Archives: Speakers

I have 18 years of experience in Investment strategy, Financial structuring, Risk analysis and Business management in real assets
and sustainable investments. At 12Tree, I’m responsible for Product Structuring and the Investment strategy of the Sustainable
Agroforestry Fund.

I am responsible for the market analysis supporting investment and operational planning and decision making for the Hancock Natural Resource Group (HNRG). My team maintains informational databases and produces analytical studies and publications addressing trends in global timber and agricultural commodity markets as well as and the role of timberlands and farmlands in institutional investment.

Before joining HNRG in 2012, I was Senior Economist with Forest Capital Partners LLC, a company investing and managing commercial timberland for institutional investors, where I was responsible for market analysis, business development and investor support. Prior to his time at Forest Capital Partners, I was a principal at RISI, a provider of information services and analysis to the global forest products sector. I hold an MFS in Forest Economics from Yale, and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

Wes Chaar is an established expert and leading thinker in the fields of Analytics and Data Science, Machine Learning, AI, and Data Fusion fields. He brings more than 20 years of experience driving industry-leading innovation to his role as Catalina’s Chief Data and Analytics Officer, where he is focused on bringing greater value to hundreds of millions of shoppers worldwide, while increasing the efficiency, predictability and responsiveness of retailer and brand marketing initiatives.

Wes is applying his skills in revenue management, pricing, channel distribution, consumer choice modeling, CRM and audience targeting to guide Catalina’s investments that will enhance its one-of-a-kind shopper data analytics engine to drive performance for retailers and brands.

With experience spanning the airline, hospitality, online retail, media and marketing sectors, Wes has been published in a wide array of journals and has presented at conferences spanning the airline, hospitality, online retail and media sectors. He is a member of IEEE, INFORMS and I-COM, where he serves as a board member for both Chief Data Officer and Chief Analytics Officer.

Wes’ work has been recognized with an Emmy for Engineering and Technology (Turner team), the INFORMS Innovative Applications of Analytics Award, the ANA Genius Awards for both (i) Marketing Analytics Science and (ii) Excellence in Pioneering Analytics Innovation, the ARF’s Great Mind Award in Analytics Leadership, and he was a finalist for both the Wagner Prize for Excellence in Operations Research Practice and the Edelman Award for Achievement in Operations Research and Advanced Analytics. Wes earned a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin.