The largest European event for private equity value creation

Private Equity International’s Operating Partners Forum Europe is the largest European event dedicated to operating partners. In 2025, the 14th annual conference will focus on best practices in private equity portfolio operations and value creation across all functional business areas.

The operating partner community will meet London to discuss the best strategies to deliver value and growth at a critical time in the economic cycle.

With a new interactive agenda and more operating partners-only sessions than ever before, the Forum will foster business relationships and help shape your future value creation plans.

See who attended in 2024

The first and largest event focused on the role of the Operating Partner and value creation. Great mix of attendees makes it the best networking event.

James Markham

Senior Partner Value Creation, Graphite Capital

What can I expect at the Operating Partners Forum?

Event content designed for value creation

The content focuses on working with and scaling portfolio companies at a crucial time. Featuring sessions on the evolution of value creation, developing a world class value creation team, making boards effective, working with CEOs, and practical insights into key areas of value creation.

Build a valuable network

Attendees connect with industry participants within all functional areas of value creation and benefit from a truly international event. Attendees benefit from in-person networking with think tanks, interactive workshops, networking breaks, evening drinks reception, roundtable discussions and invite-only breakfasts.

Hear from Operating Partners

Attendees hear from 100+ operating partners on the most important topics. Past speakers included representatives from BC Partners, Carlyle Group, CDPQ, CVC Capital Partners, Hg, PAI Partners, InvestCorp, KKR CapstonePartners Group and many more.

“The exchange of ideas between operating partners and their advisors, CEOs, and board members, brought useful insights and re-energised me.”

2024 agenda highlights

The 2024 agenda covered the most prominent functional topics in value creation:

  • AI for value creation: practical use cases beyond the hype
  • Navigating operating partner-deal team dynamics
  • Advanced revenue growth strategies as a key driver in value creation
  • Talent retention best practices in the current economic climate
  • Unlocking data science and advanced analytics for value creation
  • Finance in the current landscape: operating partners share challenges and opportunities
  • And much more…

Meet the largest European operating partner network

Actis
Advent International
Antin Infrastructure Partners
Apollo
APS Advisory
Ardian
Attestor
Bregal Milestone
Bridgepoint
CDPQ London
Charterhouse Capital Partners
Conditor Capital
Dawn Capital
DBAY Advisors
Deutsche Private Equity
ECI Partners
Egis
Eurazeo
Foresight Group
FSN Capital
Graphite Capital
GTO Partners
Hanover Investors Management
ICG
Invenio Partners
Investcorp
Investindustrial
Invision Private Equity AG
Kadens Capital
LBO France
Macquarie Asset Management
MavensWood Investments
Mayfair Equity Partners
MiddleGround Capital
Mirovia Group
Montagu Private Equity
OMERS Private Equity Europe
Paragon Partners
Partners Group
Patrizia AG
PEAL Capital Group
Permira
Pictet
Pollen Street Capital
Private Assets AG
Public Investment Fund
Searchlight Capital Partners
Stanley Capital Partners
SVPGlobal
Synova Capital
THI
Three Hills Capital Partners
TriSpan

2024 speakers

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Our 2024 leading advisory board

Franck Abadia

Managing Director, Operating Team, LBO France

Ralph Friedwagner

Managing Director and Operating Partner, Private Equity, CDPQ London

Maria Orlowski

Partner, Value Creation, GTO Partners

Wessel Schevernels

Operating Partner, PATRIZIA Infrastructure

Lisa Telford

Partner, Montagu Private Equity

2024 agenda

For more information about the agenda, please contact Kitty Watson.

kitty.w@pei.group | +44 (0)203 953 8587

 

Download the 2024 agenda

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
View agenda page

Agenda

Pre-conference events - Tuesday 21st

17:30 - 19:30

Operating Partners Forum Europe Pre-Event Welcome Reception at The Skyline London (invitation-only for operating partners)

Join the operating partners attending the Europe Forum at our opening grand reception. Exchange valuable insights with your peers in a relaxed setting and build your connections before the conference kicks off.

Venue: The Skyline London, 100 Minories, London, EC3N 1JY, United Kingdom

19:30 - 21:00

Operating Partners Forum Europe Dinner at The Skyline London (invitation-only for operating partners)

Join us for a private dinner designed exclusively for all operating partners attending the Forum.

Venue: The Skyline London, 100 Minories, London, EC3N 1JY, United Kingdom

Agenda

Operating Partners Forum Europe - Day 1 - Wednesday 22nd

07:30 - 08:55

Registration and breakfast

THINK TANK SERIES 1
08:00 - 08:55

Think tanks for full-time operating partners: value creation war room (invitation-only) - Digital and Technology Operating Partners

Gilad G. Amir, Agata Cooper

These closed-door discussions will allow you to learn and share strategies together with your operating partner peers. Please select one of the rooms based on your functional expertise:

Room 1: Digital and Technology Operating Partners

A speaker photo for Gilad G. Amir

Gilad G. Amir

Digital Operating Partner, Pollen Street Capital

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A speaker photo for Agata Cooper

Agata Cooper

Digital Operating Partner, Triton Partners

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08:00 - 08:55

Think tanks for full-time operating partners: value creation war room (invitation-only) - Human Capital/Talent Operating Partners

Cordelia Dolan, Lisa Telford

These closed-door discussions will allow you to learn and share strategies together with your operating partner peers.

Room 2: Human Capital/Talent Operating Partners

A speaker photo for Cordelia Dolan

Cordelia Dolan

Global Head of Portfolio Talent, Investindustrial

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A speaker photo for Lisa Telford

Lisa Telford

Partner, Montagu Private Equity

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08:00 - 08:55

Think tanks for full-time operating partners: value creation war room (invitation-only) - GTM, Sales and Revenue Growth Operating Partners

Streisan Bevan

These closed-door discussions will allow you to learn and share strategies together with your operating partner peers.

