Retail Asia Forum - Bangkok - April 25, 2024

Axel Winter, Chief Digital and Technology Officer – Siam Piwat Co. Ltd | CEO – XPONENTIAL

Axel Winter is a key figure in digital innovation across Asia's retail and financial sectors. As Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Siam Piwat and CEO of XPONENTIAL, he concentrates on revolutionizing customer engagement through cutting-edge technology, fostering innovation spin-offs.

His extensive experience includes driving transformative digital strategies for leading organizations, setting new standards in omnichannel retailing and eCommerce across Asia.  Former roles at renowned institutions like Standard Chartered Bank and strategic consulting positions at Accenture and Deloitte Consulting demonstrate his expertise in advancing technological capabilities and strategic innovation globally.

In addition to his corporate role, Axel serves as a partner at AlphaFoundersCapital. Be supports emerging startups in harnessing new technologies and business models. His leadership is defined by leveraging emerging technologies, fostering sustainable business practices, and actively shaping the future of retail and digital finance.

A proven transformational leader with obsession on loved brand building and team grooming. Starting as an engineer graduate who turned to pursue a career in marketing with several success stories in such leading international FMCG companies as Samsung, Unilever, L’Oreal and Yves Rocher based in many locations – USA, Shanghai, London, Singapore and Bangkok with rich experience turning-around and launching/relaunching many brands in the past 19 years. Currently, THE FIRST WOMAN & THE FIRST LOCAL Country Manager of BATA THAILAND since it started the business in 1929 with the mission to empower the long-standing heritage company and the talented team to engage and inspire more to consumers by encompassing positive actions internally and externally.

Passionate about innovation and driven by the desire to improve experiences, I find fulfillment in leveraging technology to enhance both customer experience and workplace efficiency.

My background in e-commerce for the apparel retail industry has equipped me with the expertise to streamline operations and facilitate growth. As a strategic partner, I'm committed to developing solutions that foster seamless interactions and processes, embodying my dedication to technological advancement and integration.

Amanda Chin is a member of our Retail, Consumer Products and Food/Agri practices.

She has more than 10 years of management consulting experience across Oceania, Europe, the US and more recently in Asia. Her experience includes areas such as strategy development, promotions optimization, operating model design and end-to-end commercial excellence.

Amanda specializes in end-to-end B2B commercial excellence across industries, including foodservice, industrials, MedTech, consumer products, and financial services. She is the APAC champion for Bain’s proprietary range of tools across the Coro suite, including MoneyMap (a digital mapping of customer and prospect opportunities). Amanda is also a deep retail expert with department stores across a range of topics, and is a lead for our Pricing and Promotions product.

Amanda is also deeply involved in re-thinking our recruiting approach in growth offices and is active with our Women at Bain affinity group.

Amanda graduated with First Class Honors in finance from the University of New South Wales, Sydney.

She is a mother of two and is passionate about seeing more visible female role models in high-paced careers, such as consulting. She holds a 3rd Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo.

Thanawat is a tech entrepreneur with over 10-years hands-on experience in the online business. He founded Priceza, the leading Affiliate & Shopping Comparison platform with the mission to empower consumers to make informed buying decisions.

To date, Priceza has helped millions of Thai people to save money and get the right products. He launched Etailligence, E-Commerce Monitoring Platform to help online business to track and monitor E-Commerce sales volume in Marketplace platforms. In addition, he is serving as Honorary Advisor to Thai E-Commerce Association and shares knowledge to the Tech & E-Commerce industry.

Quan Yao is a Senior Analyst (Channels) at Euromonitor International, leading research for the Retail and Digital Consumer sectors in Southeast Asia. He has a keen interest in the impact of retail digitalisation and evolving business models, and its implications for businesses and consumers within the region.

Over his time in the company Quan Yao has engaged and advised clients on the industries’ competitive landscape, market trends & strategic outlook through his analysis on Euromonitor's Passport database, external publications, and client and industry conference engagements. He is the Co-Author of Euromonitor’s “Top 10 Fastest Growing Retailers in Asia Pacific (2023)” piece, and his sector commentary has been featured on prominent regional publications such as Singapore Business Review, Tech in Asia and DealStreetAsia

Quan Yao holds a Bachelor of Business Management degree with a Double Major in Operations Management and Analytics from the Singapore Management University.

