☕ Welcome to EDC Retail Summit!

📖 Prakash Gurumoorthy Opening Key Speech

• Prakash Gurumoorthy
  Prakash Gurumoorthy
  General Manager @ VTEX EMEA & APAC
  As a leader in digital commerce, VTEX is trusted by more than 2,600 B2C and B2B customers, including Carrefour, Colgate, Motorola, Sony, Stanley Black & Decker, and Whirlpool, having over 3,400 active online stores across 38 countries.  Prakash, based in Asia, is responsible for the VTEX EMEA & APAC regional P&L, Customer Experience, Growth Engineering and Culture. Prior to taking this leadership role, he was a pioneering digital executive where he built an award-winning digital agency (www.borngroup.com) that focused on customer experience; he ran the APJ business for the agency which eventually got sold to a large systems integrator. Prakash has successfully led and delivered over 600+ digital transformations across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific markets (several of them have been award-winning digital transformations and have made multi-million dollar GMV). Prakash sits on the Digital Advisory Board of several retailers in the Asia region and mentors several Digital start-ups. He has won the Specialist Agency CEO of the Year 2019 & 2020 Award, Agency Head of the Year 2020, and has been on the Jury Panel for The Drum Awards Digital Industries. Prakash has been an eminent panel member and keynote speaker in marquee awards, summits & forums including the likes of TM Forum, ISG Leadership Confluence, and ET Conclave. Prakash is a graduate of BITS, Pilani (https://www.bits-pilani.ac.in/), with an MBA in Marketing & Operations.  Outside of professional obligations, Prakash dedicates his time to supporting children with special needs.

🎤 Fireside Chat with Horațiu Mălăele

• Horațiu Mălăele
  Horațiu Mălăele
  Actor, regizor @
  Horațiu Mălăele is a renowned Romanian actor, director, and visual artist, known for his sharp wit and profound approach to every role he plays. With a career spanning over 40 years in theater and film, he has captivated audiences through unforgettable performances and nuanced direction. He began his journey at the Youth Theater in Piatra Neamț and went on to perform on Romania's most prestigious stages, also directing acclaimed films such as "Silent Wedding" and "Luca." In addition to his work in theater and film, Mălăele is an accomplished caricaturist and visual artist, with numerous international exhibitions. He has also published poetry and prose, making him a prominent figure in the Romanian cultural landscape.
• Alex Goagă
  Alex Goagă
  B2B Marketing Specialist @ VTEX
  Alex Goagǎ has been leading the marketing operations in Eastern Europe for VTEX since 2021 when he joined the growing team of commerce specialists. He also has a career of over 13 years in the business press where he used to moderate and co-organize several commerce events.  