Room 3: GTM, Sales and Revenue Growth Operating Partners

A speaker photo for Streisan Bevan

Streisan Bevan

Director, Specialist – Customer Insight and Sales Effectiveness, Mayfair Equity Partners

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08:00 - 08:55

Think tanks for full-time operating partners: value creation war room (invitation-only) - Finance Operating Partners

Phil Carrivick, Kristen Paladino

These closed-door discussions will allow you to learn and share strategies together with your operating partner peers.

Room 4: Finance Operating Partners

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Phil Carrivick

Op Partner, Northfirst

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A speaker photo for Kristen Paladino

Kristen Paladino

Principal, Blackstone Credit & Insurance

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Plenary
08:55 - 09:10

PEI’s welcome and chairman’s opening remarks

Tim Sanders

Tim Sanders, Vice President of Client Strategy, Upwork

A speaker photo for Tim Sanders

Tim Sanders

Vice President of Client Strategy, Upwork

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09:10 - 09:50

Rewriting the Value Creation Playbook for the 2024 Market Environment

Jim Corey, Kristen Paladino, Alan Roux, Erem Kassim-Lakha, Peter Colman
  • What PE industry dynamics are driving changes for Value Creation Teams?
  • What are the most important business issues on the minds of CEOs and how are they impacting Value Creation Teams?
  • How is the role of the operating partner evolving given these market factors?
  • What new behaviours should Operating Partners adopt?

Facilitator: Jim Corey, Managing Director, Blue Ridge Partners

A speaker photo for Jim Corey

Jim Corey

Managing Partner, Blue Ridge Partners

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A speaker photo for Kristen Paladino

Kristen Paladino

Principal, Blackstone Credit & Insurance

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A speaker photo for Alan Roux

Alan Roux

Operating Partner, Independent

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A speaker photo for Erem  Kassim-Lakha

Erem Kassim-Lakha

Senior Managing Director, Ontario Teachers Pension Plan

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A speaker photo for Peter Colman

Peter Colman

Senior Operating Partner, H.I.G. Capital

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09:50 - 10:30

Leveraging AI as a vital driver of value creation in the evolving private equity landscape

Claudio Crivelli, Jamaria Kong, Marine Diot, Lisa Weaver-Lambert, Ercan Ucak
  • How to move from the mechanics of AI to tangible financial implications such as return on investment, the costs, etc
  • Identifying innovative ways of how CFOs and companies have implemented AI
  • How to correctly allocate and move resources for AI

Facilitator: Claudio Crivelli, RVP, Global Private Equity Practice, Salesforce

A speaker photo for Claudio  Crivelli

Claudio Crivelli

RVP, Global Private Equity Practice, Salesforce

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A speaker photo for Jamaria Kong

Jamaria Kong

Managing Director, Towerbrook Capital Partners

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A speaker photo for Marine Diot

Marine Diot

Digital Vice President, EQT

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A speaker photo for Lisa Weaver-Lambert

Lisa Weaver-Lambert

Commercial & Technology Strategy and Data/AI Leader

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A speaker photo for Ercan Ucak

Ercan Ucak

Vice President, Cerberus Capital Management

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10:30 - 11:10

Driving value and growth: Emerging trends in private equity carve out transactions

Dominic Orchard, Christoph Bruguier, Grayden Reece-Smith, Mirco Iwan
  • How the current macroeconomic climate has impacted the nature and enthusiasm for carve out transactions
  • How are buyers and sellers changing their approach to delivering carve outs
  • Lessons learned in successfully driving value from recent carve out transactions

Facilitator: Dominic Orchard, Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal

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Dominic Orchard

Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal

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A speaker photo for Christoph  Bruguier

Christoph Bruguier

Chief Investment Officer & Partner, Vauban Infrastructure Partners

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A speaker photo for Grayden Reece-Smith

Grayden Reece-Smith

Principal, Aurelius

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A speaker photo for Mirco Iwan

Mirco Iwan

Managing Director Portfolio Operations, Talem Group

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11:10 - 11:50

Creating sustainable impact: the role of organizational health in transformation

Tom Welchman, Esther Nayyar, Henri van Lennep, Jean-François Willame
A speaker photo for Tom Welchman

Tom Welchman

Partner, McKinsey & Company

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A speaker photo for Esther Nayyar

Esther Nayyar

Managing Director, Due Diligence and Value Creation, ICG

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A speaker photo for Henri van Lennep

Henri van Lennep

Operating Partner, Bregal - Growth Factors

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A speaker photo for Jean-François Willame

Jean-François Willame

Operating Partner, PATRIZIA Infrastructure

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11:50 - 12:20

Networking break

INTERACTIVE WORKING GROUP SERIES A
12:20 - 13:00

Interactive Working Group 1 (for operating partners only) - Pulling SaaS commercial levers to scale up post a period of depressed growth

Michael Belkin, Tom van Dael, Jawad Bhatti
  • Executing price uplifts efficiently, and pitfalls to avoid
  • Uncovering new revenue streams through usage and consumption
  • Diversifying growth strategies with non-traditional sales-assisted models and an efficient growth stack
  • Decreasing the cost and time of sale via touchless selling motions
  • • Monetizing new AI solutions vs just using AI to drive efficiency

Facilitator: Michael Belkin, Head of PE Practice, Zuora

A speaker photo for Michael Belkin

Michael Belkin

Head of Global PE Practice, Zuora

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A speaker photo for Tom van Dael

Tom van Dael

CFO, Hallo

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A speaker photo for Jawad Bhatti

Jawad Bhatti

Value Creation & B2B SaaS Go To Market Advisor, Dawn Capital

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12:20 - 13:00

Interactive Working Group 2 (for operating partners only) | Diversity of boards: sharing practical examples of what needs to be built out

Charlotte Cederwall
  • Comparing board diversity across your companies: operating partner insights
  • Do you have good diversity of boards? What does good look like?
  • How do you increase board diversity? What are the challenges associated with it?
  • What initiatives are you driving for women on boards across portcos? What can be done better?
  • What tools and metrics are you using to achieve and track diversity on boards? What are you doing that is innovative and unique?
  • How do you go about increasing your pipeline and pool of qualified diverse board members
  • How do you develop and mentor high potential NEDs in looking at the future of boards

Facilitated by: Charlotte Cederwall , Partner, Acertitude

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Charlotte Cederwall

Partner, Acertitude

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12:20 - 13:00

Interactive Working Group 3 (for operating partners only) - Unlocking the value of your data, is it closer than you think?

