14 Apr 2026
County Hall, London, United Kingdom
CIO Summit
The CIO Playbook
Register now Become a partnerModernize. Secure. Innovate. Lead with the power of Agentic-AI
The IDC European CIO Summit 2026 is the premier event for senior technology and business executives shaping enterprise strategy and digital leadership across the region. Designed for CIOs, CTOs, and senior IT and transformation leaders, this full-day event delivers high-impact insights and actionable strategies focused on Europe’s top priorities: technology modernization, resilience, risk management and driving business value in an era of constant disruption.
As organizations accelerate digital investment, CIOs face a complex set of challenges: modernizing legacy systems, addressing rising technical debt, embedding cybersecurity, ensuring regulatory compliance, and preparing their workforce for technology-driven change. IDC research shows that nearly 40% of CIOs expect to overspend on digital infrastructure within the next 18 months, with technical debt cited as a primary driver, while only a fraction of digital initiatives deliver measurable business impact. At the same time, global digital transformation spend is set to surpass $4 trillion by 2027, underscoring the urgency for CIOs to deliver value, not just investment.
Agenda
IDC analysts and industry experts will share guidance on how to architect adaptive technology foundations, reduce technical debt, and operationalize AI responsibly while aligning IT with strategic business goals. Through keynote presentations, panels, and peer-led discussions, the Summit equips CIOs with the research, frameworks, and leadership tools to build resilient, secure, and innovation-ready enterprises for 2026 and beyond.
IDC Analysts
Andrea Siviero
Andrea Siviero leads IDC’s European Digital Business and Future of Work Research group. The group provides market research insights to foster a purposeful and fair adoption of technologies supporting digital societies, businesses and workforce and empower tech providers in strategic decision making, planning and go-to-market activities. Siviero also co-leads the IDC Worldwide MacroTech Research program, focused on the intertwined connection between the Economical and Digital worlds – analyzing the impact key MacroEconomic factors have on the digital landscape and viceversa, how technologies are impacting economies around the world.
Siviero advises IT players on building a forward-looking digital business and workforce strategy, while providing an in-depth view on future of work technology adoption, key digital use cases, macroeconomic digital impact, and digital regulations and emerging technology, via qualitative subscriptions and custom consulting projects. He has extensive experience with large strategy and go-to-market projects with IT providers. He is a member of IDC’s global Tech Storytellers taskforce and he is passionate about public speaking and customer engagement opportunities.
He joined IDC’s European team in 2014 and has become a recognized independent analyst across Europe and beyond in the vertical markets and digital business space. He is based in Italy and he holds a joint PhD in mathematics between the Université Bordeaux I (France) and the Universiteit Leiden (the Netherlands). During his PhD, he covered scientific research, academic teaching, and vocational training. He is a native Italian speaker and he is fluent in English and French.
Event Sessions
Tuesday, April 14 2026 9:30 am | Location:
IDC Keynote: Modernize. Secure. Innovate. Lead with the power of Agentic-AI
As organizations accelerate digital investment, CIOs face a complex set of challenges: modernizing legacy systems, addressing rising technical debt, embedding cybersecurity, ensuring regulatory compliance, and preparing their workforce for technology-driven change. IDC research shows that nearly 40% of CIOs expect to overspend on digital infrastructure within the next 18 months, with technical debt cited as a primary driver, while only a fraction of digital initiatives deliver measurable business impact. At the same time, global digital transformation spend is set to surpass $4 trillion by 2027, underscoring the urgency for CIOs to deliver value, not just investment.
Yet the next frontier is already here: Agentic AI. Systems capable of autonomous decision-making, task execution, and continuous learning. According to IDC’s 2025 research, while 77% of European organizations are actively using GenAI, only 28% have deployed agentic AI systems. CIOs are now tasked with governing this wave of automation, balancing innovation with control, and rethinking architectures, skills, and policies to harness AI safely and strategically.
Martina Longo
Martina Longo is a research manager in the IDC EMEA Digital Business and AI Transformation Strategy Research Group. In her role she advises ICT players on how organizations create business value using digital technologies. She also leads the IDC EMEA Digital Native Business research, focused on a mix of start-ups, scaleups, and more mature digital natives. She also collaborates with the EMEA C-Suite Tech Agenda research, analyzing technology investments and buyer preferences across C-suites in the EMEA region. She also examines how C-suite leaders are evolving as a result of key market trends and technology innovations (e.g., AI).