Shahan Farid, is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 22 years of experience in the technology sector and a Thai Citizen. He founded his own enterprise, AquaOrange, his mission was clear: to establish it as a leading strategic IT Consulting partner in Thailand, serving renowned global brands. His overarching goal was to play a pivotal role in driving Thailand's digital transformation, contributing to its advancement in the digital landscape.

MBA, StrathClyde University, Glasgow
1997-2008 – IBM, Country Manager, Industrial GSMB
2008-2013 – Avnet, Head of Division, HP
2013-2015 – Teleplan, VP Sales, APAC
2015-present – COO, Co-founder at Trakomatic, Singapore

Shaun holds an MBA from Strathclyde University majoring in Advance Strategic Marketing and studies Strategic Business Frameworks in the University of Chicago Booth.
With more than 20 years in IT background, his tenure extended from IBM with a Client Sales Profession Certification transiting to a global distributor and has consistently earned acknowledged accolades and awards in the industry. His last role as the VP Sales, APAC has enhanced his vast exposure in Sales Management across the region with diverse understanding of the different business and social cultures.
Through the years, Shaun has been instrumental with in-depth involvement in various Start-up/SME ranging in Industrial Manufacturing, Technology and Online games. Shaun conducts Business & Sales Mentoring across Retail, Industrial, Technology, Properties and Financial Planning coaching in various disciplines and strategies. He has in depth understanding of the challenges faced by Start-up/SME and has developed great empathy to customize his coaching approaches accordingly.
Highly rated by most of his workshop students, Shaun has successfully differentiated himself not just by delivering frameworks, his hands on exemplary field involvement has been highly acknowledged. As a Start-up Entrepreneur himself, he is currently a founder in various investments.

Shaun holds an MBA from Strathclyde University majoring in Advance Strategic Marketing and studies Strategic Business Frameworks in the University of Chicago Booth.

With more than 20 years in IT background, his tenure extended from IBM with a Client Sales Profession Certification transiting to a global distributor and has consistently earned acknowledged accolades and awards in the industry. Subsequent role as the VP Sales, APAC has enhanced his vast exposure in Sales Management across the region with diverse understanding of the different business and social cultures.

In his last role, Shaun was the Co-founder, COO of a rising unicorn in video analytics, Trakomatic. 

Through the years, Shaun has been instrumental with in-depth involvement in various Start-up/SME ranging in Industrial Manufacturing, Technology and Online games. Shaun conducts Business & Sales Mentoring across Retail, Industrial, Technology, Properties and Financial Planning coaching in various disciplines and strategies. He has in depth understanding of the challenges faced by Start-up/SME and has developed great empathy to customize his coaching approaches accordingly.
Highly rated by most of his workshop students, Shaun has successfully differentiated himself not just by delivering frameworks, his hands on exemplary field involvement has been highly acknowledged. As a Start-up Entrepreneur himself, he is currently a founder in various investments.
 

David Edson, a seasoned Solution Architect with over three decades of experience, excels in diverse sectors from Retail to Government. At Stibo Systems since 2017, Dave spearheads cutting-edge solutions for top firms like Blackwoods and Coles, leveraging his GS1 Certification prowess. Prior, he made significant contributions at AMP, CBA, and Qantas Loyalty, showcasing expertise in marketing and technology. Dave's telecommunications expertise, honed at Optus and Bullant, along with his early career at Telstra, laid the foundation for his leadership in Solution Architecture, driving innovation and success across industries.

With nearly a decade of experience in the digital transformation industry, Joel has been dedicated to transforming businesses with innovative technology solutions. As a leader at Magenest, he has spearheaded a team of experts focusing on delivering comprehensive digital solutions in eCommerce, ERP/CRM, cloud infrastructure, and digital marketing. 

Having worked with leading regional and international brands across various industries, Joel has been equipped with the profound knowledge necessary to assist companies in activating and scaling their digital presence, transforming business operations, and empowering their workforce through cutting-edge technologies, including Adobe Magento Commerce, Shopify, Odoo, HubSpot, and Amazon Web Services.

Through his leadership, Joel is not just a facilitator of digital transformation but a true visionary, guiding businesses towards a future where technology drives growth and efficiency.

John Wagner is a Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group, based in their Bangkok office. John’s focus for over a decade has been on driving growth and transformation for leading companies across the tech and wider sectors. He brings a unique blend of rigorous intellectual leadership from his time in consulting and practical operational execution as a revenue leader at Meta. Geographically, John has a global perspective from time in global roles with Meta in New York and regional roles in Asia. 

