Our program is supported by a network of world-class experts and dialogue partners who are dedicated to sharing their invaluable insights. These leaders play a vital role in mentoring and guiding our participants, fostering the empowerment of the next generation of transformative leaders through practical advice, strategic thinking, and impactful networking opportunities.
They bring a rich diversity of sectors, specializations, and organizational backgrounds, reflecting the broad spectrum of challenges and perspectives faced by decision-makers on both national and international stages.
Our dialogue partners not only provide their specialist expertise but also offer personal perspectives – sharing insights from major successes and lessons learned from failures, demonstrating how their leadership has evolved through life experiences.
Non-Executive Board Member
Energy Technology Holdings LLC and Gerresheimer AG
Andrea ABT
Andrea Abt is focused on an international portfolio of non-executive and supervisory board positions in public and private companies. She has served on audit, remuneration, ethics and compliance and nomination committees of company boards in a wide range of industries from packaging in the pharma industry through distribution in the building sector to oil and gas services, mining and manufacturing.
Andrea brings an independent international perspective, challenging strategy, process and performance in an open and constructive way, benefitting both from her extensive operational executive and non-executive experience.
Before her non-executive career, Andrea spent almost 30 years in international management and leadership roles in a wide variety of challenging environments in the Daimler-Benz and Siemens groups: building organizations, consolidating, turning them around in the areas of transportation (rail and aerospace), logistics, IT and more traditional manufacturing businesses. Her background includes leading teams in sales, services, as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Procurement Officer and Head of Supply Chain Management of global organizations ranging up to 9 billion € purchasing volume.
President Indian Staffing Federation,
President Quess Corp Ltd
Lohit Bhatia
Lohit Bhatia is a highly experienced leader with over 25 years of expertise across various industries, including textiles, auto components, and services. Currently, he serves as the President of Workforce Management at Quess Corp Ltd, India’s largest private-sector employer and leading business services providers with more around 400,000 employees.
In addition to his role at Quess Corp, Lohit Bhatia holds a prominent position as the President of the Indian Staffing Federation (ISF), where he was re-elected for consecutive terms. At ISF, Lohit plays a key role in representing and advancing the staffing industry in India, with a focus on formalizing the workforce and creating employment opportunities.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Delhi University and a Masters in Marketing and Sales from the Apeejay School of Management besides an Advanced Systems Diploma in Computers from the NIIT.
President & Chief Executive Officer
RHI Magnesita
Stefan Borgas
Stefan Borgas was appointed RHI Magnesita President and CEO in December 2016.
He led as CEO the RHI AG from December 2016 until October 2017. Prior to that, he was president and CEO at Israel Chemicals Ltd.
Between 2004 and 2012, he was CEO at Lonza Group. In his early career, he worked at BASF Group, where he held various management positions.
Stefan was elected as President of the World Refractories Association for a two-year term in January 2018.
Stefan has a business administration degree from the University Saarbrücken and an MBA from the University of St.Gallen-HSG.
External appointments: Non-Executive Director of AFYREN and owner of SB Industry LLC.
Non-Executive Board Member
Commerzbank AG
Sabine U. Dietrich
Ms. Dietrich is Non-Executive Board Member of Commerzbank AG, Germany and former Executive Board Member of BP Europe SE.
She leads the Board Committee of Digital Transformation and is Member of it ESG Committee.
Sabine U. Dietrich was until December 2015 Member of the Executive Board of BP Europa SE with responsability for the Divisons Marine Fuels, Air BP and the Management of all European Real Estate Portfolio.
She lead also the Group Risk Management and Etics & Compliance Departments.
After graduating as engineer in 1991, she entered the petrol station business at BP in order to build up the petrol station network in the new federal states (former Eastern Germany).
This was followed by an international career at BP: After positions at the European headquarters in Brussels and in business development in Vietnam, she was Marketing Manager responsible for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. After further positions, including the integration of BP/Veba/Aral, as Deputy Managing Director / Commercial & Asset Manager for Eastern Europe and international activities in India (Leader Innovation / Business Development) and Great Britain (SVP / Global Liability Management) for the BP Group.
In 2011, Sabine Dietrich assumed responsibility for the areas of “Safety & Operational Risk” and “Compliance and Ethics” for seven countries in Europe.
