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The 2007 Wharton Economic Summit ::
Panels



Taking Western Brands to Eastern Europe and the Middle East
Sponsor: Jay H. Baker Retailing Initiative of the Wharton School
Moderator: Stephen Hoch, Patty and Jay H. Baker Professor; Professor of Marketing; Director, Jay H. Baker Retailing Initiative
Panelists:  Jonathan D. Albert, Zulfiqarali H. Lakhani, Trudy F. Sullivan
Friday, April 13 - 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m :: Full Summit Schedule

The globalization of brands continues at a torrid pace, and Eastern Europe and the Middle East hold special promise due to rapidly rising incomes and economic development. What are the special challenges, both economic and social, facing Western brands as they expand to these markets? What are the differences between the two markets? What is the best way to enter and grow in these markets? What are the critical differences across business such as consumer goods, technology, services, and retailing?

Panelists
:: Jonathan D. Albert , WG'87
   Chairman and CEO
   CMCI Capital, Inc.

Jonathan D. Albert serves as chairman and CEO of affiliates of Albert Brothers, Inc., Cornerstone Realty, Inc. and CMCI Capital, Inc., and various affiliated entities. The primary activities of the companies are investments in the real estate and food service industry. The real estate company has focused on the acquisition, ownership, and management of industrial and office properties with an owned portfolio in excess of 1.5 million square feet.

From 1983 until 1991, Mr. Albert worked at Dean Witter Realty, Inc., a $4 billion real estate investment company based in Manhattan. As a managing director and partner of the firm and various affiliates, he held responsibility for various real estate acquisitions, developments and restructuring projects located throughout the United States including office, hotels, high-rise residential, and industrial. In 1991, Mr. Albert joined his brother and father at Albert Brothers, Inc., a fourth generation family owned metal recycling business located in Waterbury, Connecticut that was founded in 1895.

The restaurant company began with the formation of a company headquartered in Budapest, Hungary that acquired the exclusive development rights for Burger King in Hungary and what was formerly Czechoslovakia. Today the company has a team of approximately 600 people, including its own distribution company, 21 restaurants, including the largest Burger King in the world that was developed in 1991, and has five new restaurants under development. Additionally, the restaurant company operates under the Cornerstone Restaurant Group which includes various affiliated entities and is headquartered in Chicago. The two primary business activities include a food and beverage management company that develops and operates the food and beverage operations within hotels including restaurants, banquet and catering, and employee cafeterias. The company has relationships with various hotel companies including Starwood Hotels, Hyatt Hotels, and Strategic Hotels. The company also has worked with Michael Jordan since the early 1990's and has a joint venture with Michael Jordan, Jump Higher, LLC, which is responsible for developing, owning and operating restaurants and retail products under the Michael Jordan brand.

Mr. Albert graduated in 1983 from Amherst College, magna cum laude with a major in international relations. In 1987, Jonathan received his MBA from the Executive MBA program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

He lives in Connecticut and has a wife and two children. He serves on the Board of Trustees at The Taft School located in Watertown, CT and The Chase Collegiate School located in Waterbury, CT. He is also a board member and trustee of several other local non-profit organizations.

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:: Zulfiqarali H. Lakhani , WG'78
   Managing Director
   Colgate-Palmolive Company

Zulfiqar Ali Lakhani is managing director and CEO of multiple MNC companies in Pakistan. As an active partner of the Lakson Group, he divides his time between his FMCG companies which includes Colgate-Palmolive, Clover Pakistan (Licensee agreement with Kraft Foods) and Tetley-Clover Ltd.

Over the course of two decades, the companies he has managed have entered new product categories and achieved leadership in four out of six product groups (powder beverages, detergents, dishwashing products and toothpaste). He has also launched and is successfully consolidating one of the largest FMCG countrywide sales and distribution networks.

Mr. Lakhani has more than 28 years of experience in marketing, manufacturing, finance and sales. His MS in Industrial Engineering and BS in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University and his MBA in Finance and Marketing from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania have enabled him to be actively involved in both the manufacturing and marketing sides of the businesses.

He is an active member of the Management Board of the Lakson Group which includes Cybernet (ISP), McDonalds, and others in the field of insurance, paper and board, media and commercial packaging. He is also a member of the Wharton Executive Board for Asia.

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:: Trudy F. Sullivan
   President
   Liz Claiborne, Inc.

Trudy Sullivan is president of Liz Claiborne Inc. She joined the company in 2001 as group president responsible for Liz Claiborne Casual, Liz Claiborne Collection and Liz Claiborne Woman and was promoted to executive vice president in March of 2002. As executive vice president she was responsible for the portfolio of brands sold in the Better and Moderate sectors in traditional department stores, including Sigrid Olsen, Liz Claiborne apparel, JH Collectibles, Emma James and Realities. Also reporting to her since 2002 are the International, Accessories, Cosmetic, Specialty Retail, Outlet and Licensing divisions. In October of 2005 she gained the additional responsibility of the Bridge, Contemporary, Denim, Men's and Mid-tier businesses, which round out the balance of the Company's portfolio of brands. Ms. Sullivan was named president of LCI in January 2006. She reports directly to the chairman and CEO.

Ms. Sullivan is a member of both the Company's Leadership Council and its Executive Council.

Liz Claiborne is a company which designs and markets an extensive range of branded women's and men's fashion apparel, accessories and fragrances.

Ms. Sullivan joined Liz Claiborne Inc. from J. Crew Group, Inc. where she was president. Previously, she held positions at The Avenue and Filene's. She began her career as a buyer for Jordan Marsh in Boston.

Ms. Sullivan has a BA from Manhattanville College, Purchase NY, and has completed graduate studies in business at Simmons College in Boston.

She resides in New York City with her husband, Michael, and their two daughters, Catherine and Anne.

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