The prestigious World CIO 200 Summit, hosted by Global CIO Forum and organized by GEC Media Group, concluded its successful Germany Edition at the iconic Dorint Kurfürstendamm Berlin, bringing together some of the nation’s foremost technology leaders under the banner of this year’s global theme, “Dawn of a New Decade.”
With digital transformation accelerating across industries, the summit provided a powerful platform for CIOs and IT decision-makers to explore emerging technologies, tackle cybersecurity challenges, and celebrate innovation in leadership.
The event opened with a keynote address from Ronak Samantaray, CEO of GEC Media Group, who underscored the evolving role of CIOs as not just technology enablers, but as strategic business leaders shaping the future of their organizations and industries.
Martin Wilde, Senior Vice President IT – CIO at Pfisterer Holding SE, and Country Ambassador for the summit, delivered the opening remarks. He emphasized the growing responsibilities of CIOs in advancing sustainable, ethical, and secure digital transformation strategies.
Panel Discussion 1: Key Technologies Driving CIO Priorities
Moderated by Martin Wilde, the first panel discussion explored how AI, cloud, and automation are reshaping CIO agendas and what lies ahead for enterprise tech. Panelists also discussed the importance of ethics and sustainability in adopting new technologies.
Panelists included:
- Wolfgang Bitomsky, CIO, FCC Environment CEE Group
- Wolfram Schulze, CIO, Vetropack
- Carsten Priebs, CIO, Biesterfeld Group
- Thomas Kleine, CIO, Gardena GmbH
Panel Discussion 2: AI & Cybersecurity – A Game Changer or Risk Multiplier?
The second panel, led by Dennis Pokupec, CSO/CISO at Creditplus Bank AG, focused on the opportunities and risks AI presents in the cybersecurity domain. The discussion tackled AI’s dual role as both a threat mitigation tool and a potential vulnerability.
Panelists included:
- Donald Marchetti, Head of IT Security, Creditplus Bank AG
- Dominik Bredel, Director Cyber Security, PwC
- Robert Christian, CTO, Kyndryl
- Jascha Wachsmuth-Temme, IT Security Manager, MBition
The summit’s highlight was the CIO 200 Awards, recognizing outstanding CIOs across four categories—Next-Gen, Leader, Master, and Legend—for their innovation, impact, and leadership in driving organizational growth through technology.
Award winners were honored in an on-stage ceremony followed by photo sessions and a round of applause from their industry peers.
The event concluded with reflections from Flavio Carvalho, CISO at Sofinco Espana, who summarized the summit’s core message: that CIOs must continue to lead with agility, responsibility, and vision as the industry steps confidently into a new decade of digital transformation.
The evening wrapped up with an elegant dinner, fostering deeper connections and conversations among the region’s top IT leaders in a relaxed and celebratory setting.
The World CIO 200 Summit roadshow continues its journey across multiple countries, bringing together global IT leaders to share insights and celebrate excellence—culminating in a grand finale later this year.
