The 23rd edition of the National Retail Conference and Stores Asia Expo 2016 (NRCE), slated on August 10 and 11 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, will be graced by a list of world-class retailers and experts who will discuss the ongoing shift of the whole economy to the digital age.
As a platform for bringing together the key movers and shakers of retail and its allied industries in a two-day conference, NRCE 2016, with the theme “Shifting Gears in Retail: Consumption in the Digital Age,” will put together CEOs and top-level executives of companies all over the Philippines to talk about topics including disruption, omnichannel and virtual connections, among others.
Carlo L. Katigbak, president and CEO of ABS-CBN Corp., will lead the event with a keynote speech.
As the head of the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, Katigbak oversees a growing and evolving organization that is behind the country’s largest broadcasting network; leading cable TV-service operator; No. 1 cinema and music production and distribution outfits; and which has also ventured into digital television, theme parks, telecommunications, among other industries.
He brings with him over 20 years of experience and accomplishments in financial management and business operations, corporate planning and general management.
Katigbak has served as ABS-CBN CEO and head of Access, credited for helping pave the company’s forays into promising technologies and ventures, as well as overseeing strategy formulation and performance of SKY Cable Inc., ABS-CBNmobile and the newly launched digital TV business now called ABS-CBN TVplus.
To discuss From Grit to Great, his best-selling motivational book, is Jonathan Yabut, the Season 1 winner of the hit Asian reality-TV show The Apprentice Asia.
For winning the show, he served one year as chief of staff of AirAsia, reporting directly to Malaysian business mogul Tony Fernandes.
Yabut today is Asia’s leading motivational speaker on topics involving leadership, Gen Y work force, and career management for Fortune 500 companies.
In 2014 he founded his consultancy firm, The JY Consultancy & Ventures, which offers marketing and talent solutions to Asia’s budding start-up scene. Stuart Jameson, who is the managing director of Nielsen Philippines, who has been responsible in leading Nielsen’s Watch and Buy growth strategy in the Philippines as managing director since 2012, will be discussing the demands of the so-called millennial generation.
Recently, Jameson took on an expanded role when he was appointed as cluster lead in the emerging markets group, overseeing the business performance of Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar. Prior to these appointments, he had held various leadership roles in Nielsen’s businesses in Australia and New Zealand.
His expertise goes beyond market research, having worked in media and consumer packaged goods industries prior to starting his career at Nielsen. An experienced presenter, he is a frequent featured speaker in various industry events and press interviews, in which he shares his insights on consumer behavior and media consumption.
Eugene Saw, a senior vice president at SM Group, will talk about “SM Parisian’s Cinderella Story.” He brought to SM, in particular to the Shoes and Bags Business Unit, the largest within The SM Store, the
energy and the vision that made it the leading unit year-on-year.
Freddie Santos, who earned the distinction of having won the Aliw Award for Best Stage Direction record four times, on the other hand, will talk about the importance of music in the marketplace.
The topic “Unfolding the Dynamics of Retail” will be discussed by Acacia Leroy, Asia-Pacific trend strategist for TrendWatching. Based in Singapore, she is responsible for trend thinking and content in the region by conducting lively trend sessions.
Benoy Ltd. (Singapore) Director Stephen Chow will also join the plenary to highlight the importance of “Exploring New Trends in the Design of Bricks and Mortar Retail Destinations.”
He is responsible for a broad scope of work ranging from Concept to Detail Design and Project Management across sectors, including residential, hospitality, retail and mixed-use.
Christophe Guillot, who has over 12 years of experience in Hong Kong, China and the region leading research activities in the luxury industry, will talk about the so-called omnichannel and its importance in the retail industry.
On top of business development, his responsibility at Fitch as business development director for Southeast Asia also cover marketing and public-relations initiatives in this region.
This year’s NRCE will highlight the ever changing and dynamic trends in the industry brought about by the continuous evolution of technology and the growing discerning consumers.
Back to back with the conference is a two-day retail suppliers expo, which is the only focused and dedicated retail suppliers’ exhibition in the Philippines. It brings together under one roof top suppliers in the field of retail solutions, e-commerce and M-commerce, shopfittings and store design and digital marketing, as well as retail marketing.
This year’s NRCE is supported by The SM Store and PLDT Alpha as Platinum Sponsors; Robinsons Malls, Araneta Center, Ayala Malls and HP Inc. as Gold Sponsors; Wilcon Depot as Silver Sponsor; Bench and HP Enterprise as Bronze Sponsors; Duty Free Philippines and HBC as sponsors.
For registration, sponsorship and exhibit inquiries, e-mail projects@philretailers.com; info@philretailers.com; communications@philretailers.com, or visit www.nrce-ph.com.