Chief Digital Officer, Majid Al Futtaim Retail - Carrefour
[LinkedIn Profile](https://ae.linkedin.com/in/arun-chandra-mohan-015699) | [Retail Summit Speaker Profile](https://www.theretailsummit.com/speakers/arun-chandra-mohan)
Professional Role and Responsibilities
Arun Chandra Mohan serves as Chief Digital Officer (CDO) at Majid Al Futtaim Retail - Carrefour, having been appointed to this position in August 2022. He leads the company’s eCommerce and in-store digital transformation initiatives, driving omnichannel growth and digital innovation across the Carrefour retail network in the UAE. Arun is also a member of the Retail Executive Committee at Majid Al Futtaim Retail, evidencing his strategic involvement in broader retail leadership beyond digital-specific domains.
His mandate primarily involves spearheading Majid Al Futtaim’s digital commerce platforms and physical store technology to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency. He is directly responsible for key digital products including the "Carrefour Now" Quick Commerce offering, which has reported a 30% annual growth under his leadership.
Achievements and Business Impact
- Under Arun’s leadership, the Retail Digital business grew 14%, delivering net revenues of AED 2.7 billion recently reported for 2024.
- The company’s overall financial health underpins this digital expansion, with Majid Al Futtaim announcing a 3% increase in EBITDA to AED 4.6 billion in 2024, marking a year of strong performance within the retail segment.
- Arun has championed the integration of advanced technological solutions, including AI and real-time retail media, to support customer engagement and omnichannel sales.
- A significant project under his purview is the partnership with Advertima and Precision Media, deploying AI-driven retail media across Carrefour stores in the UAE. This initiative aims to blend real-time in-store intelligence with online audience data, positioning Majid Al Futtaim as a pioneer in AI-powered retail media.
- This AI retail media rollout reflects Majid Al Futtaim’s strategic ambition of setting new benchmarks in retail media, reinforcing Arun’s role in aligning technology deployment with commercial growth objectives.
Industry and Digital Transformation Expertise
- Arun has over 15 years of experience in digital media, ecommerce, and technology-driven retail innovation, with a pronounced focus on creating scalable and profitable digital business models.
- He has been vocal about investing heavily in technology to enhance the customer journey and supply chain efficiency, a philosophy that aligns with Majid Al Futtaim Retail’s efforts to resolve fragmented data systems and slow manual reporting by adopting AI-enabled analytics tools and cloud platforms such as Microsoft Azure.
- His leadership in digital transformation is contextualized by prior experience in startup ecosystems (notably as co-founder and CEO at Jabong.com, a major Indian ecommerce platform), illustrating a well-rounded expertise in scaling ecommerce ventures and managing complex supply chains.
Educational Background
- Arun holds an MBA from INSEAD, one of the leading global business schools.
- He also possesses a Master’s degree in International Business from the University of Applied Science in Germany.
- His foundational education includes a Bachelor of Commerce from Loyola College.
This robust educational foundation supports his strategic insight into global business dynamics and digital innovation.
Location and Cultural Context
Based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Arun operates within a vibrant retail and innovation hub, enabling direct access to regional market dynamics across the Middle East. His role within Majid Al Futtaim, a conglomerate with more than 465 Carrefour stores and significant regional market share, positions him centrally in a high-growth retail environment.
Key Strategic Priorities and Initiatives
- Driving eCommerce growth aligned with physical retail expansion, particularly through initiatives like Quick Commerce ("Carrefour Now") which emphasizes rapid delivery and convenience.
- Expanding retail media and advertising capabilities through AI partnerships (e.g., with Advertima), capitalizing on emerging technologies to increase omni-channel marketing effectiveness.
- Enhancing data integration and analytics capabilities to overcome operational inefficiencies caused by fragmented systems, leveraging solutions including Azure Open AI Service and advanced BI tools.
- Innovating customer centricity and experience by bridging real-time digital touchpoints with physical store environments.
This portfolio denotes Arun Chandra Mohan as a digitally savvy executive focused on leveraging AI, omnichannel retail strategies, and data-driven marketing to support substantial revenue growth in a competitive retail landscape. His combination of prior entrepreneurial experience and current leadership at Majid Al Futtaim highlights his capability to manage large-scale digital transformations in established retail environments.
