RetailME spoke to Marka CEO Nick Peel, who brings with him over 20 years of multi-channel experience with some of the biggest names in sports marketing as well as leading retail brands in fashion and other categories, about his retail journey in this part of the world…
“It’s been a whirlwind of a journey,” says Peel about the two years he has spent so far with Marka, which is the UAE’s first publicly traded joint stock company focused on the country’s fast-growing retail sector.
Appointed CEO in August 2014, a little over a month after Marka launched its operations, Peel has been in the thick of action, guiding the company’s ambitious growth strategy to become, as he put it at the time of his appointment, “the premier retail operator in the UAE and across the region.”
How easy or difficult has it been for you to work with the Marka board?
We interact with each other at least quarterly but there are a couple of board members that I interact with more frequently, almost fortnightly or monthly. They are all pragmatic, positive, entrepreneurial individuals and are true to the vision of economic diversification propagated by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s, vice president and prime minister of the UAE, and ruler of Dubai. They are approachable individuals who have been helpful and supportive during my journey.
Three biggest learnings at Marka:
The full interview has been featured in RetailME October 2016 edition.
Watsons to open 20 new stores in the GCC
In 2020, global health & beauty retailer AS Watson Group signed its
April 29, 2024 | By Rupkatha BLandmark Group’s ‘Circulife’ could be a “giant leap” towards UAE’s textile circularity goals
“We want to not just match the price; but beat it,” claims Chemist Warehouse CEO
Landmark Group to invest $1-bn to grow the business, open 400 stores
/ 
For decades, Haldiram’s built deep recall across the UAE through its packaged
When House of Habanero opened its first physical location at Alserkal Avenue
Union Coop has completed a significant expansion of its Hatta Souq branch,
Saudi Arabia is set to welcome U.S. food exporters this week, as
Majid Al Futtaim has officially entered the discount retail segment with the
As convenience increasingly becomes currency in the region’s grocery landscape, Union Coop
As wellness becomes a lifestyle in the UAE, the grocery aisle is
Grandiose, one of the leading grocery retailers in the UAE with a
With shifting consumer behaviour, rising cost pressures, regulatory changes, and rapid digitization,
Union Coop’s blend of retail expansion, digital innovation, and community focus is
Abu Dhabi-based MAIR Group has marked a pivotal stage in its transformation
In a move that blurs the line between shopping and investing, Apparel
/ 
Why cinemas, wellness sanctuaries and cultural districts are becoming emotional infrastructure for
In a retail landscape dominated by shelves stacked with finished products, Oo
Asda, the UK’s third-largest grocery retailer, has strengthened its partnership with Deliverect
From bullion to boutiques, investment to immersion, Dubai Gold District marks a
Homegrown Ventures announced its investment in PawPots, an innovative provider of fresh,
Speed and accuracy have become non-negotiable in the current logistics landscape. In
Dubai, UAE – 19 May 2025 – FancyTech A&M (Advertising & Marketing) Awards, is
The Retail Reboot Summit 2025 culminated spectacularly with the inaugural FancyTech A&M
NRF Vice President of Education Strategy Susan Reda forecasts 2025’s retail trends
Pet ownership in the UAE has transformed dramatically over the past two
Previous Article
