and hospitality, including Hotel Chocolat and Unilever. He currently holds two ambassadorial roles, being a Schools Role Model for Stonewall, and fundraising and awareness for Target Ovarian Cancer, Williams Harding also partners with a Bulgarian dog rescue centre.

David Kohn was the Customer & eCommerce Director at Heal's from 2016 to 2021. He was previously the Multichannel Director at Snow + Rock for five years and prior to the that he was Head of eCommerce at Waterstones for three years. David is a multichannel leader with a rare combination of board-level online and offline commercial experience. Capable of developing winning strategies then delivering against them, he has a passion for the customer allied to a passion for results.

Ayaz Rafael Ibrahimov is the Co-Founder of Sellier, the UK's fastest-growing preloved luxury resale platform specialising in ultra-curated ready-to-wear, bags and accessories. With multiples stores in London and Monaco, Sellier is committed to disrupting a traditionally conservative industry with its unique social media footprint and viral marketing strategy. As a former City lawyer, Ayaz has helped to build Sellier with his business partner and sister from a simple bricks-and-mortar store in London to one of the most highly regarded players in the industry. Having been featured in Vogue, Harpers Bazaar and Elle, Sellier is held up as an example of pre-loved scaled done right (profitably).

David Gardiner works in the retail IT space, typically with large enterprise retailers, most often with responsibilities in the enterprise and technical architecture or development streams of the organisation. He was Head of Back Office at Made.com for just over four years, from 2018-2022. As a Head of Department reporting to the CTO, he was responsible for defining and delivering the back office technical strategy and roadmap. David led the global team (UK and Europe) that designed, built, tested and implemented all internal back-office systems (and supported bought or SaaS systems) covering order, inventory, product lifecycle, warehouse, drop ship, supply chain and customer service.

James Coughlan has worked for some of the biggest organisations driving compelling digital transformation across the retail, telco, technology, transportation and entertainment industries. This includes both owning and consulting for PE & VC backed startup's delivering large scale digital strategy execution, e-commerce and commercial marketing. Companies include Vodafone, HMV, Bullitt Group, Universal Music and Northgate plc.