Nilesh Ved heads up the UAE’s Apparel Group, which has over 900 stores and more than 50 international brands under its umbrella and is aiming to achieve its goal to open its 1,000th store by the end of this year. Ved was instrumental in 1999 in bringing the US clothing brand Ninewest from America, and launched the first stores in Lamcy Plaza in Dubai. He has also masterminded the launch of the Tim Hortons chain in the Gulf. The company now employs over 8,000 staff and operates on four continents.