World Retail Podcast

Join this new episode of the World Retail Podcast to delve into the art of knowing your customer with lululemon's unique approach to creating community. In this episode, Ian McGarrigle, Chairman, World Retail Congress sits down with Danny Ryder, Chief Digital Officer, lululemon and Evan Sheehan from Deloitte to explore how lululemon has mastered the balance between global brand presence and local...

In this episode of the World Retail Podcast, Niamh Stone, Programme Director of World Retail Congress, explores the critical role of customer insights in shaping effective retail strategies. Joined by Christopher Roskowetz from Deloitte and Andreas Bork, VP of E-commerce at Tesa, they delve into how businesses can transform real-time data into actionable insights for profitable omni-channel execut...

In this episode of the World Retail Podcast, we delve into the transformative role of AI and emerging technologies in retail. Join Niamh Stone, Programme Director of World Retail Congress as she welcomes Kai Herzberger from Meta and Dennis Ortiz from Deloitte to explore how retailers can better understand and engage with consumers in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Discover how brands can le...

Join this new series of the World Retail Podcast as we delve into the complexities of understanding the modern consumer. In our latest episode, Inside Halfords - Understanding the Modern Consumer, in partnership with Deloitte, we explore how Halfords, a leading UK retailer in motoring and cycling, adapts to evolving consumer behaviours. Ian McGarrigle, Chairman of World Retail Congress is joined b...

Health and beauty is a competitive environment. In this episode, led by Ian McGarrigle, Chairman, World Retail Congress and Lindy Firstenberg, Co-Lead, Beauty, Health, and Wellness Practice, AlixPartners, we examine how retailers can capitalize on evolving consumer behaviors, build loyalty through experience-led propositions, and harness data in order to create growth opportunities in this fast-mo...

In this episode, Ian McGarrigle, Chairman, World Retail Congress is joined by Matt Clark, Partner and Managing Director, AlixPartners and Rami Baitiéh, CEO, Morrisons for a wide ranging discussion on the future of grocery retailing. At a time when grocery retail faces unique pressures from margin squeeze to shifting consumer priorities, we unpack strategies for driving like-for-like growth in this...

Disruption creates opportunity. In this episode of the World Retail Podcast, Niamh Stone, Programme Director of World Retail Congress is joined by Paul Martin, Global Retail Growth Leader, Partner & Managing Director, AlixPartners and Regis Schultz, CEO, JD Group to dive into the role of M&A, partnerships, and restructuring in unlocking growth. Discover how retailers can move fast, make strategic...

In this episode of the World Retail Podcast, Ian McGarrigle, Chairman of World Retail Congress sits down with Jaume Miquel Naudi, Chairman and CEO of Tendam, and Brian Schneider of AlixPartners, to explore the transformative strategies reshaping the fashion retail landscape. Discover how Tendam is poised for growth by embracing innovation and a fearless approach to market challenges. Join us for a...

Retail success starts with getting the basics right. In this episode, we explore why operational excellence—right product, right price, right place, right time—is non-negotiable in today’s market. Hear from experts on how to rebuild core trading capabilities, leverage data-driven decision-making, and create the headroom needed for growth. In this first episode of our new series on Unlocking Volume...

In this bonus episode of the World Retail Podcast, Ian McGarrigle, founder and Chair of the World Retail Congress, explores the transformative power of adopting an investor mindset in retail. Joined by retail transformation expert Ian McLeod and Silvia Rindone from EY, the group delves into the nuances of retail transformation versus turnarounds. Gain insights into the essential elements of a succ...

In this episode of the World Retail Podcast, we explore how Lowe's is revolutionizing customer experience through digital transformation and artificial intelligence. Join me as I engage in an insightful conversation with Joe Cano, the SVP of Digital and Ecommerce at Lowe's, and John Dubois, EY's Americas AI Strategy leader. We delve into the evolving landscape of retail, discussing strategies that...

In this episode of the World Retail Podcast, Ian McGarrigle, Chairman of World Retail Congress is joined by Mark Adams, SVP of Planning and Inventory Management at Dollar Tree, and Jennifer Fagan from EY to delve into the strategic shift from viewing inventory as a cost center to a growth lever. We discuss the balance between central strategy and local needs, the importance of private labels, and...

Join Niamh Stone, Programme Director of World Retail Congress, as we explore how LVMH is redefining luxury retail in this new episode with EY. We are joined by Gonzague De Pirey, LVMH's Chief Omni-Channel and Data Officer, and Rachel Daydou from EY France. We delve into the evolving luxury landscape, discussing the slowdown in aspirational luxury spending and the critical role of physical stores....