Mike Magee, Sven Törnkvist

In this session we discuss three hypotheses for unlocking value from data and generative AI.

  • Hypothesis 1: Use data as a foundation right from the start of the deal life cycle
  • Hypothesis 2: Be ruthlessly value led in all your data investments
  • Hypothesis 3: Go up the value chain to unlock greater returns from data and Gen AI

Facilitated by: Mike Magee, Head of Operational Value Creation, PwC

Sven Törnkvist, Global Head, EQT Digital

A speaker photo for Mike Magee

Mike Magee

Partner, PwC

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A speaker photo for Sven Törnkvist

Sven Törnkvist

Global Head of EQT Digital, EQT

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13:00 - 14:00

Networking Lunch

13:00 - 14:00

Women in PE portfolio operations lunch (invitation-only for operating partners)

Amber Hilkene

This closed-door lunch discussion will explore what it’s like being a woman in PE and VC portfolio operations:

  • Uncovering what being a woman operating partner means and how to be successful in your role
  • What are the issues causing a disparity in genders?
  • Exploring career paths, development, and how to position yourself as female leaders
  • Is your firm focused on women’s leadership at portfolio companies?
  • Does your company have any specific programs, leadership coaching and assessments geared towards promoting women’s leadership?
  • Are there any changes in recruiting that will create a more equal playing field?
  • Looking at trends and stats in gender in PE and VC
A speaker photo for Amber Hilkene

Amber Hilkene

Partner, Chief Growth Officer, Stanley Capital Partners

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FUNCTIONAL BREAKOUT SERIES 1
14:00 - 14:40

Track 1 - The role of data in driving higher exit valuations

Anush Newman, Franck Abadia, Catherine Cutts, Ethan Levner
  • How to set up the business for success throughout its ownership cycle from day 1
  • How can value creation be accelerated through data?
  • How should you use data analytics and reporting during exit preparation to maximize return?
  • Understanding the importance of having robust and granular data during equity story development and diligence (and the changing expectations of the market)
  • Showcasing a better data-driven management team and a data-enabled business

Facilitator: Anush Newman, CEO and Co-Founder, JMAN Group

A speaker photo for Anush  Newman

Anush Newman

CEO & Co-Founder, JMAN Group

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A speaker photo for Franck Abadia

Franck Abadia

Managing Director, Operating Team, LBO France

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A speaker photo for Catherine Cutts

Catherine Cutts

Principal, KKR

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A speaker photo for Ethan Levner

Ethan Levner

Group CFO & Board Member, GLAS

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14:00 - 14:40

Track 2 - From intent to action - How to protect and create value through sustainable operations

Nicholas Bahr, Wessel Schevernels, Katharina Neureiter, Venkie Shantaram
  • The rising challenge of competing objectives: Growth, environment, operational efficiency, and social impact
  • Breaking silos & illusion of performance: How do you know portfolio risks are adequately controlled?
  • How to build resilience practicably into asset operating model

Facilitator: Nicholas Bahr, Global Director Risk & Resilience, dss+

A speaker photo for Nicholas Bahr

Nicholas Bahr

Global Director Risk & Resilience, dss+

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A speaker photo for Wessel Schevernels

Wessel Schevernels

Operating Partner, PATRIZIA Infrastructure

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A speaker photo for Katharina Neureiter

Katharina Neureiter

Head of ESG & Impact, EMEA & APAC - Global Sustainability, The Carlyle Group

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A speaker photo for Venkie Shantaram

Venkie Shantaram

Managing Director & Operating Partner, Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners

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14:00 - 14:40

Track 3 - Operating Partner’s Guide to Driving Value Through Procurement, from Beginner to Advanced

Conrad Gracjczak, Will Harman, Max von Trotha, Brendan Tobin, Mikael Castelluccio
  • Exploring how companies are achieving significant procurement success despite all odds
  • Exploring effective cost management techniques to mitigate the impact of inflation on business operations
  • Highlighting the importance of the relationship between the commercial and procurement functions to safeguard margins during unstable economic climates

Facilitator: Conrad Grajczak, Vice President, Insight Sourcing, part of Accenture

A speaker photo for Conrad Gracjczak

Conrad Gracjczak

Vice President, Insight Sourcing, part of Accenture

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A speaker photo for Will Harman

Will Harman

Principal, Apax Partners   

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A speaker photo for Max von Trotha

Max von Trotha

Managing Director Portfolio Operations, Helios Investment Partners

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A speaker photo for Brendan Tobin

Brendan Tobin

Operating Advisor, Independent

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A speaker photo for Mikael Castelluccio

Mikael Castelluccio

Portfolio Director, Charterhouse Capital Partners

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FUNCTIONAL BREAKOUT SERIES 2
14:40 - 15:20

Track 4 - Future-proofing cyber security for PE portfolio companies: A cloud native Zero Trust approach

Akshay Grover, Paul Harragan , Adam Dawson, Emma Winter
  • Why are cyber attacks increasing in intensity & scale?
  • What PE portfolio companies are doing to prevent, detect and respond to cyber threats?
  • Why is a network centric security approach becoming archaic?
  • How can a cloud-native zero trust platform approach future-proof the PE portcos?
  • What steps can PE portfolio companies take to get ahead of the curve?

