From Gen A to Boomers, what trends are shaping the future of retail?

As Vice President of Client Management for Global Merchant Services at American Express Canada, Kimberly Kuzmak is a dynamic leader who champions innovation and drives growth. Leading her team with a keen focus, Kimberly plays a key role in developing and maintaining strong relationships with the company’s largest and most significant Canadian merchants. She oversees a dedicated team, focused on delivering exceptional solutions that enhance merchant operations and foster deep, lasting relationships.

Her advocacy for small business and focus on creating customer-centric solutions reflects her dedication to creating value for both merchants and consumers alike.

Kimberly champions workplace diversity and inclusion, leading by example as the Executive Sponsor of the Virtual Office Network in Canada. This role underscores her commitment to nurturing an inclusive environment where diverse talent thrives.

Throughout her impressive 20-year career with American Express, Kimberly has demonstrated an exceptional ability to thrive across various roles, consistently guiding her teams to success. Her leadership excellence has been recognized as a three-time winner of the American Express President’s Club Award, highlighting her leadership and strategic acumen.

Living in Toronto with her family, Kimberly’s professional achievements are complemented by her personal commitment to her community, making her a well-rounded leader whose influence extends beyond the corporate world.

Francesca Cardarelli leads Strategy & Insights for McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada, marrying data with insights to elevate decision making and setting strategies of the future to drive business growth. Prior, Francesca led Digital Strategy & Marketing Planning for McDonald’s Canada, which included launching its loyalty program and advancing its personalization strategies to build stronger connections with the millions of Canadians that visit the restaurants each day.

An established leader in the Canadian Food & Beverage Industry, Francesca brings with her deep CPG and QSR experience from PepsiCo Foods, Starbucks and Jamieson Vitamins.

Her focus on growth goes beyond the business – she is passionate about talent development and building future Canadian marketing leaders, bringing to life this commitment as a member of the Marketing Advisory Committee for the Ted Roger’s School of Business

Committed to serving communities across Canada and helping families in need, Francesca sits on the National Board of Directors for the Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada.

Outside of the office, she can be found running, at a yoga class, or underwater scuba diving.

As the GM of Global Business Solutions for TikTok Canada, Joshua Bloom leads with a vision for thought leadership and cultural development, shaping a world-class sales team dedicated to empowering marketers with innovative solutions that foster authentic connections and drive tangible business outcomes. Joshua brings over 24 years of digital media expertise to his role, having pioneered impactful strategies at Facebook, where he was the inaugural Canadian employee, and cultivated trusted partnerships with major brands and agencies. With a career spanning pivotal roles at DoubleClick Media, Conducive, WhenU, and MySpace, Joshua’s deep market insights and creative prowess continue to drive growth and innovation in the ever-evolving landscape of digital media.

Danyal has 10+ years of experience in Marketing and Insights, including work in branding, strategy, media and advertising measurement. Having worked with some of the most prolific companies (BBC, Nestlé, Google, Omnicom Media Group, Scotiabank, IKEA), across multiple categories (Media, CPG, Retail, Technology, Financial Services and Home Furnishing), in several global markets (US, Pakistan, Canada) Danyal’s varied experiences position him as a well-rounded marketer and strategist, eager to solve critical business challenges.