🌐 An E-world of Possibilities

• Răzvan Afenduli
  Răzvan Afenduli
  Managing Partner @ Xpert Beauty Romania, Bulgaria & Hungary
  Razvan este Managing Partner Xpert Beauty cu peste 25 ani experienta in industria de Beauty. Compania Xpert Beauty este activă în retailul şi distribuţia de produse cosmetice profesionale, prezentă pe piaţa locală, precum şi în Bulgaria & Ungaria.
• Daniel Crăciun
  Daniel Crăciun
  CEO & Founder @ Lensa
  RO: Daniel Crăciun a testat antreprenoriatul încă de la 16 ani în mai multe industrii, însă a făcut performanţă în sectorul de optică medicală. A fondat Lensa în 2013, iar astăzi compania pe care o conduce din poziţia de CEO reprezintă cel mai extins brand de magazine de optică din România, având o rețea de peste 90 de showroomuri în țară, Republica Moldova și Bulgaria. EN: Daniel Crăciun experimented entrepreneurship from the age of 16 in various industries, but he excelled in the medical optics sector. He founded Lensa in 2013, and today the company he leads as CEO represents the largest chain of optical stores in Romania, with a network of over 90 showrooms in Romania, Republic of Moldova, and Bulgaria.
• Valentin Ștefan
  Valentin Ștefan
  CEO @ Poșta Română
  Valentin Ștefan is the CEO of the Romanian Post since June 2021. With a solid background in business management, Valentin Ștefan has spearheaded the Romanian Post's transition into a modern, agile organization capable of meeting the growing demands of the e-commerce sector, both domestically and internationally. Under his leadership, the Romanian Post has significantly improved its operational efficiency, embraced innovative technologies, and enhanced its logistics network to better support intercontinental e-commerce. His vision is to position the Romanian Post as a vital player in global supply chains, leveraging Romania's strategic location to optimise the flow of goods to Europe. Before his role at the Romanian Post, Valentin Ștefan held senior positions in various multinational corporations, where he gained extensive experience in strategic planning and operational leadership. His innovative approach and commitment to excellence continue to shape the future of the Romanian Post as it adapts to the demands of the 21st-century marketplace.
• Alex Goagă
  Alex Goagă
  B2B Marketing Specialist @ VTEX
  Alex Goagǎ has been leading the marketing operations in Eastern Europe for VTEX since 2021 when he joined the growing team of commerce specialists. He also has a career of over 13 years in the business press where he used to moderate and co-organize several commerce events.  
• Rodica Bulăceanu
  Rodica Bulăceanu
  Comercial Director @ HUMANA People to People Romania
  Rodica is a professional with over 20 years of work experience in sales and commercial activity, especially within HUMANA. In her roles she has been responsible for the commercial results of the company and also the shops network expansion. In total she has opened 67 shops in Romania and now is managing a network of 42 shops. Passionate about sustainable fashion and economics, with an MBA in Executive Business Management, Rodica always finds the best way to combine the two and achieve outstanding sales results, placing HUMANA as the most well-known second hand clothes brand on Romanian market.
• Raul Filip
  Raul Filip
  Deputy CEO @ ALTEX Romania
  Raul Filip este Deputy CEO Altex, cu responsabilități extinse în operațiunile companiei, coordonând nu doar activitățile de achiziții, ci și ariile de marketing, vânzări, lanț de aprovizionare și segmentul B2B. Cu peste două decenii de expertiză în retail și industria electro-IT și 14 ani de experiență în cadrul companiei Altex, Raul Filip joacă un rol esențial în creșterea sustenabilă a celui mai mare retailer local de bunuri electro-IT.

🎙️ Key Speech

• Rareș Bănescu
  Rareș Bănescu
  Owner & Founder @ theMarketer
  

🤝 Networking Break

🔥 Fireside Chat

• Alex Dobre
  Alex Dobre
  Business Line Director, Retail and Distribution Solutions @ Zitec
  Alex Dobre is an expert in digital transformation, recognized for driving growth and fostering innovation as a Business Director for Retail and Distribution Solutions at Zitec. His hands-on experience and strategic vision are crucial in aligning Zitec’s digital solutions with market needs, resulting in enhanced customer experiences, optimized operational efficiency, and increased client revenue. Professional Background:    Alex’s role is diverse, spanning various directions. From crafting and implementing retail strategies tailored to meet each client's unique needs to overseeing the integration of advanced eCommerce solutions, he ensures businesses can effectively navigate the digital landscape.   His work involves closely collaborating with retailers to develop engaging and efficient omnichannel shopping experiences. Since joining Zitec in 2016, Alex has advanced from a junior business developer to a key retail leader, guiding his team to deliver high-quality digital solutions consistently on-time and on-target.   Areas of Expertise: Retail Digital Transformation, eCommerce Strategy and Implementation, Business Development, Customer-Centric Solutions, Retail & Distribution Omnichannel Solutions   Notable Projects: Alex has developed a consistent presence in the retail landscape, frequently attending industry events, speaking at conferences, participating in panel discussions, and contributing to industry-shaping conversations. As a key driver of Zitec's retail business line, he has overseen numerous impactful projects within retail sectors such as Apparel & Fashion, Consumer Electronics, Cosmetics, Food & Beverage, Luxury Goods & Jewelry, Sporting Goods, Wholesale, DIY, FMCG, and more. Thus, Zitec's clients have flourished, experiencing double-digit growth in added revenue and adoption rates, international expansion, and significant ROI.
• Cristina Dioancă
  Cristina Dioancă
  Senior Ecommerce Manager @ KFC, Pizza Hut & Taco Bell Romania
  With more than 12 years of expertise in digital marketing, communications, media planning, and project management, Cristina plays a pivotal role in driving the digital transformation and growth at Sphera Franchise Group. She successfully managed integrated communication campaigns and spearheaded the development of digital platforms for renowned brands like KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. Her efforts have been instrumental in scaling eCommerce, loyalty, and CRM platforms, helping the three brands enhance customer engagement and achieve sustained success.

