Previous presenters at the Forum include:
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Mike Clare Non-executive President and founder of Dreams plc Mike founded Dreams in 1985. Starting with no capital, he has built the UK’s biggest beds business, with 200 stores and a turnover of £120 million. |
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Alan Giles Chairman, Fat Face In his previous role as chief executive of HMV, he helped the company become a High Street star. Alan is one of the most gifted retailers of his generation. |
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Tracey Hobbs Working Lunch Programme Editor, BBC Tracey started her broadcasting career in BBC Radio in 1980, working on a number of programmes including Radio One Newsbeat, and Radio Four Today. In 1990 she moved into TV joining Channel Four's Business Daily programme, returning to the BBC a year later as a senior producer on Business Breakfast. Following stints as Assignment Editor for N24 and World business output, she joined BBC Two's Working Lunch programme in 1995 and was appointed Programme Editor in 1999. Under her leadership the programme has received a number of Industry Awards for it's coverage of business and personal finance. |
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Bill Laird Chief Operating Office, Midcounties Co-operative Bill is a career-long retailer and has enjoyed commercial success working within a number of the UK ’s best known High Street names. He has experienced most operational roles during his 28 years in the industry and regards retail as one of the most dynamic environments for management development and opportunity. Immediately prior to forming his own business management consultancy in early 2006, Bill was Chief Operating Officer with the Midcounties Co-operative, based in Oxford operating an estate of over 150 Supermarkets and Convenience Stores, Car Dealerships, Travel Shops and even Funeral Parlours! |
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Fraser Longden Director of Selling and Operations Strategy, B&Q Fraser started his retail career as a Manager for Homebase, Wilkinsons and Staples UK. In 1998 he decided to refocus and move into Human Resources as Recruitment Manager for Staples. In 2000, Fraser joined B & Q as Regional HR Advisor for the North Division, after a quick succession of roles including Divisional HR Manager, Learning and Development Manager and Reward and Performance Manager, he was appointed in March 2005, to Director of HR Retail. In 2007 Fraser decided to take on a different challenge and now leads the sales team at B&Q as Director of Selling and Operations Strategy. |
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Charlie Mayfield Chairman, John Lewis Dept. Stores Charlie Mayfield became the John Lewis Partnership's fifth Chairman in March 2007. He joined the Partnership in 2000 as Head of Business Development, responsible for business strategy and development for both John Lewis and Waitrose and went on to become Managing Director of John Lewis in 2005. |
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David Meckin Managing Director, Insight Financial Consulting David Meckin has over twenty-five years' commercial experience, which encompasses several senior management positions, including that of finance director of a multinational computer company. His work has involved him in the financial management of companies in the United Kingdom, Europe and North America. He regularly delivers management workshops and presents at conferences to managers from all over the world. Over the years he has worked with many of the United Kingdom's leading retailers. |
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Jonathan Reynolds Oxford Institute of Retail Management An urban planner and retailer, Jonathan teaches and researches in the areas of retailing and technology, services, marketing and retail development. |
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Stephen Robertson Director General, BRC Stephen trained in marketing and sales with Dunlop before joining Brooke Bond Oxo where he managed brands such as Oxo and PG Tips. He joined B&Q in 1993 and had main Board responsibility for marketing strategy, format development and new media/home shopping. In June 2000, Stephen was appointed CEO of Kingfisher’s DIY Direct. Following an interim board role at WHSmith, he joined Woolworths plc in 2004 until 2007 where he was Marketing Director. Stephen was invited to join the British Retail Consortium as its Director General in February 2008. The BRC represents the interests of UK retail to the media and government in UK and Europe as well as providing training and industry information. |
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Mike Shearwood CEO, Aurora A qualified optician, Mike spent 17 years in the optical industry holding various positions at Vision Express before taking up the challenge of operating in a different retail category. Mike joined Inditex as the Managing Director for Zara UK and spent seven years as Managing Director of nine companies and six brands for Inditex in the UK and Ireland. He was appointed Deputy CEO of Mosaic Fashions in July 2007. |
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Hilary Shepherd Owner, Maureen Cookson Hilary is the owner of an award winning Independent Ladies wear store in Lancashire. Her store is 9,000sq ft and trades on two floors. With 45 staff it is one of the largest ladies fashion shops in the UK. Winner of several Drapers Records awards, the highlight was to be awarded the Independent retailer of the year. Hilary has been awarded both business personality of the year in Lancashire and personal achievement award in Lancashire. |
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Alex Trenchard Business Development Manager, Tesco plc Alex Trenchard is currently Business Development Manager at Tesco plc with day-to-day responsibility for UK and international new business opportunities, M&A and business improvement initiatives. Alex joined Tesco in 2001 from Schroder Ventures Investment Trust which he joined after graduating from St. Hugh’s College, Oxford. |
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Dennis Turner Chief Economist, HSBC Dennis Turner is the Chief Economist of HSBC Bank plc in the City. His role involves advising lending bankers on economic trends not only at national level, but also on industries and regions. Before joining Midland Bank in 1978, he worked for four years in Whitehall, for the National Economic Development Office. This was during the Labour government’s Industrial Strategy Initiative, which was an attempt to improve the performance of the UK’s manufacturing sector. |
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Phil Wrigley Executive Chairman of the New Look Group Phil has twenty five years experience in retail. He has transformed New Look from a “small cap public company” into private ownership and to the third largest womenswear retailer in the UK with rapid global growth. He has led change programmes in a number of retail businesses embracing all aspects of retail. He has led merger and acquisition activities in the UK and overseas whilst maintaining a particular focus on building strong and successful management teams. In his retail career he has worked as a Director in the New Look Group, Bhs, Dorothy Perkins and Debenhams and held responsibility for all the primary roles in retail from Buying and Merchandising, logistics, retail operations and marketing to finance.He is engaged in social programmes with a particular focus on ethical trading and people development. |