Brought to you by World Retail Congress and EY, this series explores how leading retailers are rethinking growth, innovation and the customer experience. In this first episode, ‘Exploring New Paths to Growth’, World Retail Congress chairman Ian McGarrigle is joined by Ian Bailey, Chairman of Anko Global and former CEO of Kmart Group and Malin Andree, EY Global Retail and Europe Central Consumer &...

In this special bonus episode of the World Retail Podcast, Ian McGarrigle hosts a fascinating look into how IKEA is revolutionizing retail by co-creating with everyday consumers. Joined by Adgild Hop from Deloitte, we engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Joel Renkema, Inter IKEA's Global Head of Insights. Joel shares his journey from FMCG to IKEA and offers insights into the evolving co...

In this episode of the World Retail Podcast, Ian McGarrigle, Chairman, World Retail Congress sits down with Michael Medline, President and CEO of Empire Company, and Carter Powis from Spencer Stuart to explore the remarkable transformation Michael has led at one of Canada's largest retailers. We delve into the importance of diverse perspectives within teams, the impact of cultural fit in acquisiti...

Join me, Ian McGarrigle, on the World Retail Podcast for an insightful episode of Retail Leadership Voices: Transforming Tradition at Swarovski. In this engaging conversation, I sit down with Alexis Nasard, the first non-family CEO of Swarovski, and Georgy Konda, Spencer Stuart's Global Head of Fashion and Luxury. We explore Alexis's journey in revitalizing Swarovski, a 127-year-old brand, amidst...

In this episode of the World Retail Podcast, Ian McGarrigle, Chairman, World Retail Congress sits down with Vipul Chawla, Group CEO of FairPrice Group, Singapore's largest supermarket chain. As part of our Retail Leadership Voices series, we delve into Vipul's insights on navigating the evolving retail landscape. With over 30 years of global experience, he shares valuable lessons from his transiti...

In this episode of the World Retail Podcast, Ian McGarrigle, Chairman of World Retail Congress sits down with Jennifer Woo, Chairman and CEO of the Lane Crawford Joyce Group, a pivotal player in Asia's luxury retail landscape since 1850. As part of our Retail Leadership Voices series, awe explore Jennifer's remarkable journey through the ranks and her insights on leading a heritage brand while emb...

In this bonus episode of the World Retail Podcast, join Ian McGarrigle as he dives into the rapidly evolving world of AI with industry experts Tim Roberts and Catherine Brien from AlixPartners, Mark Steele from Google Cloud, and Michael Gabay of Gain. They explore the concept of agentic AI, a ground-breaking technology that enables AI to make autonomous decisions and actions. As AI continues to ad...

Join Ian McGarrigle, Chairman and Niamh Stone, Programme Director on the World Retail Podcast as they delve into the highlights of the World Retail Congress 2025, held in London. This episode features an insightful discussion with Mary Homer, former CEO of The White Company, and Mark Faithfull, a seasoned retail expert. We explore the resilience and innovation driving the retail industry amidst gl...

Join Ian McGarrigle on the final episode in this series of the World Retail Podcast as we delve into the dynamic world of global convenience retail with Niall Anderton, SVP of Strategy and Transformation at Couche-Tard. In this episode, we explore how this retail giant, with its 17,000 stores across North America, Europe, and Asia, navigates the complexities of evolving consumer preferences and di...

In this episode of the World Retail Podcast, Ian McGarrigle, founder and chair of the World Retail Congress, dives into the evolving landscape of retail with Scott Roe, CFO and COO of Tapestry, and Katie Weir from Deloitte Global. We explore how Tapestry, the parent company of Coach, Kate Spade, and Stuart Weitzman, is strategically targeting Gen Z and Millennials, who are projected to account for...

In this episode of the World Retail Podcast, Niamh Stone, Programme Director for World Retail Congress, steps in for our usual host to explore the transformative power of agentic AI in retail. Joined by experts Gillian Simpson and Heidi O'Leary from Deloitte and Kulvinder Hari from Salesforce, the group delves into how AI is reshaping customer and employee experiences. While the technology is stil...

In this episode of the World Retail Podcast, Ian McGarrigle, founder and chair of the World Retail Congress, delves into the evolving landscape of retail with Sjoerd Holleman, SVP of Strategy, Data, and IT at Albert Heijn. Joined by Adgild Hop from Deloitte, they explore the shopping behaviours of Gen Z and Gen Alpha, who surprisingly frequent physical stores despite the digital age. They also dis...