Speakers Announced for the 2026 AAFA Executive Summit
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
OPENING KEYNOTE
LIZANNE KINDLER
CEO and Executive Chair
KnitWell Group
Lizanne Kindler is the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chair of KnitWell Group, a vertical retail portfolio company comprising eight women’s specialty apparel brands generating approximately $5.5 billion in annual revenue with double-digit EBITDA. With about 2,400 stores, 45,000 associates, and 17 million customers, KnitWell Group is one of the largest specialty apparel companies in the United States.
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Under Lizanne’s leadership, the enterprise—backed by private equity ownership—has successfully navigated acquisitions, integrations, and growth transformations. She brings deep experience working with private equity partners, leveraging innovation and operational discipline to deliver results. She has led the creation of a solid financial foundation through inventory optimization, process simplification, cost and overhead containment, contract renegotiation, and organizational redesign. During a period of significant portfolio expansion, she merged capital structures and implemented a centralized shared services model to drive economies of scale, while embedding AI-enabled tools to enhance efficiency and fuel growth.Lizanne is known for her ability to assemble best-in-class leadership teams and lead with a collaborative, value-driven approach grounded in respect, integrity, and transparency. Her vision and disciplined execution have consistently resulted in customer-centric brand architectures that resonate with clearly defined segments while delivering strong financial performance.
Lizanne started her career at Ann Taylor Stores Corporation in 1992, where she spent 15 years in various leadership roles. She was instrumental in leading the foundational stages of their ecommerce business, as well as launching Ann Taylor Loft. Lizanne left Ann Taylor in 2008 to join Talbots as the Senior Vice President of Merchandising. Two years later, she worked at Kohl’s as the Executive Vice President of Product Development, Design and Sourcing, driving private and exclusive brands that contributed $9 billion of revenue to the business.
Lizanne joined Talbots in 2012 as President becoming CEO in 2013 leading a successful turnaround.Beyond her role at KnitWell Group, Lizanne serves as Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, where she has been a member for nearly six years, and as an Executive Trustee of the American Scandinavian Foundation. Lizanne leads KnitWell Group’s efforts in the communities they serve through partnerships at the national level with Dress for Success and Breast Cancer Research Foundation, having raised nearly $100 million to support and empower women.
Her contributions have been widely recognized: in 2024, she was named “Person of the Year” by the American Apparel & Footwear Association and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. In 2025, she was honored with the Outstanding Mother Award for her achievements as both a business leader and mother.
A native of Denmark, Ms. Kindler graduated from Copenhagen Business School with a BA in Economics.
CLOSING KEYNOTE
JOHN KING
Anchor and Chief National Correspondent
CNN
John King is CNN’s award-winning chief national correspondent and an integral part of the network’s coverage of American government and politics. For the 2024 presidential cycle, King led a new voter and battleground state project, “All Over the Map,” designed to cover the campaign through eyes of everyday Americans. King also consistently plays a prominent role in CNN’s coverage of major events, including debates, primary and caucus nights, the nominating conventions and Election Night. He leads the CNN “Magic Wall” coverage, an innovation first introduced in 2008 and central to the network’s election coverage since.
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King joined CNN in May 1997 after 12 years at The Associated Press, the last six as its chief political correspondent. He has reported from all 50 states and more than 70 countries.
At CNN, King previously served as the anchor of CNN’s Inside Politics, a program featuring the top political stories sourced by the best reporters. Other CNN duties included 10 years covering the White House, serving as CNN’s senior White House correspondent from 1999 to 2006. While at the White House, King’s duties consisted of reporting on the Iraq war and the September 11th terrorist attacks. His AP tenure included stints in Providence, R.I., Boston and Washington, as well as covering major international events like the Persian Gulf War.
King is a native of Boston and earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Rhode Island. He has also been awarded honorary doctorate degrees from URI, American University and Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
SIGNALS OF CHANGE
MARC PALATUCCI
Growth & Engagement Director
Future Today Strategy Group
Marc connects Future Today Strategy Group (FTSG), the global strategic advisory firm, to a wide network of leaders, experts and partners that enrich its foresight work. In his role as Director of Growth & Engagement, he focuses on driving business through the cultivation of strategic relationships, also leading the firm's practice in apparel, luxury, and the arts.
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Marc teaches a graduate course in foresight at NYU’s Stern School of Business alongside FTSG founder and CEO Amy Webb, and manages FTSG’s associate program, training the next generation of strategic foresight professionals. He also leads the Council of Forward Thinkers, a diverse, invite-only group of professionals with a shared interest in foresight. He has spoken for audiences from the World Health Organization in Geneva to the South by Southwest Innovation Conference in Austin, Texas, and his insights have been featured everywhere from the pages of Vogue to National Geographic’s Ultimate Book of the Future.