Alberto Alessi, 55, is in charge of the Marketing Strategy, Communication and Design Management of Alessi. Eldest son of Carlo Alessi, he belongs to the third generation of Alessi. He joined the company in 1970 after completing a degree in law. From then on, he has developed world-wide contacts with designers and architects, which have made Alessi as one of the most important names in the field of international design. He has written “La Cintura di Orione”, Longanesi, Milano, 1986, “Not in Production next to Production”, Alessi, Crusinallo, 1988 and “The Dream Factory”, Electa, Milano, 1998. He has collaborated with international magazines and publications with articles about design; he is also a visiting professor at several design colleges. Mr Alessi is a member of the Academic Board of the U.I.A.H., Helsinky and of the Honorary Committee of the Design Museum, London, Senior Fellow of the Royal College of Art, London. Honorary Professor of the Hochschule der Bildenden Kunste, Saarbrucken.Doctor Honoris Causa of the U.I.A.H. of Helsinki. Doctor of Fine Arts at the Miami University of Oxford, Ohio. Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University at the University of Central England, Birmingham. In 1998 he has received the Design Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Brooklyn Museum of Art.

After completing his studies in 1986 at the Paris Business School (ESCP), Mr Jean Cassegrain worked at the French Embassy’s Trade Office in New York. He then went on to work as a Management Consultant for Andersen Consulting during more than 10 years before joining Longchamp in 1991. Mr Cassegrain lives in Paris, he is married and has three children.

Mr Paolo De Cesare, 48, graduated in Business and Economics cum laude at the University of Rome in 1983. He started his professional career at Procter & Gamble where he held various management positions all over the world during his 24 years tenure: Marketing Manager Italy in 1987, Marketing Director, Strategic Planning, Laundry Products-Europe based in Belgium in 1990, Managing Director-Vice-President, Strategic Planning, Skin Care, Color Cosmetics and Teen Skin-Europe Middle East & Africa based in London in 1994, President of Max Factor Japan and Vice President Procter & Gamble-Northeast Asia Skin Care & Cosmetics based in Japan in 1999, President of Global Prestige Beauty and Skin Care based in Switzerland in 2002, President of  Global Skin Care based in 2006. Since September 2007, Mr De Cesare has been the CEO and Chairman of Printemps.

Trained as a Chartered Accountant in England, Mr Foo obtained his MBA at the London Business School. Following 18 successful years at leading international management consultancies, he joined Tangs as Chief Operating Officer in 1999. Mr Foo was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Tangs in 2006. C K Tang Ltd operates 2 TANGS Fashion Lifestyle Stores in Singapore and one Store in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Michael Gould became Chairman and CEO of Bloomingdale’s in November 1991. His tenure has seen the greatest period of growth in the store’s history, expanding from 16 units to 40 stores in 18 major markets from coast to coast. Mr Gould received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University in 1966, he earned a master’s degree from the Graduate School of Business. In 1968, Mr Gould entered the Abraham & Strauss Executive Training Squad as an assistant buyer in decorative home furnishings. He soon became the company’s youngest merchandise vice president. In 1978, Mr Gould was named Senior Vice President of J.W. Robinson’s Department Stores in Los Angeles, responsible for men’s, children’s, juniors, moderate sportswear and home furnishings. Within two years he was appointed Executive Vice President of merchandising and sales promotion. In 1981, he became J.W. Robinson’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Subsequently, he also became a member of the Board of Directors for Associated Dry Goods. In 1986, he was tapped as President and Chief Operating Officer of Giorgio Beverly Hills. In 1987, he was named President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr Gould divides his spare time among a number of important affiliations, serving on the Board of Trustees of Lenox Hill Hospital and of The Allen Stevenson School; the Board of Overseers of Columbia University Graduate School of Business; the National Board of Hebrew College in Boston. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The American Jewish Committee.

Mr Guguberidze was born in 1973 in Georgia. He graduated from Tbilisi Humanitarian Economical Institute where he majored in International Economic Relations. He started his career in Bosco di Ciliegi, leading luxury retail company in the Russian market, as Head of Men’s wear department in 1992. In 1998 he took over the position of Commercial director and became a member of the Board of Directors. In 2003-2004, he was additionally named Managing Director of Bosco subsidiary companies “Monomarca Bosco” and “Sporttovary Bosco”.