Event Sessions
Tuesday, April 14 2026 4:15 pm | Location:
Closing Panel: Agentic AI: Strategic Opportunities and Operational Challenges for CIOs
Agentic AI – systems capable of autonomous decision-making is no longer a distant concept: it’s becoming a critical tool for enterprise innovation. But with strategic opportunity comes operational complexity. How can CIOs harness these technologies to drive efficiency, insight, and competitive advantage while managing risk, compliance, and ethical considerations?
Join this panel to discuss the real-world implications of agentic AI in the enterprise. IDC states that only 13% of proofs-of-concept (PoCs) make it to production, which highlights the execution gap CIOs must close. This panel will explore how to evaluate AI adoption, integrate autonomous systems into existing operations, and ensure responsible use, all while maintaining control and delivering measurable business impact whilst practical insights into how CIOs are balancing innovation with accountability in this rapidly evolving landscape.
Duncan Brown
Duncan Brown is associate vice president, European Security Practice, at IDC EMEA and leads the firm’s security research program in Europe. He specializes in providing strategic advice to his clients, informing and validating their corporate, product, and marketing plans. Brown is an expert in analyzing the security market globally, and his list of security-related clients includes enterprises, central banks, government organizations, and security product suppliers and services providers. Brown’s expertise spans the gamut of security topics including incident response, threat intelligence, and global privacy issues. He established and leads IDC’s coverage of the global impact of the GDPR, the RPEC (ePrivacy Directive update) and NIS Directive on technology companies and their customers. His analysis and opinions are widely sought by industry leaders and investors, while his comments on industry trends and developments frequently appear in the leading business and trade publications.
You can find Duncan on Twitter here.
Event Sessions
Tuesday, April 14 2026 3:55 pm | Location:
IDC Research Insight: Sustainability and the CIO Mandate – Embedding ESG into Technology Strategy
Sustainability is no longer just a corporate responsibility — it’s a strategic imperative, and CIOs play a central role in embedding ESG into technology strategy. From energy-efficient IT operations to responsible data practices and green cloud adoption, technology decisions directly impact an organisation’s environmental, social, and governance performance.
Duncan will explore how CIOs can align IT investments with sustainability goals, ESG reporting, and green innovation, driving measurable outcomes while supporting broader business strategy. This session will share practical insights on integrating sustainability into enterprise technology planning, fostering a culture of accountability, and positioning IT as a driver of long-term value and innovation.
Tuesday, April 14 2026 10:40 am | Location:
Opening Panel Discussion: From Cyber Risk to Digital Trust: The CIO’s Role in Security, Sovereignty and Strategic Control
As organisations become increasingly data-driven and cloud-dependent, CIOs sit at the centre of a growing web of cyber risk, regulatory pressure and strategic accountability. Moving beyond traditional security models, this panel explores how CIOs are redefining digital trust not just through technology, but through governance, supplier choices and control over critical data and systems.
The discussion will examine the CIO’s role in navigating digital sovereignty, managing third-party and geopolitical risk, and balancing innovation with resilience. Listen to CIOs sharing practical insights on the decisions they are making today to protect their organisations, maintain autonomy, and build trust with boards, regulators and customers in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
Speakers
Shivika Singh
Event Sessions
Tuesday, April 14 2026 10:40 am | Location:
Opening Panel Discussion: From Cyber Risk to Digital Trust: The CIO’s Role in Security, Sovereignty and Strategic Control
As organisations become increasingly data-driven and cloud-dependent, CIOs sit at the centre of a growing web of cyber risk, regulatory pressure and strategic accountability. Moving beyond traditional security models, this panel explores how CIOs are redefining digital trust not just through technology, but through governance, supplier choices and control over critical data and systems.
