Retail Director, Group Technology and Digital Platforms
Al Futtiam
Chris earned his MA in History from St John’s College, Oxford University, before joining British Airways. There, he eventually led the airline’s non-core revenue operations, focusing particularly on in-flight retail. Driven by his enthusiasm for change management and leveraging technology to improve experiences for both employees and customers, Chris has held positions at the John Lewis Partnership and Sainsbury’s within the UK, and worked as a consultant for Accenture as well as his own firm.
In 2016, Chris relocated to Dubai to join the region’s largest family conglomerate, first as Transformation Director, then moving into his current role as Retail Director within the Group IT department.
Outside of work, Chris is an avid musician. He has performed as a bass soloist and choral singer, showcasing a diverse repertoire throughout the UK as well as in Spain, Czechoslovakia, France, the Netherlands, Germany, and the UAE.
Monday Jan 12
9:15am - 10:00am
Exhibitor Big Ideas Stage 2
Retailers are navigating relentless pressure on both margins and customer experience. Stockouts erode sales. Overstock drains profitability. Outdated pricing and replenishment playbooks can’t adapt to today’s volatility. The solution: AI-powered pricing and inventory working together as a new margin engine.
In this session with Impact Analytics and a leading retail client, we’ll break down how AI agents are already delivering measurable results:
We’ll also address the common pitfalls that derail AI pilots - data quality, organizational alignment, and change management - and provide a practical playbook for scaling.
Key Takeaway: Attendees will leave with specific, executable steps to improve in-stock rates, reduce waste, and lift gross margin and EPS - proving that AI isn’t an experiment, but a bottom-line engine for growth.