Facilitator: Akshay Grover, Global Private Equity Practice Lead, Zscaler

A speaker photo for Akshay Grover

Akshay Grover

Global Private Equity Practice Lead, Zscaler

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A speaker photo for Paul Harragan

Paul Harragan

Global Cybersecurity Lead, KKR

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A speaker photo for Adam Dawson

Adam Dawson

SVP Blackstone Innovations, Blackstone

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A speaker photo for Emma Winter

Emma Winter

Director, Value Creation, Graphite Capital

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14:40 - 15:20

Track 5 - Building a Robust Talent Function: Developing and Scaling Talent Strategies in Private Equity from Year 1 to Year 4

Rory Gaston, Ikepo Abiru, Hernan Arrigone, Claire Hogg, Nicola Mann
  • Year 1: Establishing the Foundation: Dissecting strategies to successfully hire and onboard the initial talent base to support early-stage investment activities
  • Year 2: Refining Talent Practices: The role of training programs, mentorship initiatives, and career progression paths to foster talent growth
  • Year 3: Scaling Talent Function: How to identify high-potential employees, develop succession plans, and implement leadership development programs
  • Year 4: Sustaining and Evolving Talent Function: Navigating the process of talent management plans with the overall business strategy to ensure talent function supports the firm’s growth and success

Facilitator: Rory Gaston, Group Managing Director, Saragossa

A speaker photo for Rory Gaston

Rory Gaston

Group Managing Director, Saragossa

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A speaker photo for Ikepo Abiru

Ikepo Abiru

Associate – Milestone Performance Partners, Bregal Milestone

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A speaker photo for Hernan Arrigone

Hernan Arrigone

Principal – Operations team, Actis

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A speaker photo for Claire Hogg

Claire Hogg

VP, Portfolio Human Capital, General Atlantic

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A speaker photo for Nicola Mann

Nicola Mann

Chief of Staff, Verdane

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14:40 - 15:20

Track 6 - Navigating the commercial private equity value creation journey: Strategies for success

Tom Gladstone, Phil Carrivick, Jawad Bhatti, Lewis Bantin
  • What investors are now looking for assets – and implications for what businesses at exit will need to have proven and what will / won’t excite investors on the next stage of growth
  • Examining what “good” looks like at various stages of the value creation journey – from initial value creation planning to realising early gains to mid-cycle review to exit for the different value creation archetypes
  • Key milestones, indicators of success and pitfalls to avoid at each stage

Facilitator: Tom Gladstone, Global Head of Private Equity, OC&C Strategy Consultants

A speaker photo for Tom Gladstone

Tom Gladstone

Global Head of Private Equity, OC&C Strategy Consultants

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A speaker photo for Phil Carrivick

Phil Carrivick

Op Partner, Northfirst

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A speaker photo for Jawad Bhatti

Jawad Bhatti

Value Creation & B2B SaaS Go To Market Advisor, Dawn Capital

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A speaker photo for Lewis  Bantin

Lewis Bantin

Partner, ECI Partners

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15:20 - 15:30

Networking break

FUNCTIONAL BREAKOUT SERIES 3
15:30 - 16:10

Track 7 - How to execute a multi-year digital transformation for a traditionally analog portco

Daniel Swann, Daniel Alsén, Agata Cooper, Josefin Frick
  • Operating partners share war stories in working with traditionally analog companies that are embarking on digital transformations
  • How do you go about digitizing manual processes and use technology to improve operations
  • Sharing dos and don’ts in moving non-software companies to digital: how best to engage with your companies to digitize workflows
  • Uncovering digital capability building and change management as key factors that underpin the success of these transformations
  • How are you using and showcasing data as part of the process to improve decision making?

Facilitator: Daniel Swann, Vice President, Business Development Europe & Head of Healthcare, Symphony

A speaker photo for Daniel Swann

Daniel Swann

VP, BD Europe & Head of Healthcare, Symphony

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A speaker photo for Daniel Alsén

Daniel Alsén

Investment Professional, Lead Digital & Tech, KLAR Partners

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A speaker photo for Agata Cooper

Agata Cooper

Digital Operating Partner, Triton Partners

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A speaker photo for Josefin Frick

Josefin Frick

Associate Director, EQT

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15:30 - 16:10

Track 8 - Unleashing Revenue Growth: exploring innovative pricing strategies as the key driver in value creation

Ben Gregory, Peter Colman, Daniel Hansen
  • Understanding how implementing advanced pricing strategies can drive value creation
  • Exploring the importance of pricing analytics in value creation and provide operating partners with best practices for implementation
  • How to position your sales strategy to be aligned with the biggest opportunities in 2024

Facilitator: Ben Gregory, Managing Director, Teneo

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Ben Gregory

Managing Director, EMEA Client Lead, Teneo

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A speaker photo for Peter Colman

Peter Colman

Senior Operating Partner, H.I.G. Capital

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A speaker photo for Daniel Hansen

Daniel Hansen

Chief Commercial Officer, Verdane

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15:30 - 16:10

Track 9 - Nurturing top talent – Within your firm and your portfolio companies

Rory Gaston, Andy Archer, Daniel Kasmir
  • How to build a high-performance team in looking at complementary skills, experiences, technical aspects, and personality traits
  • Understanding the importance of diversity of thought to spark creative and nonhomogeneous ways of thinking
  • How do you measure the right skillsets and metrics to create impact, drive cohesion, and avoid discrepancies? How are you filling specific roles based on objectives?
  • Comparing and contrasting team structures at your portcos: operating partners share what works and what doesn’t to drive the value creation plan
  • Dissecting the psychology of effective teams in looking at journey, purpose, positions, communication, and leadership
  • Developing and improving future workforces in looking at tomorrow’s new talent

Facilitator: Rory Gaston, Group Managing Director, Saragossa

A speaker photo for Rory Gaston

Rory Gaston

Group Managing Director, Saragossa

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A speaker photo for Andy Archer

Andy Archer

CTO, CVC

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A speaker photo for Daniel Kasmir

Daniel Kasmir

Co-Head of Leadership & Culture, Triton

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FUNCTIONAL BREAKOUT SERIES 4
16:10 - 16:50

