Retail and consumer experience expert, Simon Forster, will be working with Benoy and its sister company Pragma, to develop new concepts and ideas in collaboration with their placemaking and development clients around the world.
Simon Forster was previously the Managing Director/CEO of Selfridges and brings over 25 years’ experience working across global retail.
The retail world continues to experience major shifts, and many owners are having to evolve their assets to meet changing consumer preferences. Millennials are demanding a different retail experience to previous generations, from personalised interactions and emotional experiences to supporting sustainable businesses. Today’s retail spaces need be multi-use, seamlessly blending digital and analogue opportunities, and of course deliver a commercial and social return.
Simon brings a unique insight into the blend of digital and store experiences and will contribute to Benoy’s strong retail heritage which has delivered world-class destinations from ION Orchard, Singapore and ICONSIAM, Thailand, to the recent Royalmount, Canada and Solitaire, Saudi Arabia.
Tom Cartledge, CEO said: “Whether it’s in retail, leisure or experiential design, our clients rightly demand that the ideas presented by Pragma and Benoy are future-proof and commercially viable. Simon and I have worked together for many years and his experience, not least as former CEO and Head of Digital at Selfridges, the best department store in the world, adds an experience to our team that will benefit our global client base.”