📝 MKOR Case Study Presentation

• Cori Cimpoca
  Cori Cimpoca
  Founder @ MKOR Consulting
  RO: Cori Cimpoca este un profesionist cu peste 17 ani experienţă în marketing şi cercetare de piaţă. Cori are un MBA la Cotrugli Business School, deține un masterat în Relații Publice la UBB Cluj-Napoca și este licențiată în Ştiinţe Politice la UBB Cluj-Napoca.  În 2013, Cori a fondat MKOR, agenția de Market Opportunity Research, prin care oferă servicii complete de cercetare și automatizări de marketing. MKOR îmbină datele cu tehnologia, oferind soluții agile și inovative pentru decizii strategice. ENG: Cori Cimpoca is a professional with over 17 years of experience in marketing and market research. Cori holds an MBA from Cotrugli Business School, a Master's degree in Public Relations from UBB Cluj-Napoca and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from UBB Cluj-Napoca.  In 2013, Cori founded MKOR, the Market Opportunity Research agency, offering comprehensive marketing services from data. Since 2020, MKOR combines market research with automated marketing, offering an innovative approach to market research.

🍕 Networking Lunch

🎙️ Keynote Speech

• Andreea Călin
  Andreea Călin
  AI Team Lead for EMEA & APAC @ IT Globers
  In momentul de fata sunt teamlead pe proiectele de AI din cadrul IT Globers, avand sansa de a-mi folosi pasiunea pentru educatie atat prin propria mea dezvoltare, cat si prin a studentilor colaboratori din cadrul Universitatii Politehnica din Bucuresti.

🤖 Ecosystem, the Heart of Commerce

• Rareș Bănescu
  Rareș Bănescu
  Owner & Founder @ theMarketer
  
• Cătălin Bordei
  Cătălin Bordei
  Managing Partner @ Innobyte
  Certificat ca Expert în Managementul Comerțului (CMX), Cătălin este Directorul de Operațiuni și Partener Manager la INNOBYTE, parte a Grupului LIH (simbol LIH). Cu peste 17 ani de experiență în IT, el coordonează toate operațiunile, inclusiv dezvoltarea de software, resursele umane, finanțele, vânzările și marketingul. Cătălin deține un miniMBA, un Master în Management Financiar și o Licență în Marketing, iar expertiza sa acoperă domenii precum e-commerce, consultanță IT, dezvoltare software, marketing digital, management de produs și management de proiect.   A certified Commerce Management Expert (CMX), Cătălin is the Chief Operations Officer and Managing Partner of INNOBYTE, part of the LIH Group (symbol LIH). With over 17 years of IT experience, he oversees all operations including software development, human resources, finance, sales and marketing. Cătălin holds a miniMBA, a Master's in Financial Management and a Bachelor's in Marketing, and his expertise spans e-commerce, IT consulting, software development, digital marketing, product management and project management.
• Doru Radu
  Doru Radu
  Founder @ iviteb
  