Track 10 - How to use technology to improve business processes and add value

Jerone Walters, Gilad G. Amir, Ercan Ucak, Alessandro Moretti, Ilinca Rosetti, Mittu Sridhara
  • How introducing technology can enhance efficiency, productivity and create value
  • Tackling the challenges that companies face when implementing new technologies and methods
  • Highlighting case studies and examples of companies that have successfully used technology to improve their processes and add value

Facilitator: Jerone Walters, Senior Partner, Alysian

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Jerone Walters

Senior Partner, Alysian

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A speaker photo for Gilad G. Amir

Gilad G. Amir

Digital Operating Partner, Pollen Street Capital

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A speaker photo for Ercan Ucak

Ercan Ucak

Vice President, Cerberus Capital Management

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A speaker photo for Alessandro Moretti

Alessandro Moretti

Head of Operational Value Creation, Public Investment Fund

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A speaker photo for Ilinca Rosetti

Ilinca Rosetti

Operating Partner, JC Flowers

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A speaker photo for Mittu Sridhara

Mittu Sridhara

Operating Principal, Digitalisation, Europe, CD&R

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16:10 - 16:50

Track 11 - Dissecting the role of OPs in assessing leadership capabilities, conducting due diligence on management teams, and implementing succession planning

Craig McGlashan, Christian Truempler, Marc Bielitza, James Markham, Chris Severson

Facilitator: Craig McGlashan, Editor, PE Hub Europe

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Craig McGlashan

Editor, PE Hub Europe

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A speaker photo for Christian  Truempler

Christian Truempler

Member of Management, Partners Group

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A speaker photo for Marc Bielitza

Marc Bielitza

Director, Deutsche Private Equity

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A speaker photo for James Markham

James Markham

Senior Partner – Value Creation, Graphite Capital

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A speaker photo for Chris Severson

Chris Severson

Operating Managing Director, Terra Firma

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16:10 - 16:50

Track 12 - The role of the finance team and the CFO in creating value

Michael J. Tyroller, Matt J. Baird, Brendan Tobin, Phil Carrivick
  • How to recruit for and retain high performing CFOs for portfolio companies
  • How CFOs drive the value creation plan in the current economy
  • Identifying the biggest challenges CFOs are facing in this environment
  • Highlighting successful case studies illustrating the benefits of collaborative decision-making and strategic alignment between operating partners and CFOs

Facilitator: Michael J. Tyroller, Partner, Alix Partners

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Michael J. Tyroller

Partner, AlixPartners

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A speaker photo for Matt J. Baird

Matt J. Baird

Managing Director, Operations & Strategy, OMERS Private Equity Europe Limited

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A speaker photo for Brendan Tobin

Brendan Tobin

Operating Advisor, Independent

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A speaker photo for Phil Carrivick

Phil Carrivick

Op Partner, Northfirst

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16:50 - 17:00

Networking break

INTERACTIVE WORKING GROUP SERIES B
17:00 - 17:40

Interactive Working Group 4 (for operating partners only) | Realise Untapped Enterprise Value from Operations

Peter Sheppard, Tobias Klaiber

This session will allow the audience to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators:

  • Learn from case studies, how process and digital enablers contribute to Enterprise Value (EV) through process effectiveness, not just efficiency; impacting working capital, third-party spend reduction and growth. Including a discussion on why Operating Partners might be leaving money on the table and how might we change that?
  • Hear how process effectiveness improvements can be worth several times the impact of cost savings, and how they can be achieved without necessitating implementation of a new ERP
  • Dive into examples where the scale of the impact can meaningfully fuel growth

Facilitator: Peter Sheppard, Senior Partner and Lead, Genpact Private Equity Practice, Genpact

 

 

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Peter Sheppard

Senior Partner and Lead, Private Equity Practice, Genpact

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A speaker photo for Tobias Klaiber

Tobias Klaiber

Managing Director/Operating Partner, Aurelius Group

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17:00 - 17:40

Interactive Working Group 5 (for operating partners only) - The impact of the economic climate on talent retention: strategies for attracting and retaining top performers

James Ryan
  • What changes private equity firms have made to their talent models to adapt to the challenges in the macroeconomic environment
  • Identifying the greatest recruitment challenges in this environment
  • Beyond salary playbook: how to create a culture of retention in an ever-changing economic landscape

Facilitator: James Ryan, Partner, Riviera Partners

 

A speaker photo for James Ryan

James Ryan

Partner - Head of AI, ML & Data Practice, EMEA, Riviera Partners

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17:00 - 17:40

Interactive Working Group 6 (for operating partners only) - Operating Partner/CFO dynamics: the checklist for a successful portfolio company CFO

Christina Barakett
  • How to support CFOs to be successful throughout the deal cycle
  • How to assess and track CFO performance
  • First-hand experiences from OPs who have worked with different CFOs and a deep-dive into the diverse skillsets they require

Facilitator: Christina Barakett, Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal

 

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Christina Barakett

Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal

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17:40 - 18:40

End of day and cocktail reception

Agenda

Operating Partners Forum Europe - Day 2 - Thursday 23rd

07:40 - 08:30

Registration and breakfast

07:45 - 08:30

Breakfast Deep Dive Discussion 1 (for operating partners only) - Portfolio level analysis: showcasing how operating partners add value

William Bundy

This breakfast deep dive session will allow all operating partners to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators.

Facilitated by: William Bundy, Partner, McKinsey & Company

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William Bundy

Partner, McKinsey & Co

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07:45 - 08:30

Breakfast Deep Dive Discussion 2 (for operating partners only) - AI in Private Equity: What’s working and what’s not, and why

Catherine Brien, Clive De Silva
  • Applications of AI that are making a difference now
  • Applications that are soaking up investment but are not yet moving the dial
  • How to tell the difference and what you can do about it

This breakfast deep dive session will allow all operating partners to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators

Facilitated by: Catherine Brien, Partner and Managing Director, AI & Data Practice, Alix Partners

Clive de Silva, Partner and Managing Director, AlixPartners Technology practice, AlixPartners

This breakfast deep dive session will allow all operating partners to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators.

