How Big Name US Brands Are Using the Latest Tech to Drive Sales - Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit

PANEL SESSION / WEDNESDAY / 19 JULY 2017 / 12:00 PM

How Big Name Brands Are Using the Latest Tech to Drive Sales

We live in a technology age — loyalty apps, email and text messaging, digital menu boards, geofences — but do you have to have it all? And if you are a small brand where do you start? Our panel will discuss the differences among the tech platforms, which they like best and how they make their tech budgets work for them.

PANELISTS

Philip Benton | Lead Analyst, Services & Payments | Euromonitor International

Philip Benton is a Lead Analyst covering the retailing and payments industries across Western Europe at Euromonitor International; the world’s leading independent provider of strategic market research. Philip is responsible for analysing retail trends across Europe and producing forecasts which indicate future developments in the industry. He has been quoted, interviewed and been a guest contributor for City AM, BBC World News, CNBC and the Financial Times as well as numerous other business publications. Philip holds a BA (hons) degree in Business Studies from the University of the West of England, Bristol.

Jerry Gamez | Partner & EVP, Chief Development Officer | Consumer Investment Partners AG

Jerry Gamez is a Partner & EVP, Chief Development Officer at Consumer Investment Partners AG. He is a co-founder and member of the executive board of CIP AG. He is responsible for the expansion of their portfolio group of restaurants and beverage companies around the globe. Prior to this role, Jerry was Chief Expansion & Franchising Officer, Chief Operations Officer, and President of Stripped Brand Pizza at CIP AG. From 2011 to 2014, Jerry was a Partner at Burger King after the 3G acquisition. At Burger King, he held the positions of; Partner, General Manager Nordics & Netherlands in Amsterdam, Partner, EMEA Business Development & Franchising in Switzerland, Partner, Senior Director Performance & Business Development in North America. Previous to Burger King, Jerry worked at Walmart Corporation in a variety of senior management roles.

Larry D. Kruguer | President of International | Wingstop

Larry D. Kruguer joined the company as President of International on June 11, 2015. Prior to joining Wingstop, Larry was at Wendy’s International, where he served as Vice President, International Joint Ventures and Key Markets from October 2014 to June 2015, Vice President, International Business Development and Finance from January 2010 to October 2014 and Vice President, International Marketing from October 2007 to January 2010. Prior to that, he was the President and Managing Partner of Prontowash USA, a global car wash services company, from January 2002 to October 2007. From October 1998 to August 2001, he served as Vice President, Marketing and Strategic Alliances for SportsLine.com, a CBS Sports affiliate. Larry has also held management positions with Alamo-Autonation and American Express. He received an MBA in Business Management from University of Miami School of Business Administration in 1992.

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