Former CEO, COURTS Singapore & Senior Executive Partner Gartner Advisory SEA & Korea at GARTNER.
With over 20 years of senior leadership experience running consumer tech and retail organizations across APJ, Ben has spent almost 30 years working in retail from the ground up. He managed Microsoft’s consumer segment across four business units in nine countries in Asia-Pacific, grew Challenger Technologies’ revenue to reach its peak of SGD$350 million as its COO and then the CEO of Courts Singapore where he continues to drive strong revenue growth of over SGD$500 million for the company. Ben developed a new omni-channel strategy for Courts that was achieved through modern store redesign, strategic merchandising mix, streamlining logistics and costs through digital transformation and expanding to new areas of revenue such as services and subscription. All of this while maintaining a strong top and bottom line.
Miss. Jeyalakshmi Venkatanarayanan was recognized for her 20+ years of leadership in the ICT Industry and services to the Karnataka channel community.
She is the Founder of Universe Power Systems Bangalore, Universe Business Solutions, Universe Art Foundation.
She is also serving as the Vice President, FITDAK ( IT Association of Karnataka) and serves the ICT Channel Community through the Association.
UNIVERSE ART FOUNDATION (UAF), is a not for profit organization, formed to address the challenges faced by Indian Artists and offers them necessary help to overcome day to day difficulties.
The objective is the help save our indigenous Art & Culture by securing the Artists who are the roots of our Culture.
UAF has following goals:
To ensure that Indian artists do not live in poverty after having dedicated their entire lives to the service of the ancient Indian art forms.
Provide medical facilities to the artists and their families, in cases where they can’t afford them
To provide education opportunities and funding for the children of Indian artists to pursue careers of their choice unfazed by financial difficulties
Too encourage young Indians to take up traditional Indian art forms as a career, by providing talented individuals necessary grants and funding to get excellent training by instituting art fellowships
To provide platform for young artists to launch their career