Shaping the future of
retail

Yasser Taher
Chief Executive Officer
MAGRABi Retail

As the CEO of MAGRABi Retail Group, I am responsible for overseeing the operations and growth of the largest eyewear retailer in the Middle East and Africa, with over 200 stores across 5 countries. I have been leading this family-owned business since January 2023, after serving as the COO for 14+ years and the VP of Business Development for three years.

My core competencies include strategic planning, business development, retail management, negotiation, and entrepreneurship. I am passionate about delivering excellence in customer service, product quality, and social impact. I hold a Bachelor of Commerce from Ain Shams University, a Diploma in Diamond Grading from the International Gemological Institute, and an Advanced Management Program certificate from Harvard Business School. I also completed an executive education course on Leading Businesses into the Future at London Business School in 2015.

Sunil Nair
Chief Information Officer, SVP – Business Technology & Analytics
Majid Al Futtaim Retail

Sunil is the Chief Information Officer and SVP – Business Technology & Analytics at Majid Al Futtaim Retail, and a globally recognized leader in digital transformation with more than 28 years of impact across the retail and consumer sectors. He has driven large-scale transformation programs across multiple regions, reshaping omnichannel, e-commerce, data, and supply chain capabilities for some of the most influential retail brands.

Known for translating strategy into execution, Sunil has built a reputation as a trusted board-level advisor, guiding C-suites through technology-enabled growth and enterprise-wide change.

Having earned multiple industry distinctions for his work, Sunil continues to accelerate business performance by aligning technology, analytics, and operating models to deliver measurable commercial outcomes.

Rami Rihani
Chief Marketing Officer
IKEA Saudi Arabia

Rami Rihani is a seasoned, multi-disciplinary marketing and customer experience leader with over 17 years of expertise across marketing, e-commerce, omni-channel strategy, and customer retention.

He currently serves as the Chief Marketing Officer at IKEA Saudi Arabia, where he leads brand strategy, customer engagement, insights, and retention initiatives, shaping IKEA’s growth and customer experience across the Kingdom. Prior to this role, Rami served as Acting CMO and Omni-Channel Director, overseeing e-commerce and customer retention for IKEA in both Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Earlier in his career, Rami spent several years at Ogilvy, managing integrated campaigns for major regional brands including IKEA, NCB Capital, Kleenex, Kotex and Hempel Paints.

Recognised for his strategic thinking and ability to bridge digital and retail worlds, Rami continues to drive impactful transformation across the region’s retail and consumer landscape.

Nicole Nitschke
Managing Director
FACES Beauty Middle East

Nicole is the Managing Director at Faces, one of the leading beauty retailers in the Middle East and the owned beauty brand of Chalhoub Group.

She joined the Group in September 2024 with a clear mission: to elevate Faces, strengthen its customer relevance, and become the leading omnichannel beauty destination in the region.

A passionate strategist and international business leader, Nicole brings more than 30 years of experience across nearly all beauty categories—both on the industry side and within retail. Her career spans senior executive roles at Henkel, Coty, and Shiseido, where she built strong foundations in brand building, portfolio management, and transformation.

Before joining Faces, Nicole served as Managing Director for the DACH region at Douglas, where she led the company’s shift from a traditional retailer to a modern omnichannel beauty leader, delivering double-digit growth in both revenue and profit.

Dr Martyn Davies
VP of City Excellence & Head of Retail & Citizen Engagement Sector
Royal Commission for Riyadh City

Dr. Martyn Davies is Head of the Retail Sector and leads the City Excellence Division at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City in Saudi Arabia. Previously, he was a Senior Partner and Managing Director of Africa & Emerging Markets at Deloitte. An alumnus of the Young Global Leaders Community of the World Economic Forum (WEF), he has served on numerous advisory groups at the WEF, including the Global Agenda Council on China, and has been an expert adviser to the Mining & Metals Industry Group.

Binoo Joseph
Chief Digital Officer
Cenomi Centers

Binoo Joseph is a seasoned technology and transformation leader with over 20 years of experience driving innovation and enterprise-wide digital strategy across customer-centric sectors including real estate, shopping malls, hospitality, retail, and e-commerce. As Chief Digital Officer at Cenomi Centres, he leads large-scale transformation initiatives that reimagine both physical and digital retail environments—enhancing customer experience, improving operational efficiency, and enabling sustainable growth.

With deep expertise in aligning technology and business strategy, Binoo has delivered major transformation programmes across multiple geographies, integrating cloud platforms, smart technologies, data infrastructure, and emerging tech to modernise systems and unlock new value opportunities. He has built and led high-performing technology organisations, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and measurable impact.

Driven by a mission to use technology as a catalyst for positive change, Binoo is committed to shaping the future of retail and creating long-term value for customers, partners, and communities.

Alok Pandey
Chief Executive Officer
Tim Hortons GCC

Alok is the Chief Executive Officer of Tim Hortons GCC, bringing over 28 years of leadership experience across F&B services, quick service restaurants (QSR), retail, and retail development. He has a proven track record of driving growth and operational excellence across large, multi-market organisations.

With deep expertise in scaling high-performance teams across multiple locations, Alok has led complex business transformations, managed full P&L ownership, and delivered strong financial and customer-centric results. His leadership spans end-to-end retail operations, expansion strategy, operational optimisation, and customer experience enhancement.

Recognised for his ability to build brands, accelerate regional footprint expansion, and elevate service standards, Alok continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the QSR and retail landscape in the GCC.