Other Functions:
She also holds Non-Executive Board positions by MVV Energie AG (Mannheim/Germany), Hansen & Rosenthal KGaA (Hamburg/Germany) and Lux Immersive Museum (Ho Chi Minh City / Vietnam)
Since 2016 Ms. Dietrich is Member of the Board of Trusties of the European Academy for Diversity in Politics and Business
Since January 2014 member of the decision-making body and auditor at “Die Seenotretter” (German Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked Persons) Bremen.
Member Board of Directors
f5, John Deere, XEROX
Tami Erwin
Tami Erwin is executive vice president and CEO of Verizon Business, a global leader in 5G technology serving 97% of Fortune 500 companies. She is widely recognized for her strategic impact, marketing and operations focus, technical savvy, and passion for people.
As CEO of Verizon Business, a $30B+ business with over 26,000 employees that would be among the Fortune 100 if it was a separate entity, she and her team help businesses, governments and communities reimagine their employee, supply chain and end-customer experiences. As the shift to digital accelerates, Verizon Business is paving the way into a new 5G era of technology-led disruption and innovation.
Throughout her career, Tami has earned a reputation for building a world-class culture of customer-centricity and business performance. Prior to her current role, Tami played a crucial role in the evolution and growth of Verizon’s wireline and wireless business segments. She was the head of operations for Verizon Wireless, and led Verizon Fios, the nation’s largest residential and commercial fiber network. In those roles, she guided the growth of the company’s principal networks to record levels, delivering industry-leading experiences to consumer and business
customers.
Tami is a brand builder known for competitive turnarounds and market-moving strategies. Earlier in her career, she was Chief Marketing Officer of Verizon Wireless and led Verizon Wireless’ west region, taking it from fourth place to first place.
Corporate and charitable leadership Tami leads by example in advocating for equality, inclusion and accessibility for all. She is passionate about technology’s role in improving the ways that we live, learn, work and play and is a leader on the importance of responsible business.
Personally, she has a long history of championing engagement and development programs that help women and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) grow their skills and networks. She’s the proud advisor of Verizon’s Veterans employee resource group that provides programs and resources to our more than 10,0000 veterans, active reservists and military families, and carries a passion for the impact of STEAM education on changing the trajectory of people’s lives.
Non-Executive Board Member
SASOL, Synthomer
Martina Flöel
Dr Flöel holds a MSc in Chemistry from the University of Frankfurt and a PhD in Chemistry from the Technische Universität München (University of Munich).
With 30 years experience in the chemicals industry in roles covering chemical and process research and development, technical innovations, technologies, operations and industrial supply chain, she is a seasoned industrial leader.
She concluded her executive leadership career as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of OXEA Holdings 2007-2016. Dr. Flöel was Vice President Oxo Chemicals, Celanese Chemicals 2000–2003, Plant Manager Böhlen, Celanese Chemicals 1998–2000. Prior to 1998 she had various managerial and directorial positions in the Hoechst Group.
She has been Independent Member of the Non-Executive Board of SASOL Group (South Africa) and Member of its Remuneration Committee, Safety, Social and Ethics Committee and Capital Investment and Digital Committee.
She serves also as Independent Non-Executive Member on the Board of NESTE Corporation (Finland).
Additionally, she serves on the Board of Carl Bechem GmbH / Germany.
Non-Executive Board Member
ORICA, UMICORE
Mark Garrett
Mark Garrett was appointed Marquard & Bahls CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board in August 2018.
He has enjoyed a long career in the chemical industry starting with Ciba-Geigy, then DuPont and finally Ciba Speciality Chemicals where he was Executive Vice President Water and Paper Treatment and a member of the Executive Committee before joining Borealis. At Borealis, Mark Garrett was CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board for 11 years. In 2018 he was awarded the Grand Silver Medal of Honor with star by the Austrian government for his contribution to the Austrian economy.
Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Melbourne in Australia and a Graduate Diploma of Applied Information Systems from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. He was born in Melbourne in 1962, and has Australian and Swiss dual citizenship. He currently lives in Hamburg, Germany, is married and has three children.
