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Speakers 
 Fabio d' Angelantonio,
Marketing Director,
Luxottica Group
Fabio d’Angelantonio is 36 years old. After receiving a degree in 1994 in Economy and Commerce from the LUISS in Rome, he completed an MBA in International Management at the UBI in Brussels in 1999.
After brief, but significant, experiences in the European Union and in the Olivetti Marketing Department in Brussels and Madrid, Fabio led the international department for five years from 1995 to 2000 for the Belgian Publishing House Editions Hemma (Havas-Vivendi group). At the beginning of 2000 Fabio joined Ciaoweb (Fiat-Ifil group) where he held the position of Channel Manager, eventually moving to Merloni Elettrodomestici, today Indesit Company, where he held increasing positions ending in Brand & Advertising Manager, responsible for the management of the entire brand portfolio for the group.
Fabio is the Marketing Director for Luxottica Group since January 2005.
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 Colin Baden,
President,
Oakley
In the early '90s, Oakley founder Jim Jannard was searching for an architect like no other, a like mind with the vision to create structures that would match the unconventional and innovative spirit of Oakley. Colin Baden had been a partner at Lewis Architects of Seattle, Washington for six years and had gained a reputation for the art and science of design. Baden began advising Oakley on product development and company image. Jannard was so impressed with the architect's creative talents and management skills that he hired Baden to be Oakley's Director of Design in February of 1996. In a single year, Baden reached the position of Vice President of Design. In February 1999, Baden was named President of Oakley. He now oversees all aspects of product development, delivery and promotion, including the daily care and feeding of some of the most brilliant and impassioned artists and engineers on the planet.
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 Lynne Biggar,
Senior Vice President & General Manager,
American Express Consumer Network
Lynne Biggar, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Consumer Travel Network, USA, leads American Express’ U.S. leisure travel business, which provides premium travel services to American Express Cardmembers and other customers through a network of owned offices, telephone service centers, the U.S. Representative Travel Network and the Internet, at www.americanexpress.com/travel. Prior to assuming this role in January 2005, she was Vice President, Acquisition and Early Engagement Marketing in American Express’ Consumer Card Services Group. She began her career at Arthur Andersen and held positions at the JH Biggar Furniture Company, Team One/Saatchi & Saatchi and Maidenform, Inc., before joining American Express in 1992 as a Marketing Manager in Card Acquisition.
Biggar holds a BA in International Relations from Stanford University and an MBA from Columbia University. She serves on the board of directors of "Cool Culture," a non-profit organization focused on making art approachable to underprivileged children and their families in New York City.
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 Alexander Bolen,
CEO,
Oscar de la Renta
Alex Bolen joined Oscar de la Renta, Ltd. as Director of Corporate Development in January 2003 after a 14 year career on Wall Street focused on leveraged finance, most recently at Bear Stearns & Co., where he was Managing Director in the Mezzanine Capital Group. Bolen was named Chief Executive in July 2004.
Alex graduated from Brown University with a BA in Russian Studies, magna cum laude. He and his wife, Eliza, who serves as Oscar de la Renta’s Creative Director for Licensed Products, are the proud parents of three boys.
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 Michael Breen,
CEO,
P1 International
Michael Breen is CEO of P1 the prestige and performance car club he founded in 2000, which now has established operations in the UK and international branches under development. Michael is a qualified solicitor and was most recently a senior partner with the law firm Clyde & Co. and subsequently Managing Director of the Sports and Entertainment Division of the private bank Insinger de Beaufort.
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 Carol Brodie,
Chief Luxury Officer,
Robb Report
Television personality, luxury spokeswoman, image consultant, public relations/special events guru and advertising/ marketing executive depict the professional talents, passions and day-to-day responsibilities of Carol Brodie, Chief Luxury Officer for CurtCo Media, publisher of Robb Report, Worth, Showboats International, and a family of titles targeted to the world’s most affluent readers.
Ms. Brodie’s recent appointment to this newly created post provides her with the enviable opportunity of spearheading the positioning of CurtCo magazines as the preeminent voice of the international luxury marketplace.
Assuming this leadership role was a natural transition for Ms. Brodie, who joined the magazine publishing powerhouse after eight years as Global Director of Communications for world-renowned jeweler Harry Winston, Inc. In that position, Ms. Brodie has been credited with expanding the reach and image of the old-world brand to appeal to a younger clientele.
Initially, she set out to redefine the essence of the Harry Winston brand by making it more relevant, contemporary and a mainstay of modern elegance. The effort seemed to click when Ms. Brodie persuaded Oscar nominee Gwyneth Paltrow to wear Harry Winston jewels to the 1999 Academy Awards. Ms. Paltrow won the Oscar and received the diamond princess necklace she wore as a gift from her late father, Bruce Paltrow.
Ms. Brodie has become well-known through her numerous appearances on entertainment, business and lifestyle programs, discussing various topics such as fashion and business trends, luxury living and Hollywood style. She can be seen as an occasional correspondent on EXTRA; as a style expert on E! Entertainment Television’s Style Court and ABC’s Extreme Makeover; and as a guest on The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Extra, Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, Inside Edition, Today in New York, CNBC, CNN and Martha Stewart Weddings.
In addition, Ms. Brodie is frequently quoted on various subjects including jewelry, luxury, style and beauty trends in national magazines and newspapers.
Prior to joining Harry Winston in 1997, Ms. Brodie spent four years as a partner at acclaimed advertising agency J. Walter Thompson, where she managed the Diamond Information Center on behalf of De Beers Consolidated Mines. Not just limited to diamonds, Ms. Brodie has helped build luxury and beauty brands such as Clairol, Revlon Professional Products, Henry Dunay Designs and Gucci Timepieces.
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 Nick Candy,
CEO,
Candy & Candy
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 Jacques-Olivier Chauvin,
Relais & Châteaux
As chief executive officer, Jacques-Olivier Chauvin is responsible for devising and implementing strategy and the development of the Relais & Châteaux brand, which is synonymous with prestige, exclusivity and the inimitable French art de vivre that today distinguish member properties around the world. Relais & Châteaux is a founding member of the Luxury Alliance.
Chauvin first joined Relais & Châteaux as chief marketing officer in 1999, initially focusing on international branding and commercial development. He additionally supervised the growth management of the central reservation system, as well as sales and promotions.
In 2004, at the age of 36, Chauvin was appointed the youngest-ever chief executive officer of Relais & Châteaux.
An impressive track record in the luxury segment has included management appointments with the Taillevent Group, as deputy director general spearheading commercial development in France, Japan and the USA, and with Louis Vuitton Malletier in sales and marketing. His debut in the travel and hospitality industry came with an appointment as deputy commercial director of Air France for Great Britain, followed by a consulting role with KPMG Peat Marwick in Paris.
Jacques-Olivier Chauvin is a graduate of the exclusive HEC international business school in Paris.
Relais & Châteaux is the prestigious global association of 453 privately owned hotels and acclaimed restaurants of charm and prestige in 50 countries. Founded in France and headquartered in Paris, the association serves as an ambassador for the French “art de vivre” and the highest culinary standards. Each establishment embodies the association’s quality charter of the five “C’s” - Courtesy, Charm, Character, Calm and Cuisine.
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 Lee Daley,
Group CEO & Chairman UK,
Saatchi & Saatchi
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 Raphael le Masne de Chermont,
Executive Chairman,
Shanghai Tang
Mr. Raphael le Masne de Chermont, Executive Chairman of Shanghai Tang since September 2001, is the driving force behind the brand’s global expansion and positioning as the first Chinese luxury lifestyle brand. Shanghai Tang, the arbiter of modern Chinese chic, is a full lifestyle concept comprising of fashion, accessories, home, furnishings, and tailoring services “inspired by Chinese.” The brand currently has 20 boutiques globally and flagship locations in Shanghai, New York, Paris, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
Mr. le Masne de Chermont is a veteran of Asia and has over eighteen years of experience in the luxury goods sector. Prior to Shanghai Tang, he held executive-level positions at brands within the Richemont Luxury Group: Piaget, Baume & Mercier, Officine Panerai, and Cartier, where he first joined its London operations in January 1988.
Mr. le Masne de Chermont is a graduate of l’Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Nantes Atlantique, France.
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Martine Depresle,
International Marketing Director,
Caran d'Ache
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 Robert Diamond,
CEO,
Diametric
Robert is Founder and Chief Executive of marketing consultancy Diametric, who help brand owners to generate greater value from their customers.
Founded in 2000, Diametric (www.diametric.biz) has grown rapidly to become a recognised award-winning expert in the areas of brand, loyalty & partnership marketing. Current clients across the European, US and Asian markets include Eurostar, Unilever, Procter & Gamble, British Telecom, Camelot, GlaxoSmithKline, Reckitt Benckiser and Hearst Publishing/National Magazines
Diametric is the third marketing consultancy that Robert has founded. Prior to setting up the company he was a European Board Director with the world’s largest direct marketing agency, Wunderman. He previously co-founded the New York-based Relationship Marketing consulting practice for Coopers & Lybrand Consulting (now part of IBM), following a career in brand management with Procter & Gamble and EMI Music.
After several years living in the US, Robert now lives in London with his wife and three sons.
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 Fulvio Dodich,
General Manager of Ferretti S.p.A. & CEO,
Ferretti Yachts – Custom Line – Mochi Craft
Fulvio Dodich was born in Ravenna on 19th November 1953, where he achieved excellent results at school. At just 25 years old, he entered the family business, a leading European company in the earth moving machinery sector in the early 1980s.
This was a period of progressive growth for Fulvio Dodich, which resulted in him taking over the reins of the company entirely, from the product to the organisation of a network of national dealers and importers and distributors on an international level.
In 1990, he became the Managing Director of International Construction Equipments, a company operating in the earth moving machinery sector, where he obtained excellent results thanks to the development of a line of successful products and the introduction of a fully computerised system, which also included CRM functions. He was also behind the growth of the global dealer network, which saw a rise of over 80% in the volume of exports.
In 1994, he joined CEFLA in Imola (Furniture division), where he managed to boost the company turnover by almost 50%, thanks to the creation of a commercial network and the penetration of markets considered of strategic importance.
In 1996, after over 18 years of experience gained in the commercial division in various sectors of business, Dodich joined Ferretti on the invitation of Norberto Ferretti, and was put in charge of the commercial management of the company he had created. He was given the task of increasing the turnover and expanding the sales network on an international level.
Dodich thus contributed to developing the international growth of the Group, through the reorganisation of the dealer network, strengthening its operations abroad, especially in the Far East and Asia. In order to gain a better understanding of these markets, he also dedicated himself to studying Chinese culture and language.
In September 2002, Fulvio Dodich was appointed Managing Director of the Ferretti Yachts division, with the objective of creating a new team and achieving ambitious growth targets.
In 2005, the Mochi Craft division passed into the management of Ferretti Yachts, followed by Custom Line a year later, also entrusted to the direction of Fulvio Dodich, who now covers the role of CEO for all three brands in the Ferretti Group. In August 2006, Dodich has been appointed General Manager of Ferretti SPA,
with delegacy on Ferretti Yachts, Mochi Craft and Custom Line divisions reporting to the Ferretti Group Managing Director.
Dodich also works with a number of universities, offering his experience in the field of complex systems management.
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 Jacques-Franck Dossin,
Head of Luxury Goods, Global Investment Research,
Goldman Sachs International
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 Belinda Earl,
CEO,
Jaeger
Belinda holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Economics and Business from The University of Wales, Aberystwyth. In 2003 she became a Fellow of the University.
She started her career at Harrods, as a graduate trainee and held various buying and management positions in the Fashion Division. In 1985, she joined Debenhams and held a number of senior positions in buying and merchandising in men’s, women’s, children’s and accessories. Belinda was appointed a director of Debenhams in 1991. She became a Trading Director in 1998 and was responsible for homeware, cosmetics and Designers at Debenhams and joined the board of Debenhams plc in March 1999.
Belinda was the Chief Executive of Debenhams from 2000 – 2003 and joined Jaeger as Chief Executive in 2004.
Belinda is also a Patron of Skillsmart, a trailblazing sector skills council for the Retail Sector and held the position of Chair from 2002 – 2004.
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 David Eastwood,
Partner,
KPMG LLP UK
David Eastwood joined KPMG in 1982 as an Auditor. He moved to KPMG’s Forensic practice in 1991 after a year doing forensic work in Hong Kong. He was appointed Partner in 1995 in the Forensic practice, moving to focus full time on IP issues in 2000. David leads KPMG’s intellectual property group in EMEA. He is a Chartered Accountant, a founder member of the Expert Witness Institute, a member of the Licensing Executives Society and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. David advises clients on developing and delivering compliance programmes in relation to intellectual property and self-reported relationships and on broader issues of intellectual asset management. He has undertaken numerous forensic and other investigations, including royalty and licence management assignments and audits in the retail, software, music, merchandising, film and pharmaceutical industries as well as advising on royalty and licence agreements and management and controls. He has acted as expert witness on the proper conduct of royalty audits and on losses arising from IP infringement amongst many other expert witness assignments.
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 Theo Fennell,
Founder,
Theo Fennell
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 Chris Hale,
Partner,
Travers Smith
Chris joined Travers Smith in 1983 and became a partner in 1987. Chris is overall head of the Corporate department which includes both the Corporate Finance and Private Equity groups (the latter of which he co-founded in 1996). Chris specialises in UK and international buy-out work and is particularly experienced in public-to-private transactions. He acts for institutional investors and management teams on investments and divestments, as well as private equity-backed companies on M&A and other corporate matters. He also advises a number of listed companies on equity issues (both primary and secondary), mergers and acquisitions and reconstructions.
Chris is a regular contributor to various legal journals, being on the editorial boards of The Company Lawyer and Amicus Curiae. Finance in Europe rates Chris as an M&A expert and Chambers Global and the Legal 500 list Chris as among the world's leading lawyers in private equity. Chris is the Treasurer of the Society of Advanced Legal Studies.
Deals on which he has worked in 2004/5 have included advising: the institution and newco on the £confidential MBO of Bowater Windows; the sellers on the £245m sale of Earls Court & Olympia; the Company on the IPO of Pinewood Shepperton; management on the £1.25bn refinancing of Coral Eurobet; the institution and newco on the £confidential MBO of Tilney Holdings; the institution and newco on the £40m MBO of Fairline Boats; management on the £282m MBO of the Barracuda Group; the institution and newco on the £46m MBO of Kurt Geiger and management on the £555m MBO of NCP.
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 Humphrey Harrison,
Harrison and Cartier Ltd
Humphrey is the Managing Director of Harrison & Cartier Ltd, a London-based real estate consultancy specializing in luxury residential and resort investments.
A former lawyer and stockbroker, he has been involved in a wide range of property initiatives in such diverse locations as Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Eastern Europe.