• Cornel Morcov
  Cornel Morcov
  Chief Commercial Officer @ FAN Courier
  
• Alex Goagă
  Alex Goagă
  B2B Marketing Specialist @ VTEX
  Alex Goagǎ has been leading the marketing operations in Eastern Europe for VTEX since 2021 when he joined the growing team of commerce specialists. He also has a career of over 13 years in the business press where he used to moderate and co-organize several commerce events.  
• Elena Gheorghe
  Elena Gheorghe
  Country Manager @ PayU GPO
  EN: Elena Gheorghe, the Country Manager PayU GPO Romania, is one of the most recognized local specialists in online payments and e-commerce industries in which she has been active since 2011, completing her expertise within PayU Romania, where she evolved organically in the positions of Finance Manager, Business Development Manager and Country Manager (starting in May 2020). Over the years, she coordinated the financing process of the expansion of the local platform in several countries, the transformation and cross-border merger of the company, she coordinated the launch of new payment methods and business models with financial institutions from Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria, but also of products such as the first marketplace in Romania, the Instant Money Back / Fast Refund service, VISA off-us Installments and PayU Online Credit, Google Pay, Apple Pay, BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) or Slice and instant transfers based on Visa Direct and MoneySend technologies.    RO: Elena Gheorghe, Country Managerul PayU GPO România, este unul dintre cei mai cunoscuți specialiști locali în industriile de plăți online și ecommerce, în care activează din 2011, întregindu-și expertiza în cadrul PayU România, unde a evoluat organic în pozițiile de Finance Manager, Business Development Manager și Country Manager (începând cu luna mai 2020). De-a lungul anilor, a coordonat procesul de finanţare a extinderii platformei locale în mai multe ţări, transformarea și fuziunea transfrontalieră a companiei, a coordonat lansarea de noi metode de plată şi modele de business cu instituţiile financiare din România, Ungaria şi Bulgaria, dar şi a unor produse precum primul marketplace din România, serviciul Instant Money Back / Fast Refund, VISA off-us Installments şi PayU Online Credit, Google Pay, Apple Pay, BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) sau Slice și transferuri instant pe baza tehnologiilor Visa Direct și MoneySend.

Mastercard Presentation

• Corina Bulimar
  Corina Bulimar
  Business Development Director @ Mastercard
  

🔥 Fireside Chat

• Cătălin Vlădescu
  Cătălin Vlădescu
  Vice President of Growth CEE & Germany @ VTEX
  
• Leszek Blacha
  Leszek Blacha
  Head Digital Platform Systems @ OBI
  Leszek Blacha is an experienced digital leader with over 20 years in technology roles. He currently serves as Head of Customer Transaction at OBI Smart Technologies GmbH, since June 2022. Leszek also works as a Freelance Agile Coach and Trainer, helping organizations adopt agile methodologies. 

💡Let’s Get Inspired

• Virgil Stănescu
  Virgil Stănescu
  Executive President @ Sports HUB
  
• Irina Mihu
  Irina Mihu
  Retail Manager @ Sport Time Balkans
  Irina Mihu is the Retail Manager at Sport Time Trade, the official distributor of Nike in Romania and the Balkans. With 20 years of experience in the fashion retail industry, she is deeply passionate about future strategy and foresight, always looking ahead to trends and innovations shaping the retail world.
• Albert Davidoglu
  Albert Davidoglu
  CEO @ Macromex
  
