The European Supply Chain Summit 2025, held from 28 to 29 October 2025, brought together senior supply chain management, procurement, and operations leaders, all focused on designing a new future for the industry. Conversations centered on people and process, tools and technology, with a clear emphasis on leveraging leadership to drive efficiency, sustainability, and resilience.
Across two energizing days, executives shared strategic perspectives, real-world transformation journeys, and practical approaches to strengthening efficiency, agility, and trust. The atmosphere in the room was energetic and collaborative, with engaged discussions, interactive sessions, and keynote talks that connected high-level strategy with day-to-day execution.
For those who were not able to attend, we have captured the key highlights for you. In this recap, you will find the most impactful presentations, memorable insights from industry leaders, and the strategies that sparked the most interest.
Discover how leading organizations are establishing optimal operating models, tackling global disruptions, adopting digital and AI-driven tools, and embedding sustainability deep into their sourcing and logistics. This summary provides a concise overview of the ideas, lessons, and inspiration that will shape the next chapter of European supply chain leadership.
Day 1: Highlights and Key Takeaways
Day 2: Deep Dives into Digitalization and Systemic Change
On the first day of the European Supply Chain Summit , we began the summit with an energetic welcome from our emcees, Libby Hargreaves, Editor at Supply Chain Digital , and Alexandra Teleki, EVP, Procurement at Clayens.
The event started with an informative opening keynote from Jenny Westermark, SVP, GTO, Production Logistics at Volvo Group, who opened the summit with an exciting discussion about Owning Our Future: Where Supply Chains Are The Driving Force Towards A Zero-Emissions World. Jenny highlighted the critical turning point of leveraging supply chain leadership to drive both efficiency and true sustainability.
The morning continued with Robin Cattermole, SVP, Supply Chain Operations at Yara International , who discussed Organizational Dilemmas in Supply Chain: Finding the Optimal Set-Up. His session focused on balancing centralized efficiency with decentralized agility across global operations.
The discussion moved to practical execution. Hugh Jaques, Global VP, Transformation at Mars, led a plenary session focused on Enhancing Supply Chain Resilience Through Integrated Business Planning. This session focused on synchronizing demand, supply, and financial plans for better risk mitigation.
Later on, Ilya Selivanov, SVP, Productivity and Transformation at Reckitt , delivered an insightful plenary on Driving Transformation With Commercial Leaders to Build the Right Chain for Sustainable Execution. He stressed the importance of partnering with commercial leaders to align transformation goals with business priorities.
Following the morning sessions, attendees enjoyed time for refreshments, networking, and pre-arranged 1-2-1 meetings, providing valuable opportunities to connect with peers and solution providers.
The late morning featured focused parallel sessions, providing attendees with deep insights into various aspects of supply chain management:
Lunch & Learn Roundtables
The first round of lunch and learn roundtables was a hive of activity, offering attendees in-depth exploration of critical topics. Sessions included:
Afternoon Sessions
After lunch, we kicked off our afternoon sessions with Jamel Boubnan, Head, Procurement Investment and Infrastructure at UCB, discussing Enhancing Supply Chain Visibility to Strengthen Procurement and Real-Time Decision-Making. Meanwhile, Stijn Sweere, Senior Director, Global Supply Chain, Taste at Kerry, spoke on Simplifying Complex Supply Chains Through Customer-Centric Differentiation.
The afternoon workshops followed shortly afterward. Yehonathan Barnea returned to discuss AI and Human Intelligence: Unlocking the Next Era of Demand Forecasting. Concurrently, Sonya Bhonsle, Director, Global Corporates at CDP, led a workshop on Connecting the Dots Across Sustainable Supply Chains: Turning Environmental Data Into Competitive Advantage.
We then transitioned into a dedicated networking happy hour, offering further opportunities for connection and pre-arranged 1-2-1 meetings.
The day continued with a powerful plenary led by Saulo Spaolanse, SVP, Customer Experience, Global Supply Chain at Schneider Electric, who explored From Fulfilment to Experience: Building Trust in Supply Chains with Data and Foresight. He redefined supply chain commitments, stating that "customers buy confidence, not just products".
The first day concluded with a high-impact panel discussion titled Building Resilient and Agile Supply Chains in the Face of Global Disruptions. This session was moderated by Libby Hargreaves, Editor at Supply Chain Digital. The distinguished panelists included Birgit Fuchs, VP, Supply Chain, Automotive at Infineon, Saulo Spaolanse, SVP, Customer Experience, Global Supply Chain at Schneider Electric, Tilo Else, VP, Procurement, Grid Technologies at Siemens Energy, and Hugh Jaques, Global VP, Transformation at Mars. The discussion centered on developing a comprehensive playbook for supply chain agility. Key topics explored included risk mapping across the end-to-end supply chain, focusing on practical approaches to identifying and prioritizing vulnerabilities; the role of AI, digital twins, and data-driven resilience through real examples of how these digital tools change detection, planning, and response; and the interaction and trade-offs between sustainability goals and resilience planning choices. The informative day then concluded with a lively networking drinks reception.
The second day of the summit started with the Chair's Opening Remarks, led by Libby Hargreaves and Alexandra Teleki followed by a networking breakfast.