Mark Garrett is Chairman of the Boards of Directors at Axalta Coating Systems and OWV in Austria as well member of the Board of Umicore NV/SA.
Chief Executive Officer
AVEVA
Caspar Herzberg
Caspar manages SE’s operations in 70+ countries, with more than 10,000 employees across Middle East & Africa including Central Asia and Turkey. Schneider Electric serves its customers with integrated efficiency solutions, combining energy, automation and software in Power Management and in Industrial Automation Systems. His responsibilities include all aspects of SE’s business.
Prior to joining Schneider, Caspar Herzberg was the Vice President of Cisco Consulting Services for Asia Pacific, China and Japan. He previously held various executive positions within Cisco and Accenture in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
With 20 years’ experience in the industry, Caspar is recognized as a thought leader for Smart Cities, Digital Transformation and IoT, pioneering the digital platform for the New Economic Cities in Saudi Arabia, Songdo in South Korea and the economic powerhouse of Chongqing in China.
He is the published author of the book ‘Smart Cities, Digital Nations’ (Roundtree Press 2017). Ranked among the Top 100 executives in the Arab World by Forbes in 2017 and 2018, he is on the Board of Trustees of the NewCities Foundation and served as an advisor on the city of Chongqing Mayor’s
International Economic Advisory Council in the People’s Republic of China.
Caspar served as an officer in the German Army and holds a Master of Science in International Politics from SOAS, University of London, and a Bachelor of Arts in Arabic and Modern Middle Eastern Studies from St. Anne’s College, University of Oxford. He grew up in Egypt and speaks fluent Arabic, German, French and English.
CEO
DKV Mobility Group
Marco van Kalleveen
Marco is CEO of DKV Mobility Services, which offers B2B mobility services with annual revenues of €9 billion, has 250,000 customers, and presence in 42 countries.
Before that, Marco was COO and member of the managing board of LeasePlan Corporation where he was responsible for the European Business. Prior to that, he was on the management board of TNT Express, where he led the successful turnaround of the Domestic Businesses Division, which spanned 30,000 FTE in Australia, Brazil, Chile, France, Italy and the UK.
Marco was also SVP at Bain Capital in London, and partner at McKinsey & Company where he specialised in major transformations in various sectors from the Chicago, San Francisco and Amsterdam offices.
Marco holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, and an MSc in Business Economics from Erasmus University (EUR).
Member of the Supervisory Board
Robert Bosch Group
Martina Koederitz
From April 2019 to December 2020 Martina Koederitz led the Industrial US market of IBM Group. Before this position she was IBM Global Industry Managing Director, Industrial and Automotive. From April 2013 to January 2018 she was General Manager of IBM Germany, Austria and Switzerland and thus responsible for the DACH region. Previously, she was member of the board and Vice President Sales IBM Germany and since 2011 General Manager of IBM.
From 2009 to 2010, Martina worked as Vice President General Business & Channel, IMT Germany, which comprises hardware, software and services solutions and the collaboration with business partners. Before, she filled the position of Vice President IBM Systems and Technology Group (STG) in IMT Germany.
Martina Koederitz started her career at IBM in 1987 as system consultant and was appointed to Sales Manager in Financial Services Sector after holding several positions in systems consultancy and sales management within IBM. Since 1999, she held the position of Business Unit Executive and was responsible for the sales organization of the cooperative financial services network. In 2003, Martina Koederitz was appointed to Vice President of IBM zSeries Sales EMEA and since 2006 she worked as Vice President of System z Sales in Germany. After that, she worked as a Client Advocacy Executive in the office of then IBM CEO Sam Palmisano in Armonk, New York.
Martina holds a degree in Business Administration (BA). She was member of the Innogy supervisory board from 2016-2019, additionally she is member of the Robert Bosch GmbH supervisory board since April 2019. During her time as General Manager of IBM Germany, Austria and Switzerland she was member in numerous organisation, including the Steering Committee of the German Industry association (BDI) and the IT association BITKOM. In September 2015 she was honored with the Mestemacher Award Manager of the Year.
Chief Executive Officer
Stolt-Nielsen
Udo Lange
Dr. Udo Lange is President Healthcare, Logistics and Americas International @ FedEx Express.