He is a Fellow of the Securities and Investment Institute; a Certified International Property Specialist; a licensed estate agent in the UK and USA; a member of the International Bar Association and of several other professional organisations; and a director of a leading international communications advisory firm.
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 Mark Henderson,
CEO,
Gieves & Hawkes
Mark Henderson is CEO of Gieves & Hawkes Plc – a private Company. Founded in 1771 and based at the iconic address No 1 Savile Row, Gieves & Hawkes is famed for its bespoke tailoring and its world class menswear ranges. With 12 shops and 11 concessions in the UK and a further 39 in Asia, the Company is embarked on a steady expansion programme. Mark is also the founder and Chairman of a collective of 11 Savile Row tailors – Savile Row Bespoke – that aims to protect and promote the art of bespoke tailoring on Savile Row.
Prior to joining Gieves & Hawkes in 1996 Mark was with Alfred Dunhill and the Max Factor Group.
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Susy Korb,
CMO,
Harry Winston
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 Ho Kwon Ping,
CEO,
Banyan Tree
Mr HO Kwon Ping is Executive Chairman and founder of the Banyan Tree Group, which is a leading manager and developer of premium resorts, hotels and spas in the Asia Pacific. The Group manages and/or has ownership interests in niche resorts and hotels.
Born in 1952, Mr Ho was educated in Tunghai University, Taiwan; Stanford University, California and the University of Singapore. He worked as a broadcast and financial journalist and was the Economics Editor of the Far Eastern Economic Review. He joined the family business in 1981. He then went on to launch Banyan Tree in 1994, with the opening of Banyan Tree Phuket in Thailand.
Mr Ho Kwon Ping has served as director on the boards of various companies within the Wah-Chang Group since 1980 and has been the President of the Wah-Chang Group since 1984.
Mr Ho also serves as Chairman of the board of trustees of the Singapore Management University, Chairman and director of Mediacorp Pte Ltd and is a director of Singapore Airlines Limited.
In 2006, Mr Ho was named the Lifestyle, Hospitality and Retail Entrepreneur of the Year Singapore 2005 at the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. In 2005, Mr Ho was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Institute of Advertising Singapore at the Advertising Hall of Fame Awards and the 2005 Entrepreneurship Award by the London Business School. Prior to that, he was awarded the Travel Personality of the Year at the TTG (Travel Trade Gazette) Travel Awards 2004.
In 2003, the Hotel Investment Conference Asia-Pacific honoured Mr Ho with their 2003 Innovation Award.
Mr Ho holds a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) degree from the then University of Singapore. In 2000, he was conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration in Hospitality Management from Johnson & Wales University, United States of America.
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 David Lamb,
International Marketing Director,
DTC
David was most recently Executive Vice President, Director of Multinational Clients at JWT, and assumed his new role at Diamond Trading Company (DTC) in London in the Spring of 2006. Before taking on his current post at JWT, Lamb had been the Worldwide Director of Account Planning at the agency for four years, and before that, Global Business Director on DTC (formerly DeBeers) for five years. In the latter role, Lamb invented DTC's "Past, Present, Future" concept, which has proven a phenomenon across three continents. Following Lamb's tenure on the account, JWT continues to create significant awareness, buzz, and sales for an entirely new category of diamond rings-the Right Hand
Lamb joined JWT London in 1984 as a graduate trainee after gaining a first-class degree in English Literature at Cambridge University. In 1986, he joined JWT Toronto to work on Unilever Personal Care. Three years later, he moved back to the U.K., where he became the youngest-ever Board Director of the London agency. In 1990, Lamb was promoted to Director in Charge on Kraft General Foods and then Kellogg. He went to AMV BBDO in 1994 to manage the Sainsbury's and Gillette accounts, returning to JWT two years later to become Global Business Director on DTC.
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 Dr.Concetta Lanciaux,
Advisor to the Chairman & CEO Bernard Arnault, Group Executive Vice President, LVMH and President for LVMH Italia Spa,
LVMH
Dr Concetta Lanciaux, PhD, Executive MBA and former Professor at the Carnegie Mellon University (USA), is the Senior Advisor to the Chairman, Executive Vice President Synergies, Group Representative LVMH Italia Spa and President of LVMH House. She joined Bernard Arnault’s team in 1985 and has played an important part in the organizational development of the group introducing innovative human resources practices and contributing to the modernization of the luxury sector.
She is a well-known conference speaker worldwide (HEC, ESSEC, Institut d’études politiques, IFM - Paris, Corporate University Exchange - New York, Bocconi University – Milan, International Herald Tribune,Business Week - London…).
Member of the Board of the SDA Bocconi School of Management, Honorary Fellow of the London Business School in 2005, she was attributed the Fondazione Marisa Bellisario Award as successful businesswoman of a quoted company in 2002, voted one of the 30 most influential businesswomen in Europe by the Wall Street Journal Europe in 2001, and listed in the Top 50 Worldwide Human Resources Directors by the HR World Review in 2000.
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 John Linneker,
Parter,
Denton Wilde Sapte
John specialises in all aspects of intellectual property law with an emphasis on contentious work including patent, trade mark, copyright, confidential information, industrial design, IT and publishing.
