Retail Week Property Directors’ Club - Past Events

The Club has had many lively evenings and fantastic speakers, discussing the topics and challenges affecting retail property today.

• Tony Shiret, Retail Analyst & Managing Director, Credit Suisse

  21st January 2010

  We are delighted to be joined by Tony Shiret – Managing Director of Credit Suisse in the European Equity Research Group, who will be sharing candidly his reflection on Christmas trading, and the forecast for the year ahead.

  Shiret has responsibility for coverage of the European retail sector and is the top-ranking analyst in the pan-European Extel survey. He is a widely quoted business commentator and one of the most vocal but shrewd individuals in the business. As such we are looking forward to a lively and thought-provoking evening!
  

• London

  8th October 2009

  We are looking forward to a lively debate around the theme of Britain’s high-streets, and will look to encompass some of the following points:
  
  
  

  • The scale of the problem - where are smoe of the UK’s hardest hit high streets?
  • What would be the 10 point plan for breathing new life into high streets?
  • What are the implications for supermarkets of increased value spend?
  • Getting it right - what local authorities and retailers are doing to change things
  • Lessons from overseas - can we learn from what other countries are doing

  
  

• Sir John Egan

  Sir John Egan

  London

  7th July 2009

  11 years on from the publication of the Egan Report: “Rethinking Construction”, Sir John will be opening up discussion on how performance and efficiencies have been, and can still be improved, and taking the positive perspective on the challenges and opportunities faced by the retail property sector.

  As Directors are asked to make cost-savings whilst improving productivity, it is more important than ever to effectively manage contractors, supply chain, and locations in order to maintain profit-margins. What are the KPIs for success? How can you deliver on your projects as well as to the Board?

  Sir John will be sharing his practical knowledge of leading businesses through difficult times and emerging as winners; having led the turnaround of Jaguar in the 1980s, and BAA in the 1990s, his insights and reflections are timely, and will set the scene for questions and debate.

  Join Property professionals from across the retail sector for an evening of drinks, dinner and discussion with leading businessman and industrialist Sir John Egan.

  There will also be plenty of time for informal networking and catching up with industry peers in this confidential and convivial setting.

• Nick Bubb

  Nick Bubb, Pali International

  London

  21st May 2009

  We are pleased to joined by Nick Bubb, Managing Director and Head of U.K. General and Food Retail Research at Pali International, who will be sharing his views on the recession and where we might be headed.

  Bubb is a well-known commentator on UK retailing, and has been a retailing analyst in the City for over 30 years, with a special interest in high-street retail and shopping centres.

  Bubb’s long and varied career spent at Morgan Stanley, Societe General, Evolution Securities and most recently at Pali, mean that he is expertly placed to comment not only on the current tough economic climate, but also previous recessions. Is the cycle of history repeating itself, and what can we expect in the financial year to come?

• Richard Lambert

  Richard Lambert, Director-General, CBI

  London

  31st March 2009

  After an interactive and thought-provoking evening with Lord Myners at the January Property Club, we are now looking forward to hearing from Richard Lambert, Director General – CBI to continue and develop some of the discussions raised. Lambert will also be addressing the pre-budget view of 2009/10 and looking at how the uncertain economic climate may affect the retail landscape for the year ahead.

  As former Editor of the Financial Times, where his tenure included overseeing its launch in the US, few are better placed to discuss with authority and candor the recent upheaval in the banking sector and how the business and financial markets are experiencing the knock-on effects.

  Lambert has also served on the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee and is also a member of the Chancellor’s High Level City Group. All discussion and debate will be completely off the record as usual.
  

• Lord Paul Myners, Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury

  London

  22nd January 2009

  The first Property Directors’ Club of 2009 will be hosted at one of London’s premier restaurants – Bentleys, and takes the format of drinks followed by dinner, and offers excellent networking opportunities.

  We are delighted to be welcoming the Rt. Honourable Stephen Timms MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury. As the Chancellor’s third in command, few are better placed to share with authority and insight, their view for the economic landscape of 2009.
  
  Under the strict confidentiality of the Chatham House Rule, Stephen will share his views on the Government’s financial and commercial strategies for the year ahead. As Vice-Chairman of the Labour Party, he will also be at liberty to touch on the party’s policies, and the October 2008 Cabinet re-shuffle.

  Prior to his current role under Alistair Darling, he has also served as Chief Secretary to the Treasury; Parliamentary Private Secretary to Mo Mowlam; Minister for Employment and Welfare; and Minister of State for Competitiveness in the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

• Tony Shiret, Retail Analyst & Managing Director, Credit Suisse

  Adam Street Private Members Club, WC2 , London

  9th October 2008

  By October, the retail industry will be geared up for Christmas and beyond. Shiret will reveal a unique insight into the retail landscape of 2009, offering a micro-view of the market from a retailer’s perspective.

  Spotlight focus on:

  • Where are we in the cycle of new space?
  • How are the capital markets looking? 
  • Who is investing in retail stocks? 
  • Stimulants and depressants in the economic climate - the Christmas effect
  • Structural downsizing
  • The assessment of supply and the prospect of returns
  

• Sketch, Conduit Street, London W1 , London

  10th July 2008

  Highly regarded in the business and leisure industry as former group chief executive of Hilton Hotels, Sir David is the newly appointed deputy chairman of Marks & Spencer.

  Sir David, the self-styled ‘gambling hotelier’, is well known for being an innovator as well as a dynamic risk taker - sharing some of the highs and lows of his career and giving the insider’s view on the much-publicised boardroom rows at M & S over Sir Stuart Rose’s accession to the role of executive chairman.

  Also a member of the board of property giant British Land, Sir David pulls together his experience of retail, property and investment to give an insightful view on the market today.

• Greg Lawless

  Greg Lawless, Retail Analyst & Managing Director, Blue Oar Securities

  Scott’s Restaurant, Mayfair , London

  22nd April 2008

  One of the most quoted analysts in retail and property, Greg also has experience as a retailer himself, having worked with Marks & Spencer, Next, Tesco, Sainsburys and also at Safeway as part of the team that sold the business to Morrisons.

  Taking in the amount of space opening between now and 2011, the slow down in consumer spend, the added effect of online shopping, Greg looked at what this means for retail property.
  

• Lorraine Baldry

  Lorraine Baldry, Chairman, Thames Gateway Development Corporation

  No.5, Cavendish Square , London

  22nd January 2008

  Lorraine will be looking at the planned regeneration programme, particularly in London, over the next 25 years and the effect this will have on retailers’ own development plans and operations.

  The Government’s desire for thousands of new homes and jobs throughout the UK will bring both demands and opportunities for retailers. The need for eco-friendly and sustainable construction together with further technological change will be a challenge for senior retail management, especially Property Directors.

  Drawing on her extensive knowledge of technology and the built environment and her experience with businesses, government and other public agencies, Lorraine will offer her insights into how retail companies can act strategically in order to maintain a competitive and financial edge in the market, whilst still introducing beneficial innovation into their business plans.