Pradip runs the Stibo Systems business for APJ and is responsible for overall P&L, Revenue and market activations. He Joined Stibo in 2023 after a very successful stint at HCL Software. Pradip specialises in data domains for new and upcoming markets, through a deep understanding of industry trends and working with partners and analysts. With a career spanning over 22 years in the technology sector, Pradip has held various leadership positions at renowned software companies, including HCL Software, BMC Software, Oracle, Gartner, and HP. His contributions have played a key role in accelerating customers' Business Transformation journeys. Pradip Speaks about Data Harmony in the Modern Retail Industry. In today's digital age, where consumers are overloaded with information from various channels, ensuring the accuracy & consistency of product data is paramount. Stibo helps the biggest retailers in the world to integrate multiple data channels, improve operations significantly, and enhance their consumer experience.

Chanchai Tanatkatrakul is a Partner in Kearney Southeast Asia's unit, based in Bangkok, Thailand. As the Country Head of the firm’s Thailand office, his responsibilities include overseeing the functions of all business units at the Thai operations, providing client development and delivery services as a subject matter expert in Thailand, driving thought leadership, and building local teams. He is also responsible for partnerships with consumer and retail companies and government agencies.

Waewkanee Assoratgoon, with two decades at Yum! Restaurant (Thailand), is a trailblazer for digital and transformative leadership. Under her helm, KFC became Thailand's largest, rapidly expanding restaurant brand. As Managing Director, she fostered KFC's transition to a fully franchised, digital-forward model, achieving a digital sales rate of 50%. Her strategic initiatives contributed to the addition of 550 outlets and propelled the brand to social media preeminence.

George Hartel is Chief Commercial & Development Officer at GQ Apparel, Thailand's leading omnichannel tech apparel menswear brand. GQ Apparel has transformed from a 60-year-old Thai family brand to become the top-selling menswear brand in Thailand. George has a deep history in company strategy and brand transformation focused on innovation models, e-commercial development, retail expansion, new market entry, breakthrough viral marketing, and building highly engaged teams in developing markets. He co-founded Fighting Giants in Thailand, an innovation and culture transformation community with over 150 senior-level executives and business leaders. 

George focuses on differentiation that pushes teams to think beyond the ordinary or traditional approaches to their business model and to find a "Wow" at every consumer touchpoint.

James SITSANKUL, with a decade at L’OREAL group, is a well-rounded FMCG digital and marketing professional. He had launched and successfully grown prominent consumer brands in Thailand e.g. Garnier Men and CeraVe through pioneering digital-centric strategies. James has spearheaded VISTRA to be in Top 5 leading consumers’ health & beauty brands in Thailand’s e-commerce landscape. With an INSEAD MBA, James speaks fluent English, Japanese and Mandarin.

Chortip is the Head of Consumer & Retail and a Transactions Services Partner at KPMG in Thailand with more than 20 years of experience across roles.  She has wide ranging experience in providing audit and deal advisory services to international and domestic clients and has led a number of inbound, outbound, and cross-border M&A transactions across sectors including retail and consumer markets, energy and utilities, real estate and property development, information and communications, industrial markets, banking and insurance, automotive, healthcare, media and entertainment, and Technology.

She has worked with a number of large consumer & retail clients as well as investment funds to support their investments in the C&R Market including hypermarket, department stores, convenience stores, e-commerce, food retail, fashion and other non-food retail, agricultural as well as consumer markets.

Chortip has also worked closely with other Audit, Tax, Legal and Advisory partners to provide integrated services to support requirements of C&R clients in Thailand especially in respect of Digital Transformation, ESG, M&A, IPO, Tax, Legal and Business Restructuring etc..

Since graduating with a Master of Interior Architecture from the renowned Penninghen School, Paris, Thomas has over 10 years of multi-disciplinary cross-sector experience. An innovative and highly creative ‘self-starter’, Thomas leads projects from visioning and concept design through to completion. He has led the design of significant commercial projects around the world, particularly in APAC and MENA, with an emphasis on large scale public spaces, with highly choreographed visitor journeys and immersive brand experience. Signature projects include Retail and Mixed-use Developments, Hotels, Residences, Corporate Headquarters, Offices, Airports, Universities and Museums. 