John's reported cases include Macmillan Publishers v. Thomas Reed (copyright infringement), A Limited v B Bank (patent infringement and crown privilege) and Re Lely Industries' Trade Mark Application (trade mark registrability). He has also acted in publishing litigation against The Duchess of York and advised the Official Solicitor to the Supreme Court on copyright matters.
John graduated in law from Cambridge University in 1981 and qualified as a solicitor in 1986. He holds a post-graduate diploma in IP law from London University. He lectures in IP law at Bristol University and has written and spoken widely on intellectual property matters. John is recommended in "Legal 500" as an expert in IP law.
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 Andreas Liveras,
CEO,
Liveras Yachts
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 Adrienne Ma,
President,
Joyce Boutiques
Ms. Adrienne M. Ma, President, joined Joyce Boutique Holdings Ltd. in 1989. She held a number of key marketing and publishing positions prior to assuming her position as Managing Director in 1998 which was re-titled to President in 2006. She played a key role in JOYCE's pioneering move into lifestyle retailing in the 1990’s, the introduction of the JOYCE private label card, the Group’s extension into new business categories, and its successful entry into the mainland China market through a sub-franchising business model.
As Managing Director, Ms. Ma is responsible for the direction, development and implementation of the Group’s corporate, merchandising and marketing strategies. She led the Group’s rebound following the Asian financial crisis and shepherded it through Hong Kong’s economic downturn. Under her leadership, the Group’s share price has increased more than six folds from its low. Her innovative marketing strategies and initiatives are highly regarded by the industry. Her views and knowledge on specialty retailing are regularly sought by the world’s leading fashion and business media. In 2005, Ms. Ma was selected as one of Asia’s young and creative entrepreneurs by Time Style & Design Magazine; she was one of the key speakers at the 2005 International Herald Tribune Global Luxury Forum; and was also nominated for The Veuve Clicquot Award, Hong Kong Business Woman 2005. In January 2006, Ms. Ma was awarded as one of the “Distinguished CEO of the Year 2005” by Capital CEO Magazine, the most influential financial/economic publication in Hong Kong. In the same year, Ms. Ma was one of the key speakers in the 2006 Harvard China Review Conference.
Ms. Ma graduated from Simmons College in the United States with a Bachelor Degree in International Management and Marketing. She is the younger daughter of the Group’s co-founders, Mr. Walter Ma, Chairman and Mrs. Joyce Ma, Chief Executive Officer.
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 Massimo Macchi,
CEO Ferré & Vice Chairman,
IT Holding Group
Massimo Macchi, 50 years old, originally from Gallarate (Varese, Italy), is the Vice Chairman of the IT Holding Group and CEO of the Ferré Division.
Before this appointment, Mr. Macchi held a number of other top jobs and offices with some of the most exclusive international brands in the luxury sector.
Following a stint at Procter & Gamble and American Express, Massimo Macchi spent a decade with Bulgari, between 1990 and 2000, where he was the Head of the Jewelry and Watch Sales and Marketing Division and the President and CEO of Bulgari Perfume. From 2000 to 2004 he served as Vice President of the Jewelry & Watch Division for the Gucci Group. And, finally, he served as Vice President of Sales, Merchandising and Design for Testoni.
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 Gianluca Malaguti Simoni,
VP and Creative Director,
Omas Pens
Born in Bologna in 1965, Gianluca Malaguti Simoni is the grandson of Armando Simoni, the founder of Omas.
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Only eighteen, when attended the University, he joined the family Company as Area Manager
showing immediately his aptitude for marketing and image becoming first Commercial Manager and later Marketing Manager in spite of his very young age. In 1993 he was appointed Manager Director of the Company.
Passionate of writing instruments, in the tradition of the family, like his grandfather, his mother and his father, he revealed himself to be an excellent creative and designer and models like Jerusalem 3000, Return to the Motherland, Unicef, Mandela, L’Ingegno Scrittorio (from studies of Leonardo Da Vinci), Harmonia Mundi, Invisibilis are from his intuitions.
He managed the Lvmh take over in 2000.
Actually he is Omas Vice President always in charge of creations and image.
With many activities and interests in different fields, his main hobby is to take care of the family writing instruments collection.
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 Bruno Massa,
Managing Director,
Daks
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 Stuart McCullough,
Member of Board,
Bentley
Stuart McCullough joined Bentley in April 2006 assuming responsibility for worldwide sales operations, marketing strategy and service delivery.
He is best known in the automotive industry for the re-launch of the Lexus business in Europe, a brand whose relatively short history stands in stark contrast to the 80 years of heritage that lies behind the Bentley marque.
After joining Volkswagen as a graduate trainee 20 years ago, Stuart has managed most of the sales and marketing functions inherent in running an automotive business. Even washing and polishing cars for delivery during a spell running a start-up Porsche and Audi dealership in the mid-90s.
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 Brad s. O'Leary,
Chairman,
Global Luxury Living
In addition to serving as Chairman and CEO of Global Luxury Living (www.globalluxuryliving.com), Mr. O’Leary serves as chairman of PM Direct Marketing (www.pm-direct.com), and as president of Associated Television News (www.ati-news.com).