The Day 2 Opening Keynote was presented by Andrea Appel, SVP, Group Purchasing at Continental. Her keynote, "Aligning Procurement Strategies with Changing Sustainability Regulations," focused on:
Following this, Viren Shah, SVP and Chief Digital and Information Officer at AGCO Corporation , took to the stage to discuss Digitally Cultivating Resilient and Sustainable Supply Chains. He emphasized connecting global manufacturing, distribution, and farming ecosystems through real-time data and AI-driven insights. This was followed by a mid-morning break for refreshments, networking, and pre-arranged 1-2-1 meetings.
We later moved into our morning parallel sessions.
Benoit Blank, Ph.D., Head, Spend Optimization Logistics Project at BASF, delivered a plenary on Gate-to-Gate Logistics Optimization: Leveraging Efficiencies Through Digital Transformation, detailing BASF's digital strategy to streamline logistics processes.
During lunch, we enjoyed roundtable discussions. Sessions included:
The summit featured a powerful panel discussion focused on Women in Leadership , addressing systemic challenges and highlighting opportunities for progress. The conversation was moderated by Libby Hargreaves, Editor at Supply Chain Digital. The distinguished panelists included Vania Moscato, Chief Procurement Officer at Italchimica, Birgit Fuchs, VP, Supply Chain, Automotive at Infineon, Joelle Kouassi, Head, Supply Chain at Unilever, and Andrea Appel, SVP, Group Purchasing at Continental. The discussion highlighted the importance of embedding Diversity & Inclusion as a long-term driver of innovation, resilience, and competitiveness , and emphasized the power of mentorship and sponsorship in creating visibility, advocacy, and opportunity for emerging leaders. The panelists also discussed accelerating progress for women in the supply chain through tangible actions, inclusive cultures, and role models for the next generation.
The second day of the summit also featured Rajasunath (Raja) Gondi, VP and Head, Supply Chain Image Guided Therapy at Philips, as he delivered a plenary on Orchestrating Resilient, Responsible Supply Chains for Complex Systems.
The day concluded with the final panel discussion, Transforming Global Supply Chains Through Advanced Digital Transformation.
Panelists:The panel’s core guidance centered on the capabilities required before scale, such as infrastructure, data practices, and skills, needed to meaningfully exploit AI/ML. They emphasized balancing advanced capabilities (AI use cases) with pragmatic, incremental approaches (e.g., easy wins and low-effort automation).
The event came to an end with the Chair's Closing Remarks from Libby Hargreaves and Alexandra Teleki, wrapping up a successful summit that connected strategic ambition with executable transformation.
Conclusion:
The European Supply Chain Summit 2025 was a highly successful, transformative event, providing clarity and confidence for the executive community in a turbulent global environment. The collective message delivered was definitive: Resilience and profitability are now fundamentally and inextricably tied to accelerated sustainability initiatives and sophisticated digital orchestration.
We truly hope the Summit made a lasting impression on you, just as it did on us. If you were unable to join us this year but wish to participate in this exceptional gathering next year, please express your interest. It's never too early to get excited about what's to come!
Thought-provoking. Hearing experiences from across multiple industries creates a picture of shared experiences from which to learn.
Alan Brown, Head Vendor Alliance, Novartis
It was really interesting to listen to the speakers, and I especially enjoyed the 1:1 meetings.
Ebru Sebat, Global Operations and Supply Chain Director, NORWEX
Great experience with some very interesting insights & experiences.
Bernardo Luis Antonio, Head Of Operations, Hugo Boss
I'm here second time, and I'll do my best to join this and other Generis events in 2026. Many decision makers in the room, organisers helping with 1-2-1 meetings, what else software supplier could expect? I hope this event will grow over the year, with more attendees and interesting topics.
Patryk Fabisiak, Senior Business Development Manager, ORTEC
Very well organized. The presentations are interesting and on the spot for the current opportunities and challenges of the market as well as geopolitical situation.
Alexandra Teleki, EVP Procurement, Clayens
This was my first supply chain summit. It was fantastic to hear so many leaders talking about climate change and nature not just as risks, but as opportunities, and to see how sustainability is being built right into supply chain strategy. The mix of sessions and speakers really highlighted the direction supply chain leadership is heading, and I had several conversations with Supply Chain leaders attending on what’s coming next and collaboration.
Sonya Parish, Director Corporates, CDP
Interesting and inspiring! Great to learn from industry leaders and experts on procurement, sustainability in the value chain, and how AI can support.
Chris Werner, Senior Director of Supply Chain EMEA & APAC, Ranpak B.V.
The summit offered an exceptionally welcoming and comfortable environment. While the core subjects were familiar, the real-world experiences and strategic pathways shared by industry leaders were profoundly inspiring and insightful, providing significant fuel for reframing established concepts and guiding our next-stage planning.
Vania Moscato, Chief Procurement Officer, Italchimica srl
Really inspiring presentations by passionate people from interesting companies! Good vibe and plenty of opportunity to network.
Stefaan Bernaert, Global Supply Chain Director, Unilin flooring
Very interesting and inspiring. It allowed me to further explore and acquire knowledge of the supply chain world.
Marco Menna, Expert Business Analyst, Hugo Boss
Positive. Great venue giving many sharing and networking opportunities. Interesting mix of senior executive delegates from various activity sectors all experiencing similar challenges, open-minded and ready to learn from each other.
Heather Levy-Valensi, International Business Development Director, ATALIAN
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