A speaker photo for Catherine Brien

Catherine Brien

Partner and Managing Director, AI & Data practice, AlixPartners

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A speaker photo for Clive De Silva

Clive De Silva

Partner and Managing Director, AlixPartners Technology practice, AlixPartners

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THINK TANK SERIES 2
08:30 - 09:20

Think tanks for full-time operating partners: value creation war room (invitation-only) - Emerging Operating Partners (1-2 years in PE)

Tom Mountford

This closed-door discussion will allow you to learn and share best practices of successful operating partners.

Room 1: Emerging Operating Partners (1-2 years in PE)

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Tom Mountford

Portfolio Director, Value Creation, Bridges Fund Management

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08:30 - 09:20

Think tanks for full-time operating partners: value creation war room (invitation-only) - Advanced Operating Partners

Ralph Friedwagner

This closed-door discussion will allow you to learn and share best practices of successful operating partners. The think tank will allow you to select one of the rooms: 

Room 2: Advanced Operating Partners

 

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Ralph Friedwagner

Managing Director and Operating Partner, Private Equity, CDPQ London

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Plenary
09:20 - 09:30

Chairman’s welcome

Tim Sanders

Tim Sanders, Vice President of Client Strategy, Upwork

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Tim Sanders

Vice President of Client Strategy, Upwork

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09:30 - 10:10

From boom to bust: How to transform your business and create value across functions while being cash restrained

Rachel Barton, Nick Eichorn, Paul-Louis Andrés, Leo Scanavino, Peter Roos, Jamal Ismayilov
  • Exploring ways to identify and implement cost-saving measures without compromising value creation
  • Discussing the role of digital transformation in streamlining processes and reducing costs
  • Highlighting case studies and examples of businesses that successfully transformed and created value despite the turbulent climate

Facilitator: Rachel Barton, Strategy – Global Private Equity Lead, Accenture

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Rachel Barton

Senior Managing Director, Accenture

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A speaker photo for Nick Eichorn

Nick Eichorn

Director, Value Creation, Graphite Capital

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A speaker photo for Paul-Louis  Andrés

Paul-Louis Andrés

Principal - Value Creation, Seven2

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A speaker photo for Leo Scanavino

Leo Scanavino

Director – Value Creation, British International Investment

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A speaker photo for Peter Roos

Peter Roos

Chief Operating Officer, Target Global

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A speaker photo for Jamal  Ismayilov

Jamal Ismayilov

Managing Director, Investment Team, AnaCap

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10:10 - 10:50

How can Operating Partners and CEOs collaborate effectively to maximise value creation

Amit Vij, Ralph Friedwagner, Naresh Kumar, Johann Dupont
  • Exploring frameworks for aligning the operating partner’s expertise with the CEO’s vision and the portfolio company corporate strategy
  • How the required skillset of a portfolio company CEO has evolved to adapt to the current landscape
  • CEO and operating partner perspectives – The Do’s and Don’ts to ensure their unique partnership works smoothly and effectively

Facilitator: Amit Vij, SVP, Private Equity, Tech Mahindra

 

 

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Amit Vij

Private Equity Practice Head, Tech Mahindra

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A speaker photo for Ralph Friedwagner

Ralph Friedwagner

Managing Director and Operating Partner, Private Equity, CDPQ London

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A speaker photo for Naresh Kumar

Naresh Kumar

Independent Operating Partner, Operating Bridge Partners

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Johann Dupont

Operating Partner, Head of Operating Team, Abenex

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10:50 - 11:10

Networking break

11:10 - 11:50

Insights from Operating Partners, Deal Teams and Portfolio Company CFOs: Maximising Value on Exit

Emma Cox, Matt J. Baird, Nicole Jones, Simon Crowe, Anastasya Molodykh
  • Understanding the importance of the CFO in preparing for exit and how operating partners can maximise their CFOs’ impact
  • How can CFOs and Finance functions contribute to operational improvement and value creation both during the lifecycle and towards exit
  • Operating Partner, Deal Team, CFO, CEO, and Chair views from experiences of exits, and lessons learned with respect to the role of the CFO

Facilitator: Emma Cox, Global Private Equity Leader, Deloitte

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Emma Cox

Global Private Equity Leader, Deloitte

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A speaker photo for Matt J. Baird

Matt J. Baird

Managing Director, Operations & Strategy, OMERS Private Equity Europe Limited

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A speaker photo for Nicole Jones

Nicole Jones

Talent Director, Advent International

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A speaker photo for Simon Crowe

Simon Crowe

CFO, Wood Mackenzie

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A speaker photo for Anastasya Molodykh

Anastasya Molodykh

Senior Principal, Cinven

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11:50 - 12:30

The role of the operating partner in accelerating value creation from due diligence to the first 100 days

Mark Maitland, Gavin Cullen, Miles Graham, Louis Saund, Henry Weaver
  • Determining procurement’s role in due diligence and 100-day plans
  • Identifying successful strategies to enhance procurement and supply chain value within the initial 100 days
  • Examining the evolving priorities of operating partners beyond cost optimisation and understanding the underlying factors driving these changes

Facilitator: Mark Maitland, Senior Partner and Global Head of Transaction Services & Private Equity, Simon Kucher

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Mark Maitland

Senior Partner and Global Head of Transaction Services & Private Equity, Simon Kucher

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A speaker photo for Gavin Cullen

Gavin Cullen

Independent

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A speaker photo for Miles Graham

Miles Graham

Managing Partner, Operating Partners Group

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A speaker photo for Louis Saund

Louis Saund

Vice President, Business Operations, Brookfield

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A speaker photo for Henry Weaver

Henry Weaver

Operating Principal, Bregal – Growth Factors

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12:30 - 13:10

Closing Plenary Panel - The AI Value Playbook: How to make AI Work in the real world

Tim Sanders, Lisa Weaver-Lambert

This session explores how businesses can adapt to AI technologies focusing on the questions frequently posed by leaders and boards:

  • How can they start building and deploying AI as a strategic asset to drive efficiency and create value?
  • What risks or threats need to be considered?
  • How quickly can value be created?

