Practical Information

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Wednesday November 12th

09:30 am: Meeting point at The Dorsett Kai Tak Hotel and departure for store visits

09:30 am – 10:00 am: Transit to store

10:00 am – 11:30 am: Sogo Causeway Bay opening ceremony and visit Guide: TBC from SOGO team

11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Transit to IFC Mall

12:30 pm – 01:00 pm: Lunch break Location: Shake Shack, IFC Mall, Shop 4018, Podium Level 4

01:00 pm – 02:15 pm: IFC Mall visit Guide: Ms Crystal Chan, Assistant General Manager, Retail Leasing IFC

02:15 pm – 02:45 pm: Transfer to Sogo Kai Tak offices

02:45 pm  – 03:00 pm: (Opening remarks & welcome speech). Speakers: Kamshim Lau, CEO, Sogo, and President of the IADS, and Selvane Mohandas du Ménil, Managing Director, IADS

03:00 pm – 04:00 pm: IADS Academy. Speakers: IADS Academy 2025 cohort

• Academy 2025 Topic: How to become a better merchant

04:00 pm – 04:30 pm: Coffee break

04:30 pm – 06:00 pm: IADS CEOs conversation

06:00 pm – 07:00pm: IADS General Assembly (video conference with distant members). Speaker: Selvane Mohandas du Ménil, Managing Director, IADS

• 2025 results & achievements
• 2026 plan & budget

07:00 pm – 08:00pm: IADS CEO Roundtable (video conference with distant members). Speakers:  IADS members' CEO

• Topic: Update on each member's situation

08:00pm – onwards: Cocktails and Dinner. Location: Sakana Hibi Restaurant, Shop 1204, 12/F, SOGO Kai Tak Store, Tower I, The Twins 

(Academy joining)

Thursday November 13th

08:30 am: Meeting point at The Dorsett Kai Tak Hotel

08:30 am – 08:45 am: Transit to Sogo Kai Tak offices

08:45 am – 09:45 am: Crisis management workshop – How prepared are IADS CEOs?  Speakers: Evgeniy Mamay (TSUM Kiyv), Luis Iturriaga (Beco), moderated by Anchita Ranka (IADS)

• Theme: The key learnings for IADS members from critical situations and advice on how to get prepared

09:45 am – 10:15 am: “New China: new opportunities, new threats” Speakers: David Baverez, Store Manager, Investor and Writer

(Academy joining)

10:15 am – 10:50 am: Introduction to Kai Tak. Speakers: Ms Michelle Tsang, Deputy Store Manager

11:15 am – 11:35 am: Introduction to SOGO; Speakers: Mr Sawada Shinji, Store Manager; Ms Michelle Tsang, Deputy Store Manager    

(Academy joining)

11:35 am – 11:45 am: Transit to SOGO Kai Tak

(Academy joining)

11:45 am – 12:45 pm: Lunch break Location: SOGO Café, Shop 06, 1/F, SOGO Kai Tak Store, Tower I, The Twins

(Academy joining) 

12:45 pm – 01:00 pm: Sogo Kai Tak opening ceremony and visit 

01:00 pm – 02:30 pm: SOGO Kai Tak and SND visit 

Guide: TBC 

Theme: TBC

(Academy joining)

02:30 pm-02:40 pm: Transit to SOGO Kai Tak offices

02:40 pm – 03:25 pm: Guest Speaker – Giordano. Speakers: James Reynolds, Director Global Retail Excellence and GM HK and Macau

(Academy joining)

03:25 pm – 04:10 pm: Guest Speaker – REDNote. Speakers: Ms Claire Wong, Regional GM, Global Business Solutions, Mr Stephen Wong, Head of Industry, Global Business Solutions, Mr Douglas Lau, Lead for Governments & Institutions, Global Business Solutions

(Academy joining)

04:10 pm – 04:30 pm: Transit to K11

04:30 pm – 05:00 pm: K11 Presentation

Speakers: TBC

Theme: TBC

(Academy joining)

05:00 pm - 6:15 pm: K11 Mall visit

Guide: TBC

Theme: TBC

(Academy joining)

06:15 pm – 06:45 pm: Transfer to Dorsett Kai Tak Hotel

06:45 pm – 07:30 pm: Free Time

07:00 pm – onwards: CEO private reception on the invitation of Mr Thomas Lau

Location: HEYA Restaurant, 15/F, Restaurant Park, SOGO Kai Tak Store, Tower I, The Twins