Mr. O’Leary is also the executive producer or producer of over 12 television series and 27 one-hour television specials. In addition to authoring several travel books, he’s authored a number of political books, including Presidential Follies, which Human Events called “as one-sided and impertinent as all getout, and yet it’s also acute, knowing and percipient, not to mention wonderfully readable.” The book recounts Bill Clinton’s 1994 mid-term election disaster—an event which resulted in Esquire magazine in 1995 naming Mr. O’Leary as one of the principal architects of the political defeats suffered by President Clinton that year.
In 1999, Brad O’Leary received the Humanitarian Award at the Gala Ball hosted at The Century Plaza by Dan Aykroyd, Diahann Carroll, Fran Drescher & Howie Mandel. The event’s National Honorary Chairs were Vice President and Mrs. Gore and Dinner Chairs were Joanna & Sidney Poitier. Presidents Ronald Reagan, President George Bush and President Bill Clinton all paid tribute to him at the gala.
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Fabrice Paget,
Founder,
Napkin London
Fabrice Paget, 35, holds a BSc in Data Analysis and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management. He has been working for the last 12 years in the luxury industry in Tokyo, Paris, Munich, Milan and since August 2004 in London as the Marketing and Communication Director of De Beers LV.
Fabrice started his career in Tokyo, working for Cartier to rise to the position of Marketing Director. He then moved to Paris where he was in charge of the strategic marketing and product development for Cartier watches worldwide.
In 2003 he was asked to join the founding team of the Creative Academy, the Richemont Design School in Milan, where he taught Branding and Designing for Luxury Brands to young Design Graduates. In August 2004, Fabrice was appointed Marketing and Communications Director of De Beers LV, the joint venture between LVMH and De Beers groups with worldwide responsibilities covering branding, advertising and product development.
Fabrice is fluent in Japanese.
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 Milton Pedraza,
CEO,
Luxury Institute
Milton has over 20 years experience in Finance, Marketing, Sales and Senior Management positions at Fortune 100 companies Altria, Pepsico, Colgate, Citigroup and Cendant. He is an acknowledged authority and award winner in Database Marketing and Customer Relationship Management programs at Citigroup. Milton served as Senior V.P. and General Manager, Luxury Markets for a travel and leisure division of the Cendant Corporation and advised Boards of Directors, Chairmen and CEOs of the world's foremost Financial Services, Real Estate, Hospitality, Travel and Leisure, Luxury Services and Luxury Goods firms.
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Tim Philips,
Author / Journalist,
Knockoff: The True Story of the World's Fastest Growing Crimewave
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 Larry Pimental,
CEO,
Sea Dream Yacht Club
Larry Pimentel is a high profile senior executive in the international travel and tourism industry, widely known for his acumen in marketing luxury travel products to affluent consumers. His unique body of knowledge on the subject complements exceptional skills as a forceful and compelling educator, speaker, writer and frequent lecturer. Pimentel has a well-earned reputation as one of the foremost experts on the topic of selling and marketing to discriminating affluent consumers.
He is a co-owner of SeaDream Yacht Club, founded in the fall of 2001, and its President and Chief Executive Officer.
RECENT POSITIONS INCLUDE:
Former President & CEO of Cunard Line and Seabourn Cruise Line (1992-2001)
President & CEO of Classic Hawaii (1983-1992)
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 Jane Piper,
Associate Director Corporate Finance,
KPMG LLP UK
Jane has specialist expertise in creating, managing and developing brand value for organisations of all size, and has recently joined the Corporate Finance team at KPMG with responsibility for developing their brand value expertise.
She has 20 year’s consultancy experience gained both in-house and independently, focusing on the strategic development and management of brands.
Her clients are wide and diverse and have included both market leaders and medium-sized businesses in key market sectors, such as travel & leisure, consumer goods, financial services, public sector and energy – all of whom have an interest in maximising the value and return on investment in their brands.
Jane has recently researched and produced and independent overview on valuing brands ‘Unravelling Brand Value’ for Superbrands, which has been published in all their 2005/06 books – including Britain’s strongest Superbrands, as well Cool Brands.
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 Mr Richard Power,
Managing Director,
Rocco Forte Hotels
Richard Power is Managing Director at Rocco Forte Hotels with responsibility for brand marketing, personnel, Information Technology and hotel operations in the UK and France. The company, which he helped found in 1996, operates ten luxury hotels in Europe with a further five under development.
Richard had previously spent over ten years with Forte plc, then the UK’s largest hotel and catering company with operations in more than fifty countries. His responsibilities included corporate marketing, sales and reservations, media relations and investor relations.
Prior to this Richard spent ten years in the civil service working in operations, Whitehall policy divisions and as private secretary to Sir Peter Morrison and Norman Tebbit. The earliest part of his career was as a photographer in his father’s business.
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 Richard Purdey,
Chairman,
James Purdey & Sons
Richard Purdey was born in Hove, Sussex in 1942. He is a direct descendant of James Purdey, who founded one of the world’s oldest sporting brands, James Purdey & Sons in 1814. Richard is the sixth generation of the Purdey family to be involved in the business.