In February 2004 Mr Guguberidze was appointed Commercial Director of GUM Trading House. In November 2004 he became Managing Director and CEO. Mr Guguberidze is married with two children.

Mr Kusnirovich graduated from the Russian University of Chemistry and Technology in 1989. He started his business in 1991 and after 18 years succeeded to develop one of Russia's best-known and most trusted retail brand. Bosco owns and operates more than 150 points of sale in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Samara and Novosibirsk. This number includes stand-alone MaxMara, Jil Sander, Moschino, Etro, Alberta Ferretti, La Perla, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Kenzo just to name a few. The company also operates its own multibrand designer menswear, womenswear, shoe and children's boutiques under the Bosco Family and Bosco Sport brands. Bosco is also running Articoli-GUM and the Articoli-Vesna megastores - two of Moscow's top perfumery and luxury accessories emporia, three high-profile gourmet Italian restaurants, Beauty Salons and a Dental Clinic. In 2004 the Company bought the controlling stake in GUM (79,000 m2), Russia's premiere and historic shopping destination on Red Square. Since 2006 Bosco owns and operates Vesna Trading Center on Novy Arbat, adding 4,000 m2 of retail space to its retail portfolio. Bosco di Ciliegi is a General Partner of the Russian Olympic Committee and the General Sponsor of the Russian Olympic Team since 2002. In 2006 Mr Kusnirovich was awarded as Commendatore of Italian Republic.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, Mr Lauder also studied at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business and served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy.  He formally joined Estée Lauder in 1958, when it had annual sales of $800,000. Mr Lauder consistently developed and implemented innovative sales and marketing programs, and increased the company’s sales and profits. He initiated the Estée Lauder Companies’ International expansion, which began in 1960 with the opening of the Estée Lauder account at Harrods in London. Under his leadership, the Company launched many new brands, including Aramis, Clinique, Prescriptives and Origins. In the mid-1990s, then the company acquired trendy independent brands such as M•A•C, Bobbi Brown, Aveda, Jo Malone and Crème de la Mer. Mr Lauder served as President of the Estée Lauder Companies Inc. from 1972 to 1995 and as Chief Executive Officer from 1982 to 1999.  He added the title of Chairman in 1995.

Mr Matsui graduated in 1973 from the Tokyo University of Education (present University of Tsukuba), Department of Physical Education. He started his professional career at The Seiyu Store, which he joined in 1973. In 1992 he joined Ryohin Keikaku Co., and since then he has held many important managerial positions in the group: in 1999 he was named Senior Managing Director of the company, in 2000 president and representative Director of MUJI.net Co. Since February 2008, Mr Matsui is the Chairman and Representative Director of Ryohin Keikaku Co.

Prof Merkel has been a member of the Board of Arcandor (former KarstadtQuelle AG) since 2000 until 2008, in charge of IT, logistics and Group Buying. Prior to joining Arcandor, Prof Merkel built during 20 years a unique experience in the management of consulting and retail companies: in 1986 he was named member of the Executive Board of ADV/ORGA (SEMA Group); in 1989 he became CEO of DAT AG – a major German Consulting and IT services company; in 1993 he joined Deichmann Group as Managing Director and Executive Board member in charge of the International Business in Europe and the US and in 1997 he founded a private consulting and logistics company. In 2000, he joined Karstadt, where he played a key role in the restructuration of the company between 2003 and 2006. Prof Merkel is also the President of IGDS, President of the National German Retail Association and Member of the Board of the National Employers Association. Prof Merkel holds a Phd of the Mannheim University and since 1990 is a well renowned professor in Business Administration and Computer Sciences of his Alma Mater. Prof Merkel is married and has four children.

