Reshaping the Future of Retail
The conference, organized by the Bensadoun School of Retail Management and sponsored by KPMG, took place in Montreal on Friday, September 26, 2025. Participants had the unique opportunity to learn from industry practitioners and academics about the latest innovations and trends reshaping the retail landscape.
Didn't have the chance to join us? Here's what you missed!
Speakers
L’Oréal – Harvard Business School – Google Canada – New York University – Métro Inc. – Emory University – Couche-Tard – McGill University – Dollarama
Sponsored by
Speakers
Keynote speaker
An Verhulst-Santos
President & CEO
L’Oréal Canada
Antonio Moreno
Professor, Technology & Operations Management
Harvard Business School
Eric Morris
Managing Director & Head of Retail
Google Canada
Anindya Ghose
Professor, Technology & Marketing
New York University
Alain Tadros
Chief Marketing Officer & Digital Strategy
Metro Inc.
Vilma Todri
Professor, Information Systems
Emory University
Hélène Drolet
VP Operations Excellence NA
Couche-Tard
James Clark
Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering
McGill University
Nicolas Hien
Chief Information Officer
Dollarama
Schedule
Friday, September 26, 2025
| Time |
Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:30 am |
Registration/Breakfast |
| 8:15 am |
Welcome Remarks |
|
8:30 am |
Keynote Speaker An Verhulst Santos |
|
9:05 am |
Session 1 Anindya Ghose |
|
9:30 am |
Nicolas Hien “Redefining HR Efficiency through Artificial Intelligence” |
| 10:15 am |
Break |
|
10:35 am |
Session 2 Helene Drolet “AI in Action: Elevating Retail Customer Service from Stockroom to Storefront” |
|
11:00 am |
Antonio Moreno “Assortment Curation in Third-Party Marketplaces” |
| 11:45 am – 1:15 pm |
Lunch |
|
1:15 pm |
Session 3 Vilma Todri “The Impact of Generative AI on Advertising Effectiveness” |
|
1:40 pm |
Eric Morris “Retail Ready: AI, the new customer journey, and how retailers can win the moment” |
|
2:25 pm |
Session 4 Alain Tadros “Metro Inc., our journey in improving omnichannel customer interactions” |
|
2:50 pm |
James Clark “No-shop Thursday and Other Tales from a Campus C-Store” |
| 3:35 pm |
Closing remarks & cocktail reception |
Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile
1155 Sherbrooke St W
Room: Picasso/Monet-Chagall
Montreal, Quebec H3A 2N3
