Retail Week 100 Club - Past Events

The 100 Club welcomes only the most expert and visionary speakers, striving to bring the most dynamic, relevant and interesting players to the table.

• Lord Mervyn Davies

  Lord Mervyn Davies, Minister for Trade

  London

  27th January 2010

  With an uncertain but potentially positive economic landscape ahead, the first Retail Week 100 Club of 2010 will be looks timely at both past and future trading, and offers plenty of time for discussion with industry peers.

  Taking your questions and comments will be the Labour governments’ Minister for Trade & Investment – Lord Mervyn Davies, who has also served the Chancellor of the Exchequer as Chairman of the Financial Regulation Committee, and is the Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Business Council for Britain.
  

• Willie Walsh

  Willie Walsh, CEO, British Airways

  London

  12th November 2009

  Willie Walsh talks exclusively to the Retail Week 100 Club

  At the helm of one of the most talked about organisations in the world, how has British Airway’s Chief Executive led his business and his staff through the tumult of 2009 and how will he be tackling the renewed challenges of 2010?

  As Walsh strives to satisfy customers, appease shareholders and keep his giant aviation business off the ground, bold decisions need to be made and driven through. Cutting pay and asking staff to do the same: genius or madness?

  Sharing his experiences at the helm of corporate giant British Airways, Willie Walsh talks exclusively to Retail Week 100 Club members.

  Join your peers, fellow retail CEOs and VIPs from Asda, Alliance Boots, Next, New Look, The Body Shop and Tesco for drinks, dinner, and the opportunity to put your questions to Willie Walsh in a confidential and relaxed environment.

• Alan Parker

  Alan Parker, Chairman and Founder , Brunswick Group LLP

  London

  13th October 2009

  Alan Parker founded Brunswick in 1987, which has grown to one of the largest international corporate and financial communications firm in the world, with almost a third of the FTSE 100 firms as clients. Parker will be discussing some of his career highlights and honing in specifically on corporate reputations during a recession.

  In view of the current state of the economy and the palpable consumer downturn in the retail market, communication and reputation have never been more important both in terms of customers and investors. Parker has worked in a variety of industry sectors and with both high-profile and high-street-name companies, including British Airways, BT, EMI, HBoS, Marks & Spencer, Marconi and Safeway.

  Retail Week is excited to be able to bring to the 100 Club such a key player in the corporate game, and we are looking forward to a frank and thought-provoking evening.
  

• Roger Holmes

  Roger Holmes, Managing Director, Change Capital Partners

  London

  8th July 2009

  Roger Holmes is a Managing Director at Change Capital Partners, and prior to this held the post of CEO at retail giant Marks & Spencer from 2001. As such, Holmes has sat on both sides of the table, and he will be discussing the retail sector from the perspective of an insider-cum-investor.

  Times have not been easy for Change Capital. Most recently the very public management buy-out of Robert Dyas has cost the business in more ways than one. Holmes will share with us his findings from the process, as well as giving the city perspective on which retailers are looking good, and why.

  Prior to joining M&S, Holmes was a Main Board director of Kingfisher and CEO of the electrical sector. In 1994, he became Finance Director of B&Q and three years later transferred to Woolworths as Managing Director. Roger had previously spent seven years as a strategy consultant for McKinsey & Co, latterly as principal, specialising in retail and consumer goods.

  All conversations are strictly off the record, encouraging a candid and lively evening and there will be plenty of opportunity for networking with retail industry peers.

• Archie Norman

  London

  20th May 2009

  In his role as Chief Executive Officer, Archie Norman led ASDA not only through the recession of the 1990s, but also spearheaded its turnaround to become the second largest supermarket group before being sold to Wal-Mart for an eight times multiple of the starting share price.

  In the context of today’s troubled retail market, Archie will be discussing his strategies for navigating the high-street of the early 90s. What lessons can be translated for the challenges faced by CEOs trading in the current economic climate?

  Having led the transformations of several major British businesses, served on the Boards of several others, and built over time very strong management teams who are now in leading positions in several major British companies, few are better placed to comment on making your business fit to survive and thrive.

  Archie has also served as a Member of Parliament for eight years and worked at the highest level in British politics, and he will be drawing on highlights from his long and varied career at the fore of both commerce and politics in the UK.
  

• Michael Grade

  Michael Grade, Executive Chairman, ITV

  London

  March 2009

  With the heightened media frenzy regarding Public Service Broadcasting and knock-on competition issues, we are anticipating a frank and thought-provoking evening. Micheal Grade will be giving his inside and expert opinion on how ITV will be driving forward, embracing new platforms and offering new and innovative opportunities for brands and retailers.

  Michael Grade has a long and distinguished career in broadcasting, encompassing London Weekend Television, the BBC and over nine years as Chief Executive Officer of Channel Four Television. He is non-executive Chairman of Pinewood and Shepperton Film Studios and also of Ocado, the on-line retail grocery arm of the supermarket, Waitrose. 

  In May 2004, he was appointed Chairman of the BBC, succeeding Gavyn Davies, resigning in November 2006 when his appointment as Executive Chairman of ITV was announced.

• Lord Mervyn Davies

  Lord Mervyn Davies, Minister for Trade

  The Berekeley, Mayfair

  4th February 2009

  Mr. Davies, who already serves as head of the Prime Minister’s Business Council for Britain, and whom was one of the architects of the original banking bail-out in the autumn, will be engaging in a full and frank discussion with the retail industry at the 100 Club.

