2027 Speakers
Speaker Line-Up
A look at the CEOs, policymakers, innovators, and industry experts who have led discussions at past Retail CEO Forums.
Forum Voices
Leaders Shaping the Conversation
The Retail CEO Forum brings together influential leaders from retail, business, technology, and public policy. Meet the speakers bringing their expertise, perspectives, and insights to this year’s Forum.
Boney Poovan
Portfolio Manager
Boney Poovan is a Holocene Book Portfolio Manager focusing on the Consumer Sector. Mr. Poovan joined Holocene in 2016 from Citadel LLC, where he was responsible for investments in the Hardlines Sector within the Consumer/Retail portfolio in Global Equities led by Mr. Haley. Mr. Poovan started his career as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company in Germany before joining Goldman Sachs' Investment Banking Division as an Analyst in the United Kingdom. Mr. Poovan holds a Diplom-Kaufmann degree (equivalent to a Bachelor of Business Administration) from WHU Koblenz in Germany and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
Monday February 1, 2027
2:10 PM - 2:50 PM
| A Story the Market Believes
Brian Dodge
President & Chief Executive Officer
Monday February 1, 2027
10:30 AM - 11:20 AM
| Purpose That Moves the Needle: How Retail Can Advance Science, Serve Customers, and Earn Trust
David Petraeus
General, U.S. Army (Ret.); Partner, KKR and Chairman of the KKR Global Institute;
Tuesday February 2, 2027
8:30 AM - 9:15 AM
| When the World Reorders: Conversation with David Petraeus
Donna McKay
President & Chief Executive Officer
Monday February 1, 2027
10:30 AM - 11:20 AM
| Purpose That Moves the Needle: How Retail Can Advance Science, Serve Customers, and Earn Trust
George Mrkonic
Board Director, AutoZone
Tuesday February 2, 2027
9:15 AM - 10:05 AM
| What the Board Sees
Gregory Fowlkes
Managing Director
Monday February 1, 2027
2:10 PM - 2:50 PM
| A Story the Market Believes
Kecia Steelman
President & Chief Executive Officer
Monday February 1, 2027
10:30 AM - 11:20 AM
| Purpose That Moves the Needle: How Retail Can Advance Science, Serve Customers, and Earn Trust
Kevin Kalinsky, MD
Professor and Director, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology
Monday February 1, 2027
10:30 AM - 11:20 AM
| Purpose That Moves the Needle: How Retail Can Advance Science, Serve Customers, and Earn Trust
Lizanne Kindler
Executive Chair & Chief Executive Officer
Monday February 1, 2027
10:30 AM - 11:20 AM
| Purpose That Moves the Needle: How Retail Can Advance Science, Serve Customers, and Earn Trust
Mary Winston
Board Member
Tuesday February 2, 2027
9:15 AM - 10:05 AM
| What the Board Sees
Matt Harrington
Executive Vice Chairman
Monday February 1, 2027
8:30 AM - 9:10 AM
| The State of Trust: What the Pressured Consumer Believes Now
Melinda Whittington
Board Chair, President & Chief Executive Officer
Monday February 1, 2027
2:10 PM - 2:50 PM
| A Story the Market Believes
Nicholas Whittall
US Retail & Travel Industry Group Lead, Senior Managing Director
Monday February 1, 2027
9:30 AM - 10:10 AM
| The Human Opportunity of AI
Peter Gleason
President & Chief Executive Officer
Tuesday February 2, 2027
9:15 AM - 10:05 AM
| What the Board Sees
Phil Daniele
Chief Executive Officer, AutoZone
Simeon Gutman
Managing Director
Monday February 1, 2027
2:10 PM - 2:50 PM
| A Story the Market Believes
Ted Dysart
Managing Director
Tuesday February 2, 2027
9:15 AM - 10:05 AM
| What the Board Sees