Drawing from a series of in-depth and wide-ranging conversations with practitioners, from CEOs leading new generative AI-based companies to Data Scientists and CFOs working in more traditional companies, we hear how they have succeeded and failed in building AI solutions to futureproof their businesses. The result is a value-driven playbook for how AI can be put to work today. 

Facilitator: Tim Sanders, Vice President of Client Strategy, Upwork

Speaker: Lisa Weaver-Lambert, Commercial & Technology Strategy and Data/AI Leader

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Tim Sanders

Vice President of Client Strategy, Upwork

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Lisa Weaver-Lambert

Commercial & Technology Strategy and Data/AI Leader

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13:10 - 13:50

Networking lunch

LUNCH WORKING GROUPS
13:10 - 13:50

Interactive Working Group 7 (for operating partners only) | Board optimization: how to create value through the board

Tom Mountford
  • Who from the board should be on the investment side
  • Exploring what an optimal board structure looks like
  • How to get more intrenched into real value creation with management and how to help them to improve

Facilitator: Tom Mountford, Portfolio Director, Bridges Fund Management

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Tom Mountford

Portfolio Director, Value Creation, Bridges Fund Management

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13:10 - 13:50

Interactive Working Group 8 (for operating partners only) | Comparing Go-To-Market strategies

Greg Harwood, Streisan Bevan

This session will allow the audience to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators:

  • Highlighting the benefits and limitations of traditional go-to-market strategies and how to adapt the GTM approach for improved sales effectiveness
  • How to use data-driven insights and analytics to develop targeted go-to-market strategies and drive revenue growth and create value
  • How to diversify your route to market and the best channels to follow

Facilitated by: Greg Harwood, Partner, Simon Kucher

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Greg Harwood

Partner, Simon-Kucher

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A speaker photo for Streisan Bevan

Streisan Bevan

Director, Specialist – Customer Insight and Sales Effectiveness, Mayfair Equity Partners

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Connect with Europe’s leading Operating Partner community

The 14th annual forum will return to London in 2025. Expand your relationships and build your network with our operating partner exclusive networking events. Join our community of the brightest leaders in European value creation that will help you in your day-to-day operations. In 2024, attendees participated in an agenda packed with social activities, interactive working groups, think tanks, networking breaks, a women’s lunch, and our pre-event grand reception and dinner to meet and exchange ideas.

Download the 2024 attendee list

PRE-CONFERENCE NETWORKING

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Operating Partners Forum Europe Welcome Reception (invitation-only)

17:30-19:30

The Skyline London, 100 Minories, London EC3N 1JY

Join the operating partners attending the Europe Forum in a casual gathering at our opening grand reception. Exchange valuable insights with your peers in a relaxed setting and build your network before the conference kicks off.

Hosted by:

         

Operating Partners Forum Europe Welcome Dinner (invitation-only)

19:30-21:00

The Skyline London, 100 Minories, London EC3N 1JY

Join us as we welcome all the attending operating partners for a private dinner to facilitate networking before the conference. Increase your connections with leaders in PE value creation.

Hosted by:

    Persistent Systems   

DAY 1 lunch and reception

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Women in PE Portfolio Operations Lunch Discussion (invitation-only)

13:00-14:00

This closed-door lunch discussion will explore key challenges and opportunities for women in PE portfolio operations.

Operating Partners Forum Europe Day 1 Networking Reception

17:40-18:30

Our day 1 grand reception will allow you to chat and get to know your operating partner peers better at the end of the first day of the Forum. Hear what is on everyone’s mind after a full day of valuable insights.

DAY 2 BREAKFASTs

Thursday, May 23, 2024

Europe Forum Deep Dive Breakfasts (operating partners only)

7:45-8:30

These breakfast deep dive discussions, designed solely for operating partners, will focus on key strategies in value creation and allow you to share your views and learn key insights from peers.

Featured interactive discussions & networking opportunities

Think Tanks

Led by operating partners and designed for operating partners only, these closed-door war room sessions will allow you to engage in lively discussions with your peers. The think tanks will also allow you to submit topics to be covered while sharing best value creation practices.

Interactive Working Groups

These exclusive deep dive discussions, only available to operating partners, allow you to participate in interactive and dynamic discussions with designated expert facilitators.




“Great operating partner attendees, content, and networking. This is a crucial event for monitoring the pulse of European private equity.”

2024 speakers

Franck Abadia

Managing Director, Operating Team, LBO France

Ikepo Abiru

Associate – Milestone Performance Partners, Bregal Milestone

Daniel Alsén

Investment Professional, Lead Digital & Tech, KLAR Partners

Gilad G. Amir

Digital Operating Partner, Pollen Street Capital

Paul-Louis Andrés

Principal - Value Creation, Seven2

Andy Archer

CTO, CVC

Hernan Arrigone

Principal – Operations team, Actis

Nicholas Bahr

Global Director Risk & Resilience, dss+

Matt J. Baird

Managing Director, Operations & Strategy, OMERS Private Equity Europe Limited

Lewis Bantin

Partner, ECI Partners

Christina Barakett

Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal

Rachel Barton

Senior Managing Director, Accenture

Michael Belkin

Head of Global PE Practice, Zuora

Streisan Bevan

Director, Specialist – Customer Insight and Sales Effectiveness, Mayfair Equity Partners