Richard Purdey was educated at Shrewsbury School. Following various trainee positions including a year at Purdey, he joined the marketing department of Sussex cider maker Merrydown PLC and became Chairman of the company in 1993.
During his career as a cider maker Richard Purdey was Chairman of the UK National Association of Cider Makers (1989 - 1991) and President of the Federation of European Cider Makers from 1992-1994. He also served as a non executive director of Eastbourne Hospitals NHS Trust from 1997 - 2000.
In 1995 Richard Purdey was appointed Chairman of James Purdey & Sons, a position he holds to this day. He has been a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers since 1998, a member of its Court since 2003, and is also a Trustee of the Gunmakers Company Charitable Trust.
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Ian Robertson,
CEO,
Rolls Royce
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David Ross,
CEO,
Burger Boat
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 Dee Salomon,
Senior Vice President and Managing Director of STYLE.COM and MEN.STYLE.COM,
CondéNet
Dee Salomon joined STYLE.COM in April of 2003 as Senior Vice President and Managing Director. Salomon brings over fifteen years of experience to the position from her renowned tenure in the fashion and publishing worlds.
With an impressive mix of marketing and media expertise, Dee is responsible for the overall STYLE.COM and MEN.STYLE.COM businesses. Under Salomon’s direction, STYLE.COM developed an integrated commerce platform TheShop on STYLE.COM which launched May 2004.
Before joining STYLE.COM, Salomon served as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Anne Klein where she was responsible for successfully revamping the company's brand. Prior to that, Salomon worked for six years at Donna Karan International where she served as Senior Vice President of creative services and advertising. Before DKI, she was with Condé Nast Publications, working as fashion director on the business side for House & Garden and Condé Nast Traveler.
Salomon graduated from UC Berkeley and attended the Ecole Chambre Syndicale de la Couture.
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 Guy Salter,
Deputy Chairman,
Walpole
Guy Salter gained his grounding in retailing and brand development at the Burton Group (now Arcadia). From there he was seconded to be Assistant Private Secretary to HRH The Prince of Wales for Industry and Commerce. While there he formed the Duchy Originals brand and started the Prince of Wales Business Leader's Forum. His entry into the luxury industry came with his
appointment as managing director of Laurent-Perrier. While at Laurent-Perrier he was also chairman of the Champagne Association and a member of the steering committee of the Comité Colbert. It was while he was managing director of Asprey & Garrard that he first became involved in Walpole.
In April 2002, Guy and Rupert Hambro & Partners acquired Tanner Krolle. As chief executive Guy oversaw the company's very rapid growth in revenues and margins. This period saw the establishment of Tanner Krolle's UK stores and quality wholesale accounts, as well as distribution in the USA, Japan, Hong Kong, the Middle East and Russia.
Guy is also a trustee of the Prince’s Trust.
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 Hans-Joerg Seeberger,
Chairman & CEO,
EganaGoldpfeil (Holdings) Limited
Chairman & Chief Executive of EganaGoldpfeil (Holdings) Limited and Egana Jewellery & Pearls Limited, Hong Kong; Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Goldpfeil GmbH, Offenbach/Main, Germany.
Interest in Asia led Hans-Joerg Seeberger to board a freighter to India and Hong Kong once he had completed his schooling. His trip around the world climaxed in Japan where Seeberger, after having studied the Japanese language and culture, took the steps that laid the foundation for what is known today as the EganaGoldpfeil Group. The export business between Japan, Hong Kong and Germany, which initially specialized in pearls, soon expanded to include diamonds, timepieces and leather goods.
In 1978, he successfully established a joint venture for marketing high-quality textiles with the Japanese companies Marubeni and Kuraray. In1980, the group had already grown to a total of 15 watch and jewellery companies with its own production facilities and sales partners in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Germany and the United States. Two years later, Hans-Joerg Seeberger was appointed Chairman of the Board at Dugena e.G., Darmstadt, Germany. During the mid-eighties, Seeberger recognized that brands and lifestyle marketing were destined to gain strategic importance in the jewellery and watch markets. With the introduction of watches under internationally recognized names, the group's focus as a brand-oriented lifestyle company began, primarily on the Asian and US markets.
In 1991, Seeberger founded EganaGoldpfeil (Holdings) Limited. It was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1993 as a holding company for all of the group's companies. EganaGoldpfeil (Europe) GmbH has been responsible for capturing Europe's key market - Germany. For Hans-Joerg Seeberger, the acquisition of Goldpfeil AG, Offenbach in 1998 as well as the 2000 takeover of the Junghans group, headquartered in Schramberg and Germany's best-known watchmaker, were the next milestones on the group's road to becoming a global lifestyle company. With the worldwide success of Goldpfeil accessories, the group has established a qualified presence in the promising luxury segment. The group's high-tech potential increased significantly with the acquisition of Junghans, the world's largest maker of clocks and a pioneer in the area of solar and radio-control technology for wrist watches.
