Former Chairman and CEO of sports and fashion retailer, JD Sports, Peter Cowgill, is confirmed as a keynote speaker for the Retail Technology Show, retail’s leading industry event, taking place on 26 & 27 April 2023 at London’s Olympia.

An industry heavyweight, during his nearly two-decade tenure at JD Sports Cowgill is credited with driving its international expansion, building out its successful online business and overseeing its FTSE 100 membership after acquiring a portfolio of brands including Sprinter, Go Outdoors and Fishing Republic.

Cowgill will draw on his experience, alongside his current role as Chairman at online perfume seller, The Fragrance Shop, as he discusses what is needed from retail leaders looking to steer businesses through the cost-of-living crisis and beyond. He will explore which leadership strategies will enable businesses to exploit new opportunities, how to evaluate innovations in cost reduction, pricing strategy and demand forecasting, and how to asses which investments will give retailers the best return on investment when consumer confidence is low.

Following the recent announcements of Steven Bartlett and Mary Portas as headline speakers at the event, Cowgill is the latest industry trailblazer to be announced as part of the event’s conference programme, and will join over 100+ retail thought leaders taking to the stage at the flagship retail event.

Matt Bradley, Event Director for the Retail Technology Show, commented:

“Peter Cowgill has more than 18 years’ experience at the helm of one of the world’s most iconic retail brands and it is a huge honour to have him join the Retail Technology Show team to share his wisdom and insights with our attendees.  The cost-of-living crisis is the latest in a long line of challenges the retail community have had to travail and Peter is uniquely place to provide the kind of practical strategic and tactical recommendations retailers need to be considering as they drive their businesses through this latest challenge.”

A further five conference tracks will run across the two-day event seeing retailers, including Screwfix, Morrisons, IKEA, Jigsaw, adidas and John Lewis & Partners, discuss key trends and topics, from leadership and culture, ecommerce, customer obsession, payments and supply chain.

Bringing together the brightest minds in retail with the most transformative technologies, the 2023 Retail Technology Show is a one-stop-shop for innovation, with 300+ innovators – from tech’s biggest players to fast-growth disruptors including YOOBIC, StoreForce, UKG, Maze, ReThink Productivity and Proximity Insight – showcasing their transformative solutions.

To register to attend the Retail Technology Show, visit: https://bit.ly/RTS23