  Davies has recently become a peer, relinquishing his role as Chairman (previously CEO) of Standard Chartered, and will serve directly under Lord Mandelson in the Ministry for Trade and Investment.

  We anticipate an engaging, thought-provoking and important exchange between retail industry leaders and the new minister, and as usual everything is off the record, as the evening operates under the strict confidentiality of the Chatham House Rule.

• Peter Freeman

  Peter Freeman, Chairman, UK Competition Commission

  St. Stephens’ Club, SW1 , London

  6th November 2008

  As the year draws to a close, Competition Commissioner Peter Freeman discusses what may be on the horizon for the UK retail market in 2009. The club operates under the confidentiality of the Chatham House Rule - everything is strictly off the record – and as such it is a lively and candid evening.

  Peter addresses the impact new competition rules have on local markets, and assesses the impact of likely changes on consumer behaviour. He will also comment on supermarket futures and life after the Competition Commission inquiry. Who will be the winners and losers – shoppers, the “Big Four” or small retailers?
  

• Max Clifford

  Max Clifford

  The Dorchester, London

  25th September 2008

  Who bought Gerald Ratner’s career back from the dead?

  Clifford is one of the most powerful people in tabloid journalism. As David Yelland, former editor of the Sun has said: “Ten years ago there was one person you were scared of at News International - Rupert Murdoch. Today there are two – Rupert Murdoch and Max Clifford.”

  Since helping launch the career of The Beatles 40 years ago, the PR guru has broken many a story. Jeffrey Archer, David Mellor and Michael Barrymore have all fallen foul of Clifford at one time or another, and he rates helping bring down the Major government as one of his finest achievements.

  Clifford’s illustrious career proves that careless words cost money, and businesses as well as individuals are at the mercy of the British media-machine.

  There will however be no write-ups here as the 100 Club has the security of the Chatham House Rule.

• John Fingleton

  John Fingleton, Chief Executive, Office of Fair Trading

  The Ivy, London

  26th June 2008

  Drawing on his experiences at the Office of Fair Trading, John Fingleton will be discussing competition and consumer policy in UK retail markets, and looking forward to what retailers may face in the future.

  Since taking up the role in 2005 John has consistently made headlines as the OFT has launched a wave of high-profile investigations into the stores’ sector, most notably the practices of the big grocers.

  Retail Week is delighted to offer a private audience with the man at the heart of some of the most hotly debated controversies in retailing today.

  The Retail Week 100 Club is a networking forum for the most influential figures in retail, offering an intimate occasion at which to relax and converse with peers over a complimentary three-course meal, under the confidence of the Chatham House Rule.

  Please let our Clubs’ Producer Lucy know whether you are able to join us, via any of the details below, and also if you would like an invitation extended to any of your senior colleagues. 

• Lucy Neville-Rolfe

  Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Executive Director, Tesco Corporate & Legal Affairs

  Chandos House, Mayfair , London

  1st May 2008

  In the potentially turbulent times ahead, how can retailers find solutions to market development and changes in policy, and turn opportunities into success for their businesses?

  Drawing on her experiences at Tesco, in Government Office and at the helm of the British Retail Consortium, Lucy discussed the most burning challenges in the market for 2008 and beyond, and how the corridors of power can successfully and profitably be negotiated. 

• Keith Edelman

  Keith Edelman, Managing Director, Arsenal Football Club

  Raymond Blanc’s Diamond Club, Emirates Stadium , London

  5th March 2008

  The lucrative business of football – what is its influence on retail? With responsibility for all commercial and administrative activities at the club, he negotiated with Emirates Airlines, one of the largest sponsorship deals seen in football. Edelman also led the opening of the Emirates Stadium, which includes stores run by fashion retail guru George Davies.

  In the aftermath of England’s failure to qualify for Euro 2008, this event offered a timely and fascinating insight into how Britain’s best loved sport is run.
  

• Luke Johnson

  Luke Johnson, Chairman of Channel 4 & Risk Capital Partners, The Financial Times

  Café Royal, Piccadilly , London

  17th January 2008

  An insightful view into the way the commercial and financial world may look in 2008, by an iconic business figure with both broad industry experience and entrepreneurial successes behind him.
  

• Matt Brittin, UK Managing Director, Google

  Grosvenor House, Mayfair , London

  22nd November 2007

  A perspective on how the world is changing, addressing the challenges these changes bring and what retailers are doing to meet them. Profiling the online high street of five years’ time and looking at key trends and developments in the marketplace; offering an overview of strategies for the future.

• Martha Lane-Fox

  Martha Lane-Fox, Founder, lastminute.com

  Belgravia , London

  October 2007

• Andy Duncan, Chief Executive, Channel 4

  Channel 4 building, Horseferry Road, Westminster , London

  15th March 2007

  Held in the Barrel Room and Cinema in the depths of the Channel 4 building the evening will start with a Champagne reception followed by a presentation from Mr Duncan. He will be discussing the decline of traditional advertising as well as the effect this will have on retail. There will, of course, be the opportunity to quiz the host after his talk before more drinks and networking.

  The Retail 100 Club is an invitation-only social and business forum for top-level executives from Britain’s leading 100 retailers. It is brought to you in proud association with Trade Card, SAS and American Express. Briefings are held every other month at prestigious venues and include stimulating speakers and informal discussion.