He is responsible for the leadership & strategy of the enterprise wide healthcare business as well as FedEx Logistics and FedEx Custom Critical.
He is also part of the FedEx Express leadership team with responsibilities for global clearance transformation, Americas International and Latin America & Caribbean. The 5 businesses that he leads employ more than 45.000 team members in +80 countries spanning 6 continents.
Dr. Lange serves also on the Strategic Management Committee of FedEx Corp., which sets the strategic direction for the FedEx enterprise.
Until March 2023 Dr. Lange was president and chief executive officer of Memphis-based FedEx Logistics, an integrated global logistics organization providing supply chain, air and ocean cargo, trade, customs brokerage, and managed transportation solutions. In this role, he was responsible for the leadership and strategic direction of FedEx Logistics.
Dr. Lange has over 20 years of experience in the international trade industry, with expertise in global freight forwarding, customs brokerage and logistics. He joined FedEx in 2015, beginning his tenure with the company as the chief operations officer for FedEx Logistics and president and chief executive officer of FedEx Trade Networks, a company under FedEx Logistics.
In June 2020, Dr. Lange was named as one of the “Top 10 Logistics Leaders” globally by Supply Chain Digital, a leading source of news for the industry. He currently serves as a member of the White House Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force and has been involved in the task force’s Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) group.
Dr. Lange also serves as a supervisory board member at the e-commerce startup The Freightos Group and serves as a Board Member for the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern U.S., Inc. In addition, he is on the Board of Trustees of “Operation Finale,” an exhibition in Germany about the capture of Nazi Adolf Eichmann.
Dr. Lange holds a Ph.D. in economic science from the University of Duisburg and a master’s degree in business administration and mechanical engineering from the University of Kaiserslautern. He is also an alumnus of the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. Locally, Dr. Lange serves on the Board of Directors for the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.
Non-Executive Board Member
Arcelor Mittal Group, Suzano, Votorantim Cimentos
Clarissa Lins
Mrs Clarissa Lins is a senior executive with consolidated experience in strategy, sustainability, and corporate governance.
With a distinguished education background in economy, she worked on relevant projects in the public sector at the beginning of her career – she was part of Brazil’s Ministry of Finance team that produced the economic stabilization program known as the Real Plan in 1994, under President Cardoso.
She also served as an Advisor to the President of Brazil’s BNDES Development Bank, participating in the structuring of the country’s large-scale privatization projects from 1995 to 1999. She was head of Corporate Strategy at Petrobras from 1999 to 2002, when the state-owned oil and gas company shifted its strategy and improved its corporate governance practices while doing an IPO in the NYSE.
Clarissa moved her focus more specifically towards Sustainability in 2004, when she joined the FBDS – Fundação Brasileira para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável (Brazilian Foundation for Sustainable Development). In 2013 she founded the consultancy Catavento, advising corporations in the areas of strategy and sustainability. Clarissa was the President of the Brazilian Institute of Petroleum and Gas (IBP) from November 2019 till March 2021, after serving as Executive Director for more than 3 years. She serves on Boards and Committees of leading companies operating in Brazil – including Suzano’s Sustainability Committee (the world’s largest producer of market pulp), the Board of Directors of Votorantim Cimentos and the Vibra Energia Board of Directors where she has been a member since April 2022.
Other companies in which she has held relevant Board / Committee positions include Shell, Vale and Petrobras.
Non Executive Board Member
Deutsche Post, Henkel, JCI, Russell Reynolds
Simone Menne
Simone Menne started her career for ITT, later joining Deutsche Lufthansa. In 2012, Ms. Menne was appointed CFO and stayed in this position till 2015.
She worked as CFO at Boehringer Ingelheim from 2016 to 2017.
In both companies she was responsible for the foundation of the digital lab.
Ms. Menne serves as non-executive board member for BMW, Henkel, Deutsche Post DHL, JCI and Russell Reynolds. She also owns an art gallery in Kiel, Germany.
Chief Transformation Officer
ServiceNow
Hartmut U. Müller
Hartmut Müller is the Chief Transformation Officer at ServiceNow. A passionate technology enthusiast and seasoned executive, he brings extensive expertise in transforming companies ranging from mid-sized enterprises to globally operating organizations.