General information

• Antitrust Guidelines

Guest speakers

Ms Michelle Tsang, Deputy Store Manager, SOGO 

Michelle Tsang has worked in SOGO Hong Kong Department Store for 20 years. For the first 12 years, she was a member of the Sales Promotion Department, where she was responsible for the entire store’s marketing campaign and advertising plan. In January 2012, she was promoted from Division Manager of the Sales Promotion Department to Deputy Store Manager. Her main responsibilities include overseeing the sales and operations of the entire store, with specific oversight of the Beauty, Jewellery & Watches, and Trendy & Casual Departments at SOGO CWB Store. Moreover, she is deeply involved in the development and execution of various corporate strategic initiatives as well as the identification of new business opportunities for the company. 

Mr Sawada Shinji, Store Manager, SOGO Causeway Bay Store & Kai Tak Store

Shinji Sawada joined Chiba SOGO Co. Ltd. in 1981 and joined SOGO HK in 1996.  With over 40 years of experience in the retail market, Mr Sawada not only adheres to its Japanese heritage but also diversifies the product categories, transforming SOGO Hong Kong into a “one-stop shopping” experience for customers.

1981 – Meji University (Japan), School of Political Science and Economics
1981 – Joined Chiba SOGO Co., Ltd.
1996 – Joined SOGO Hong Kong Company Limited
2004 – Deputy Store Manager of SOGO Tsim Sha Tsui & Causeway Bay Store
2012 – Store Manager of SOGO Tsim Sha Tsui & Causeway Bay Store
2024 – Store Manager of SOGO Causeway Bay & Kai Tak Store

Mr David Baverez, Store Manager, Investor and writer

A graduate of the HEC Business School and of the INSEAD MBA Programme, David worked for Fidelity Investments (1995-2005) where he was in charge of various European and Global Equity funds. In 2005, he set up his own investment company. At the end of 2010, he took the contrarian step to return all funds to his investors, anticipating future European sovereign issues.

After fifteen years spent between London and Boston, he has lived in Hong Kong since 2012, where he spends his time understanding the disruptions linked to the emergence of the New World Order, influenced by the rise of the « New China ».

David is a regular columnist in the French newspaper « L’Opinion » and authored « Welcome to the war economy ! » (Westphalia Press, 2025), « China & Europe : The Turning Point » (Westphalia Press, 2022), « Beijing express » (Westphalia Press, 2018) and « Generation Tonique – L’Occident est complètement à l’Ouest » (Plon, 2015),

Holder of  the Médaille d’Honneur of the Foreign Trade Advisors of France, he is a Member of the Advisory Board of the Paris-based think-tank Asia Centre and an Advisor to the Helsinki Geoeconomics Society.

Mr James Reynold, Director Global Retail Excellence and General Manager Hong Kong & Macau, Giordano (LinkedIn)

                                                   Bio TBA

Ms Claire Wong, Regional GM, Global Business Solution, REDNote

Ms Crystal Chan, Assistant General Manager, Retail Leasing IFC

Additional information

To facilitate coordination with Sogo, we kindly ask you to inform us if you intend to participate in this event. Please provide us with your expected arrival date and time. 

On Tuesday, November 11th, according to your time of arrival, we will make restaurant recommendations and you are welcome to join if possible.

Transfers during the day will be taken care of by Sogo.

12th November 2025: Meeting address (the day starts at 9:30 am)

Meeting address: 

Sogo Kai Tak HQ

13th November 2025: Meeting point (the day starts at 8:30 am)

Meeting point at the Dorsett Kai Tak Hotel and departure for store visits.

Recommended hotel

We recommend you stay at:

Dorsett Kai Tak Hotel 

43 Shing Kai Rd, Kowloon City, Hong Kong

+852 3528 8288

We have negotiated rates: 

Single room: HK$ 1,400 + 13% VAT (breakfast included)

Double room: HK$ 1,550 + 13% VAT (breakfast included)

Please liaise with Christine Montard cmontard@iads.org for booking requests

Contacts

We remain at your disposal should you need any assistance in preparing your trip or during your stay.

As a kind reminder, here are the details of the IADS Team:

Selvane Mohandas du Ménil, Managing Director, +33687324531, smohandas@iads.org

Christine Montard, Director of Markets & Events, +33645474514, cmontard@iads.org