Mr Namchaisiri earned a degree in Economics from the University of London. He joined Central 12 years ago as Marketing Director of Central Pattana where he developed various successful retail projects such as fashion stores, gourmet supermarkets, bookstores, theme restaurants and art/antique stores. His understanding of fashion marketing and retailing won him the post of Vice-president – Marketing of Central Department Store in 1999. In June 2001, he was promoted to the position of Senior Vice President – Marketing for Central Department Store. Recently he took over the position of Head of Marketing of Central Retail Corporation and in May 2006 he became President of ZEN.

Mr Andy Rubin, read law at Cambridge University and received an MBA from Harvard Business School. Prior to joining Pentland, he worked in Corporate Finance for a US investment bank. Mr Rubin is the third generation to lead the family business. He joined the Group in 1991, was appointed to the Main Board as Marketing Director in 1995 and appointed CEO in 1998. Pentland owns a number of well known sports, outdoor and fashion brands, including: Speedo, Berghaus, Brasher, Mitre, Ellesse, Red or Dead, One True Saxon, Boxfresh and Franco Sarto. Pentland is the global licensee for Lacoste and Ted Baker footwear and is licensee for Kickers in the UK. Pentland is also a shareholder in Hunter Boots and Gio Goi and the majority owner of JD Sports Fashion plc which operates 400 sports and fashion stores in the UK under the “JD”, “Scotts”, “Bank” and “Size” fascias. Mr Rubin is involved in several charities and is a Trustee of InKind Direct, the UK’s leading redistribution charity.

Gareth Thomas became Director, Retail Design and Development in July 2007. He has Board responsibility for all aspects of the development programme for new and existing shops. Since February 2009, he is additionally responsible for all aspects of the day to day operation of the shops, including sales and profit. Mr Thomas joined John Lewis Brent Cross in 1979 as a Graduate Trainee; he became Department Manager, toys, at John Lewis Oxford Street in 1982. In 1984 he moved to head office as an Assistant in the Directorate of Research and Expansion and a year later became Assistant to the Director of Trading (Department Stores). He returned to John Lewis Oxford Street in 1987 as Merchandise Manager, and over the next 10 years held positions as General Manager at John Lewis Bristol, Managing Director of Bonds (now John Lewis Norwich) and of John Lewis Bristol. In 1998, Gareth became Managing Director of the new John Lewis at Cribbs Causeway. In March 2000, Gareth became Director of Selling & Customer Service with his title changing to Director, Retail Operations in 2003. Mr Thomas holds an LLB Honours degree in Law from the University of Wales, graduating in 1978. He is married and has three children.

Working at Daslu since an early age, she designed the first pieces of the brand’s ready-to-wear collection and in 1983 started running the Daslu business, following her mother’s death. Once the Brazilian economy opened to international products in the 90’s, she was the first businesswomen to bring to Brazil the world’s most consecrated fashion brands including Chanel, Gucci, Valentino, Dolce & Gabanna, among many others. Ms Tranchesi personally manages all aspects of the business and is deeply involved in the brand’s creation and marketing department. This business includes: Villa Daslu and Daslu Cidade Jardim in São Paulo’s, as well as “Daslu for export”, an international show room held twice a year during the Paris Fashion Week at the Plaza Athenée. Since 2003, the Daslu female ready-to-wear collection is exported and today is available in 45 stores around the world. Ms Tranchesi is also responsible for maintaining strong community reach out programs and employee care programs trough Daslu. Ms Tranchesi graduated in Arts with a former project of becoming a painter.

Joseph Wan, a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Arbitrator, became Chief Executive of Harvey Nichols in August 1992, having previously been the Group Finance Director for five years of Dickson Concepts which has its headquarters in Hong Kong and engages in the distribution of luxury brands in the Far East. During that time, he oversaw the expansion of the Group from twenty stores in Hong Kong to over one hundred and twenty stores in the Far East region, covering Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and China. Since August 1992, Harvey Nichols have grown from a domestic one store business to a business of high international reputation and its portfolio today includes six stores and two standalone restaurants in the UK and six overseas stores covering Dublin, Riyadh, Hong Kong, Dubai, Istanbul and Jakarta and its expansion programme, both domestic and overseas, is continuing. Mr Wan is also a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and The Royal Society of Arts.