Hartmut has worked across multiple industries, gaining valuable experience in consulting firms, system integrators, and product companies. As Vice President & CTO at Mercedes-Benz Group AG, he successfully led and transformed the IT technology organization. Prior to that, he served as SVP and CIO at T-Systems and as CIO for the business customer segment at Deutsche Telekom AG, where he played a key role in developing platforms and digitizing core processes. Earlier in his career, he held management positions at T-Systems, debis Systemhaus, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Hartmut is a visionary thinker with a strong focus on results-driven strategies. He is also deeply committed to cultural transformation, integrity (ESG), and green IT.
Founder & CEO
Gravitas
Karoly Pataki
Karoly Pataki is Founder and CEO of Gravitas, the CEO Advisory and Sparring Partner Firm, based in Vienna Austria.
He has a long career in the industry sector starting with Robert Bosch in Hungary as CFO in 1992 then Dunapack Group in Hungary as deputy Managing Director in 1997 followed by various senior positions in the paper and packaging industry. From 1998 to 2000 he hold the position of General Manager of Eurobox in Poland and from 2000 to 2002 he was a Member of the Board of Rodina Bulgaria. He has also held advisory and supervisory board mandates in packing firms in Rumania, the Ukraine and Austria.
From 2004 to 2008, he was CFO of the european leading paper and packaging group, Prinzhorn Holding, and subsequently until 2012, Member of the Board of Dunapack Packaging.
In 2012, Karoly Pataki moved to the human resources services sector and became responsible for the CEE and SEE region as a Member of the Board of the Trenkwalder Group. From 2013, he headed the Trenkwalder Group as CEO and Chairman of the Board.
Karoly Pataki is Member of Chatham House (The Royal Institute of International Affairs) in London and Member of the Senate of Economy in Vienna.
Regional Vice President, Europe
IATA
Rafael Schvartzman
Rafael advocates for the interest of IATA´s members and strengthening relationships with aviation stakeholders across the Europe and Central Asia region.
Rafael joined the IATA in 2005 as Country Manager for Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay and has held various positions in the association since then.
Rafael`s aviation experience also includes a decade in DHL in the Americas and experience working for a range of air transport companies in South america.
Rafael holds a Master in Positive Leadership and Strategy from IE Business school and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of the Pacific. He has lived in numerous countries including Argentina, Ecuador, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States. He speaks Spanish and English.
Executive Vice-President Recycling
UMICORE Group
Veerle Slenders
Veerle Slenders was appointed Executive Vice-President Recycling of UMICORE in June 2023.
She brings over 30 years of international experience having held various leadership positions in Europe and the United States, primarily with Praxair/Linde Group, where she worked for 28 years. Her expertise spans business development, operations management, and general portfolio management, particularly in industries such as electronics, aviation, oil and gas, steel, and chemicals.
Before joining Umicore, Veerle was the President of the Region Europe West at Linde, overseeing advanced materials technologies and leading significant environmental, safety, and health initiatives.
She holds a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Hasselt, Belgium, as well as a Postgraduate in Business Administration from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium.
Professor Antwerp Management School
Founder & Director NeuroTrainingLab™
Steven Poelmans
Prof. Dr. Steven Poelmans has a Master in Organizational Psychology, a master’s degree in marketing management, he obtained a Ph.D. in Management / Organizational Behavior (IESE Business School / University of Navarra, Spain) and has a Postgraduate in Neuroscience of Leadership.
Steven has coached over 250 executives of more than 30 different nationalities and published 30 reviewed journal articles, 28 chapters in academic volumes, and 8 books. On Research Gate he scores 26,52 putting him in the 82,5% percentile of most read / cited researchers in management. He is a Top 50 Overall Contributor to Work and Family Research according to the Work-Family Researchers Network (2018).
Steven is also a founding member of the European Academy of Management, international affiliate of the Academy of Management and the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and professor of self-leadership in the Executive academy of the European Foundation of Management Development (EFMD).
At Antwerp Management School, he is professor of Leadership and lead professor of the Personal & Academic Development Track in the Executive PhD program.
He is founder and director of the NeuroTrainingLab™, a leadership development methodology using competencies assessment and neurophysiologic indicators.