• Andrei Ștefan
  Andrei Ștefan
  Director Ecommerce @ Decathlon Romania
  Andrei activeaza de peste 15 ani in Online si eCommerce, cu roluri multiple in echipe digitale din industrii precum Telecom, Healthcare sau Retail. De peste 3 ani este responsabil de cresterea vanzarilor eCommerce pentru Decathlon Romania, dezvoltand atat parteneriatul Marketplace cu seleri locali cat si cresterea produselor marca proprie.
• Ghenadie Tampiza
  Ghenadie Tampiza
  Country Manager @ Stanley Black and Decker
  Versatile, visionary, customer-focused business management leader. Innovative thinker, who understands business beyond the numbers, and possesses essential business and technical acumen to address the most complex challenges that impact the top and bottom line. With a robust background in operational leadership, market expansion, and team management, in Eastern Europe, West Balkan and Central Asian markets. Expertise includes: transforming underperforming territories into financially thriving business regions, devising go-to-market and direct sales strategies, developing channels, leading and coaching geographically dispersed teams, fostering high-performance culture, identifying new revenue streams, improving business processes, managing P&L, and elevating the business to market leadership.
• Anișoara Munteanu Bîsceanu
  Anișoara Munteanu Bîsceanu
  Business Operations Leader EMEA - APAC @ VTEX
  Anișoara Munteanu Bîsceanu is an ecommerce strategist and business operations leader, recognized for her ability to drive growth and elevate brand recognition across EMEA and APAC markets. Over the past four years at VTEX, Anișoara has played a pivotal role in expanding the company's footprint in Central and Eastern Europe, where she developed and executed a high-impact PR & marketing strategy.