Hans-Joerg Seeberger continues to be fascinated by Asia and even makes Hong Kong his home. Commuting between the continents, mainly between the Far East, USA as well as Europe, is his personal realization of the philosophy of "think global, act local".
During his younger days, he practiced seriously judo and karate, and even became a member of the German National Team. Among his current hobbies of skiing and playing tennis in the limited spare time he has, he includes Zen Buddhism, finding relaxation in regular meditation.
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 Bill Smith,
Senior Vice President,
Crystal Cruises
William Smith, senior vice president, sales & marketing, for Crystal Cruises, is a respected travel industry veteran with more than 25 years of diversified management experience. His extensive knowledge of the cruise industry and luxury marketing made him a perfect fit for Crystal Cruises, which he joined in January 2004. As the senior sales and marketing executive, Smith oversees the luxury line’s global sales force, its travel agent partnerships and marketing direction.
From 1995 through 2001, Smith served as president and chief operating officer of Silversea Cruises. His broad cruise industry experience also includes sales and/or marketing positions at Costa Cruise Line and Premier Cruise Line and the presidency of Commodore Cruise Line/Bermuda Star Line. As senior vice president, sales & marketing of Princess Cruises, Smith successfully merged the sales and marketing divisions of Sitmar and Princess Cruises. Smith has also held senior airline positions and served as president and chief operating officer at Noble House Hotels and Resorts.
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 Nadja Swarovski,
Vice President,
Swarovski
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 Greg Thomas,
Chief Executive Officer,
PivatAir
Greg Thomas joined PrivatAir in 1994 as General Counsel, handling the company’s regulatory, contractual and legal affairs and acting as Secretary of the Board of Directors. In 1998 he became a Member of the Executive Committee of the Board, and was appointed Chief Operating Officer in December 2000 and Chief Executive Officer in February 2003.
Before joining PrivatAir, Greg trained and qualified as a solicitor with Messrs Wilde Sapte, a large City of London law firm specialised in banking and finance. During this time, he was seconded to NatWest Markets and also to DG XIII of the European Commission in the Electronic Data Interchange section.
Greg obtained his LLB in European Law from Warwick University and studied for his Law Society Finals at the College of Law, Chester. He is British, lives in Geneva, Switzerland, and holds a private pilot’s licence.
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 Alberto Torres,
President,
Vertu
Alberto Torres has been President of Vertu since 1 July 2005. Alberto was previously VP of Corporate Strategy at Nokia. In this role, he made significant contributions to Nokia’s strategy, forecasting and partnering capabilities. Prior to Nokia, Mr. Torres was a partner at McKinsey & Co., where he spent 10 years in the Silicon Valley, Texas, and Paris offices. Alberto Torres is based in the Vertu Headquarters in Hampshire, U.K.
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 Joseph Wan,
CEO,
Harvey Nichols
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 substantially from a domestic one store business of high international reputation and its portfolio today includes five stores and two standalone restaurants in the UK, three overseas stores covering Dublin, Riyadh and Hong Kong and its expansion programme, both domestic and overseas, is continuing. Announced new store openings include a store in Istanbul in Fall 2006 and Bristol in Fall 2008.
Joseph is also a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and The Royal Society of Arts. He is currently a member of the supervisory board of S.T Dupont SA which listed on the Paris Bourse.
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 Michael Ward,
CEO,
Harrods
Following an early career in senior financial roles, was appointed Group Managing Director of Lloyds Chemists plc in 1996. Upon the acquisition by Gehe AG in 1997 became Chief Executive Officer of the newly formed AAH/Lloyds Group and was appointed to the Gehe AG Management Board in 1998, as the European retail director. Joined Apax Partners Ltd in January 2004. Appointed to the Croda Board in 2001 and Chairman of the audit committee at the beginning of 2002. Joined Harrods Ltd as Managing Director in March 2006.
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 Sherin Yousri,
Founder,
SY and Partners
”One stop shop for quality services” is the slogan of SY and Partners. With this guiding principle the native Egyptian Sherin Yousri and his partner Oliver Agarwal CEO AAA.events GmbH manage their projects and coordinate their network of companies, parnters and suppliers.
The principal of SY and Partners was born 1964 in Cairo, Egypt, and founded Phoenix International in 1988 as the leading full scale production company in the Middle East. Sherin has produced, coordinated and organized some of the most extravagant events world wide, each shaped by the high qualitative requirements, which SY and Partners pursues since the beginning.
Within the last 5 years Sherin developed the “BARAKA System” which provides complete CRM services to B2B clients within the Leisure and Luxury business including the e-business infrastructure, e-commerce and other related services which are required to operate in the 21st century economy.
In 2005/06 BARAKA Technologies were used to promote and sell exclusive lifestyle and travel packages for the following artists/ tours: Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, Robbie Williams, Madonna, Depeche Mode and the U2 Vertigo Tour.
“The 1001 Luxury Mall & Stores” and “The iLounge” lifestyle franchise are among some of the projects that will be launched at the World Luxury Congress.
Besides his native Arabic Sherin Yousri also speaks English, Italian, French and fair German.
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