Jawad Bhatti

Value Creation & B2B SaaS Go To Market Advisor, Dawn Capital

Marc Bielitza

Director, Deutsche Private Equity

Catherine Brien

Partner and Managing Director, AI & Data practice, AlixPartners

Christoph Bruguier

Chief Investment Officer & Partner, Vauban Infrastructure Partners

William Bundy

Partner, McKinsey & Co

Phil Carrivick

Op Partner, Northfirst

Mikael Castelluccio

Portfolio Director, Charterhouse Capital Partners

Charlotte Cederwall

Partner, Acertitude

Peter Colman

Senior Operating Partner, H.I.G. Capital

Agata Cooper

Digital Operating Partner, Triton Partners

Emma Cox

Global Private Equity Leader, Deloitte

Jim Corey

Managing Partner, Blue Ridge Partners

Claudio Crivelli

RVP, Global Private Equity Practice, Salesforce

Simon Crowe

CFO, Wood Mackenzie

Gavin Cullen

Independent

Catherine Cutts

Principal, KKR

Adam Dawson

SVP Blackstone Innovations, Blackstone

Clive De Silva

Partner and Managing Director, AlixPartners Technology practice, AlixPartners

Marine Diot

Digital Vice President, EQT

Chris Donovan

Head of Private Equity Portfolio, Deloitte

Cordelia Dolan

Global Head of Portfolio Talent, Investindustrial

Johann Dupont

Operating Partner, Head of Operating Team, Abenex

Nick Eichorn

Director, Value Creation, Graphite Capital

Josefin Frick

Associate Director, EQT

Ralph Friedwagner

Managing Director and Operating Partner, Private Equity, CDPQ London

Dominic Gallello

Managing Director, Bridgepoint

Rory Gaston

Group Managing Director, Saragossa

Tom Gladstone

Global Head of Private Equity, OC&C Strategy Consultants

Conrad Gracjczak

Vice President, Insight Sourcing, part of Accenture

Miles Graham

Managing Partner, Operating Partners Group

Ben Gregory

Managing Director, EMEA Client Lead, Teneo

Akshay Grover

Global Private Equity Practice Lead, Zscaler

Daniel Hansen

Chief Commercial Officer, Verdane

Will Harman

Principal, Apax Partners   

Paul Harragan

Global Cybersecurity Lead, KKR

Greg Harwood

Partner, Simon-Kucher

Amber Hilkene

Partner, Chief Growth Officer, Stanley Capital Partners

Claire Hogg

VP, Portfolio Human Capital, General Atlantic

Jamal Ismayilov

Managing Director, Investment Team, AnaCap

Mirco Iwan

Managing Director Portfolio Operations, Talem Group

Nicole Jones

Talent Director, Advent International

Daniel Kasmir

Co-Head of Leadership & Culture, Triton

Erem Kassim-Lakha

Senior Managing Director, Ontario Teachers Pension Plan

James Kenyon

Partner, Acertitude

Tobias Klaiber

Managing Director/Operating Partner, Aurelius Group

Jamaria Kong

Managing Director, Towerbrook Capital Partners

Naresh Kumar

Independent Operating Partner, Operating Bridge Partners

Ethan Levner

Group CFO & Board Member, GLAS

Mike Magee

Partner, PwC

Mark Maitland

Senior Partner and Global Head of Transaction Services & Private Equity, Simon Kucher

Nicola Mann

Chief of Staff, Verdane

James Markham

Senior Partner – Value Creation, Graphite Capital

Craig McGlashan

Editor, PE Hub Europe

Anastasya Molodykh

Senior Principal, Cinven

Alessandro Moretti

Head of Operational Value Creation, Public Investment Fund

Tom Mountford

Portfolio Director, Value Creation, Bridges Fund Management

Esther Nayyar

Managing Director, Due Diligence and Value Creation, ICG

Katharina Neureiter

Head of ESG & Impact, EMEA & APAC - Global Sustainability, The Carlyle Group

Anush Newman

CEO & Co-Founder, JMAN Group

Dominic Orchard

Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal

Kristen Paladino

Principal, Blackstone Credit & Insurance

Grayden Reece-Smith

Principal, Aurelius

Peter Roos

Chief Operating Officer, Target Global

Ilinca Rosetti

Operating Partner, JC Flowers

Alan Roux

Operating Partner, Independent

James Ryan

Partner - Head of AI, ML & Data Practice, EMEA, Riviera Partners

Tim Sanders

Vice President of Client Strategy, Upwork

Louis Saund

Vice President, Business Operations, Brookfield

Leo Scanavino

Director – Value Creation, British International Investment

Wessel Schevernels

Operating Partner, PATRIZIA Infrastructure

Chris Severson

Operating Managing Director, Terra Firma

Venkie Shantaram

Managing Director & Operating Partner, Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners

Peter Sheppard

Senior Partner and Lead, Private Equity Practice, Genpact

Mittu Sridhara

Operating Principal, Digitalisation, Europe, CD&R

Daniel Swann

VP, BD Europe & Head of Healthcare, Symphony

Lisa Telford

Partner, Montagu Private Equity

Brendan Tobin

Operating Advisor, Independent

Sven Törnkvist

Global Head of EQT Digital, EQT

Christian Truempler

Member of Management, Partners Group

Michael J. Tyroller

Partner, AlixPartners

Ercan Ucak

Vice President, Cerberus Capital Management

Tom van Dael

CFO, Hallo

Henri van Lennep

Operating Partner, Bregal - Growth Factors

Amit Vij

Private Equity Practice Head, Tech Mahindra

Max von Trotha

Managing Director Portfolio Operations, Helios Investment Partners

Jerone Walters

Senior Partner, Alysian

Henry Weaver

Operating Principal, Bregal – Growth Factors

Lisa Weaver-Lambert

Commercial & Technology Strategy and Data/AI Leader

Tom Welchman

Partner, McKinsey & Company

Jean-François Willame

Operating Partner, PATRIZIA Infrastructure

Emma Winter

Director, Value Creation, Graphite Capital

Connect with the largest European community of expert operating partners

PEI’s Operating Partners Forums are a unique blend of networking, collaboration and thought leadership between private equity operating partners, portfolio operations teams and sponsors.  Each venue is custom designed to encourage conversation about value creation best practices, relationship building and knowledge sharing across functional areas on the most pressing issues facing their investment and portfolio companies. Access to the Forum is limited to operating partners/value creation experts from private equity firms and sponsoring firms.

For more information on ways to engage with PEI’s Operating Partners community, please contact Lawrence Dvorchik at lawrence.d@pei.group or call on +1 (646) 545-4429