⚙️ To AI and How to AI

• Teodora Mărăcineanu (Juravle)
  Teodora Mărăcineanu (Juravle)
  Head of Marketing @ Electrolux
  Teodora Maracineanu (Juravle) is a professional with over 20 years of work experience in marketing and communication, across different industries for some of the world’s leading brands and corporations. In her current role as Head of Marketing of Electrolux Romania, Teodora Maracineanu (Juravle) is in charge of building sustainable brand equity and consumer experience through 360 communication, with a special focus on digital marketing. Following a recent extension of responsibilities at regional level, a key area for Teodora is the development of CDI (Consumer Direct Interaction) business, with the ambition of creating best-in-class branded lifetime consumer experiences. Teodora Mărăcineanu (Juravle) has a degree in Psychology, a Master’s degree in International Marketing and a MBA in General Management.
• Cristi Movilă
  Cristi Movilă
  Partner & CEO EMEA & APAC @ ITGlobers
  AI entrepreneur, ecommerce specialist, and advisor with over 17 years of experience, Cristi Movilă is currently serving as Partner & CEO for ITGlobers EMEA & APAC and President of ARMO (Romanian Online Stores Association). Cristi has a strong background in software engineering and has founded RELAMI, a company specialising in AI-based SaaS solutions for retail. His career includes significant roles such as Central and Eastern Europe General Manager for VTEX, where he contributed to the company's growth from Series C funding to NYSE IPO. In his current role at ITGlobers, Cristi Movilă leads efforts to integrate AI technologies into digital commerce, partnering with industry leaders like AWS, Microsoft, OpenAI, and NVIDIA. He has a track record of successful collaborations with major brands in beauty and fashion, as well as regional startups. Outside of his professional life, Cristi is an avid rally raid pilot, holding the Champion of Romania title in 2022 and 2023. RO - Antreprenor în domeniul inteligenței artificiale, specialist în comerț electronic și consultant cu peste 17 ani de experiență, Cristi Movilă ocupă în prezent funcția de Partner & CEO pentru ITGlobers EMEA & APAC și Președinte al ARMO (Asociația Română a Magazinelor Online). Având experiență în dezvoltarea software, Cristi a fondat RELAMI, o companie specializată în soluții SaaS bazate pe inteligență artificială pentru retail. Cariera sa include poziții semnificative precum Manager General pentru Europa Centrală și de Est la VTEX, unde a contribuit la creșterea companiei de la runda de finanțare Series C până la listarea la NYSE. În rolul său actual de la ITGlobers, Cristi Movilă conduce eforturile de integrare a tehnologiilor AI în comerțul digital, în parteneriat cu lideri din industrie precum AWS, Microsoft, OpenAI și NVIDIA. Are un istoric de colaborări de succes cu branduri majore din domeniile modei și produselor de înfrumusețare, precum și cu startup-uri regionale. În afara vieții profesionale, Cristi este un pasionat pilot de rally raid, deținând titlul de Campion al României în 2022 și 2023.
• Cristian Popescu
  Cristian Popescu
  Country Lead, Enterprise Business, @ AWS Romania
  Cristian Popescu held several key positions in his nearly 30 years of experience in the IT industry. In 2022, he took over the position of Country Lead Enterprise Business at AWS. Previously, he managed SAP operations in Romania. In addition, he also held roles with companies such as Fujitsu (country sales director) and Cisco (general manager). He graduated the Polytechnic University of Bucharest - Faculty of Electrical Engineering - and holds a series of postgraduate certifications from the Institute of Business Administration (ASEBUSS) and from IMD Business School, in Switzerland.
• Radu Mărcușu
  Radu Mărcușu
  CEO @ Upswing
  ENG: Radu has been actively contributing to the development of the SEO and Content Marketing industry for 15 years, both in Romania and globally through Upswing.ro, SEOmonitor, and Contero.io. For 7 years, he has been leading Upswing, Romania's first major agency dedicated to search engine optimization. 30 of the best SEO and Content Marketing specialists have chosen to join Upswing's mission and help grow the businesses of some of Romania's most important brands. Upswing has a magnetic culture, which is reflected primarily through the team, but also through candidates who wish to be part of this universe. Recently, Contero.io spun off from Upswing, a tool that helps teams in SEO agencies, Content Marketing, publishing, and brands create content that ranks in top positions on Google. When not working, Radu spends time with family and friends, cooking, enjoying nature, or doing sports - often combining these activities. He strongly believes it's important to nurture and grow in all the roles we have, not just professionally, and hopes to inspire his colleagues to be fully present in their lives outside the office. RO: Radu contribuie activ de 15 ani la dezvoltarea industriei de SEO și Content Marketing atât în România cât și la nivel global prin Upswing.ro, SEOmonitor și Contero.io. De 7 ani conduce Upswing, prima agenție mare din România dedicată optimizării pentru motoarele de căutare. 30 dintre cei mai buni specialiști SEO și Content Marketing au ales să se alăture misiunii Upswing și să ajute la creșterea business-urilor unora dintre cele mai importante branduri din România.  Upswing are o cultură magnet și asta se reflectă în primul rând prin echipă, dar și prin candidații care își doresc să facă parte din acest univers.  Recent, din Upswing s-a desprins Contero.io, un instrument care ajută echipele din agențiile de SEO, Content Marketing, publishing dar și brandurile să creeze conținut care rankează în primele poziții în Google. Când nu lucrează, Radu își petrece timpul cu familia și prietenii, gătind, în natură sau făcând sport - de multe ori combinând aceste activități. El crede cu tărie că este important să hrănim și să creștem în toate rolurile pe care le avem, nu doar în cel profesional și speră să-și inspire colegii să fie prezenți cu totul în viețile lor de după birou.
• Alex Goagă
  Alex Goagă
  B2B Marketing Specialist @ VTEX
  Alex Goagǎ has been leading the marketing operations in Eastern Europe for VTEX since 2021 when he joined the growing team of commerce specialists. He also has a career of over 13 years in the business press where he used to moderate and co-organize several commerce events.  
• Radu Săndulescu
  Radu Săndulescu
  Data Analytics & AI Services Director @ Zitec
  As the Director of Data Analytics & AI Services, I bring forth my lifelong expertise and passion for programming. My journey in technology began at the age of 10, with an early fascination for coding. I earned my bachelor’s degree from The Faculty of Economic Cybernetics, Statistics, and Informatics, followed by a Master’s degree in Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration. In my role, I lead a great team dedicated to harnessing the power of data for informed decision-making. Our goal is to better understand and leverage the latest technologies, providing advanced analytics solutions and AI services.

⏳ Closing notes

🍸 Cocktail Party