Passionate about storytelling through design and visual narratives, for every project Thomas creates a meaningful project narrative that establishes a brand defining design direction. Thomas is a great communicator, fluent in English and French languages. Skilled in design strategy, project visioning and creative thinking, Thomas brings these attributes to the design leadership of each project together with an understanding of the user experience, co-creation methodology, direction and mentoring of the design team. Thomas keeps up to date with a knowledge of global trends in retail with a forward looking approach to sustainability. With a collaborative approach Thomas ensures that client, stakeholders and design team unite around a strong creative concept to drive the project to a successful completion.

Tanakritt (Kris) Kittipanachol is the General Manager of Dairy Queen Thailand, the Master Franchisee of Dairy Queen in Thailand. Kris oversees 520 Dairy Queen stores nationwide, operates 250 equity stores and manages 270 franchisee stores. In 2023, Kris delivered the highest sales and profits performance in the brand’s history through successful product innovations, engaging marketing communications, continuous store expansion and focus on brand standards.

Kris has over 20 years of experience working in industries ranging from food business to skincare and construction materials. Prior to Dairy Queen he has worked in sales, marketing and operations at Bonchon, Burger King, SK-II and Kohler.

Kris has a passion for traveling and exploring new cultures through food. He possesses a multicultural perspective as he studied, lived and worked in the United States, Malaysia, and Singapore in addition to Thailand where he was responsible for markets and consumers across countries in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.

Karin is the Retail Lead for PwC’s Deals Strategy practice for AsiaPacific. Karin brings global expertise in Retail, having consulted to leading local, regional and multi-national brands, their executives, boards and private equity firms while based throughout Asia, North America and Europe.

Karin has worked with some of the world’s foremost luxury brands, specialty players and the largest sporting goods companies, along with watch and jewellery retailers, beauty, cosmetics and wellness brands and more. Karin specializes in Company Turnarounds, Profit Improvement, Buy and Sell Side Advisory, Market Entry & Expansion and overall Deal Value Creation with a special focus on the AsiaPac marketplace with work done throughout Greater China, SE Asia, India, Korea, Japan and Australia

Natee Srirussamee
SVP – Digital Retail 
The Mall Group Co., Ltd.

• Digital Marketing & eCommerce
• Strategic Alliances & New Digital Business Development
• Digital Transformation
• Data & Digital Assets Monetization

Prior Experience

UOB (Thai) – Executive Director (2 years) 

Citi Thailand – Director (15.5 years)

• Digital Sales & Marketing
• Partnership and Business Transformation
• Data Analytics and Segmentation
• Client Experience Management
• Credit Card & Lending Product

Education

• Georgetown University – MBA
• Chulalongkorn University – BBA

Antoinette Jackson is the Founder and Creative Director of BeeConscious Co, Ltd. and creator of SuperBee – a social enterprise that innovates solutions to plastic pollution, empowers women, and promotes sustainable and ethical business.

From her kitchen workshop with an old family recipe, to managing the global eco-store that exists today, Australian born Jackson brings a unique and beautiful approach to the entrepreneurial journey and the fight against single-use plastics. Jackson has crafted a holistic business model that maximizes positive social and environmental impact every step of the way.
Recently B Corp Certified, Jackson uses SuperBee as a platform to challenge convenience living and the disposable goods industry and inspire other entrepreneurs to see that success in business is possible when focusing on people and planet over profit. 

Personal Statement on Sustainability
Sustainability is rooted in our heritage. We must look back to move forward – our ancestors knew what they were doing. They understood conserving resources and living within nature, not on top of it. By adopting their wisdom, we nurture a balanced relationship with our environment. Traditional practices like responsible resource use, waste reduction, and valuing durability offer lessons for modern sustainability. Incorporating their insights can shape eco-friendly food production, reduced energy consumption, and a shift from consumerism to conscious consumption. Embracing ancestral knowledge honors their legacy and paves the way for an ecologically conscious future.

Sustainability is not just a buzzword, but a way of life that encompasses every aspect of our existence. To be a truly sustainable and successful business, we not only have to look back to our ancestral wisdom, but we must look around and understand the ecosystem we’re a part of and work within that. When we see ourselves as a connected part of an ecosystem, sustainability and ethics come naturally. 

And we must look wider than the customer: it’s our obligation to inspire, educate, and empower individuals and organizations to adopt sustainable practices, encouraging them to make conscious decisions that benefit the environment, society, and the economy. By engaging and empowering individuals and community, we can drive systemic change and create a more sustainable future.