Jean-Paul Agon, Jay Schottenstein and Supaluck Umpujh are an eclectic bunch.
Agon is chairman of L’Oréal, Schottenstein is executive chair and chief executive officer of American Eagle Outfitters and Umpujh is chairwoman of The Mall Group, one of the biggest retail operators in Thailand.
The strand that connects the three is the World Retail Congress, which will induct the them all into the group’s Hall of Fame at a ceremony on April 15.
Ian McGarrigle, chairman of the Congress, said: “Resilience and the capacity to adapt quickly are key qualities for any business leader, but the three Hall of Fame inductees announced today have consistently been a step ahead, anticipating challenges and spotting opportunities before others. Their careers are a testament to what it truly means to lead with foresight and agility.”
Retail is clearly more than a job for each of them.
As AEO’s Schottenstein said: “I have never considered this business ‘work’ — it is my life’s passion. I have dedicated myself to the retail industry and am proud to continue helping to shape its future alongside the next generation of leaders.”
L’Oréal’s Agon said he was “humbled” and acknowledged that the business of retail is very much a team sport.
“I want to share this recognition with the 90,000 passionate and creative members of the L’Oréal community,” he said. “Every day, they are striving to empower people through beauty, creating ever-more cutting-edge, inclusive, and sustainable products that make people feel good.”
The new inductees will join the Hall’s 51 current members, including Leonard Lauder, Mindy Grossman, Terry Lundgren, Tommy Hilfiger, Jack Ma and Mickey Drexler.