The discussion will examine the CIO’s role in navigating digital sovereignty, managing third-party and geopolitical risk, and balancing innovation with resilience. Listen to CIOs sharing practical insights on the decisions they are making today to protect their organisations, maintain autonomy, and build trust with boards, regulators and customers in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
Jonathon Valentine
Nic Granger
Rajesh Jethwa
Ekua Cant
Giorgia Prestento
Hasani Jess
Giles Lindsay
Lauren Dally
Lauren is a forward-thinking strategist with a deep passion for cultivating client-centric IT capabilities and launching innovative digital products. With a proven track record spanning over a decade, she has consistently achieved strategic objectives by leading cross-functional teams in diverse sectors, including finance, insurance, healthcare, and corporate wellness.
Lauren thrives in fast-paced, complex environments and excel in senior and executive-level managerial roles, specializing in key IT-related functions such as Product Management, IT Delivery, Programme Management, and Project Management. She has a successful history of implementing Agile methodologies, including SAFe and ‘Tribe’ models, within various organizations, earning recognition as an Agile Champion.
Her leadership experience extends to managing teams of varying sizes, from small groups to large teams of 250 members, to effectively deliver products and projects across the entire IT development lifecycle. She is passionate about driving positive change, optimizing processes, and achieving excellence in client-centric solutions.
Her commitment to excellence has earned several notable awards and recognitions, including the esteemed Next CIO 2023 Award.
Chris Leong
Event Sessions
Tuesday, April 14 2026 4:15 pm | Location:
Closing Panel: Agentic AI: Strategic Opportunities and Operational Challenges for CIOs
Agentic AI – systems capable of autonomous decision-making is no longer a distant concept: it’s becoming a critical tool for enterprise innovation. But with strategic opportunity comes operational complexity. How can CIOs harness these technologies to drive efficiency, insight, and competitive advantage while managing risk, compliance, and ethical considerations?
Join this panel to discuss the real-world implications of agentic AI in the enterprise. IDC states that only 13% of proofs-of-concept (PoCs) make it to production, which highlights the execution gap CIOs must close. This panel will explore how to evaluate AI adoption, integrate autonomous systems into existing operations, and ensure responsible use, all while maintaining control and delivering measurable business impact whilst practical insights into how CIOs are balancing innovation with accountability in this rapidly evolving landscape.
Basit Tanveer
Event Sessions
Tuesday, April 14 2026 4:15 pm | Location:
Closing Panel: Agentic AI: Strategic Opportunities and Operational Challenges for CIOs
Agentic AI – systems capable of autonomous decision-making is no longer a distant concept: it’s becoming a critical tool for enterprise innovation. But with strategic opportunity comes operational complexity. How can CIOs harness these technologies to drive efficiency, insight, and competitive advantage while managing risk, compliance, and ethical considerations?
Join this panel to discuss the real-world implications of agentic AI in the enterprise. IDC states that only 13% of proofs-of-concept (PoCs) make it to production, which highlights the execution gap CIOs must close. This panel will explore how to evaluate AI adoption, integrate autonomous systems into existing operations, and ensure responsible use, all while maintaining control and delivering measurable business impact whilst practical insights into how CIOs are balancing innovation with accountability in this rapidly evolving landscape.
Alpesh Doshi
Event Sessions
Tuesday, April 14 2026 4:15 pm | Location:
Closing Panel: Agentic AI: Strategic Opportunities and Operational Challenges for CIOs
Agentic AI – systems capable of autonomous decision-making is no longer a distant concept: it’s becoming a critical tool for enterprise innovation. But with strategic opportunity comes operational complexity. How can CIOs harness these technologies to drive efficiency, insight, and competitive advantage while managing risk, compliance, and ethical considerations?
Join this panel to discuss the real-world implications of agentic AI in the enterprise. IDC states that only 13% of proofs-of-concept (PoCs) make it to production, which highlights the execution gap CIOs must close. This panel will explore how to evaluate AI adoption, integrate autonomous systems into existing operations, and ensure responsible use, all while maintaining control and delivering measurable business impact whilst practical insights into how CIOs are balancing innovation with accountability in this rapidly evolving landscape.
Aaron Kalvani
Aaron Kalvani serves as an Independent Global AI Strategist and Advisor on Multilateral AI Governance for the United Nations.
He guides how data and advanced AI are introduced into large-scale intergovernmental and institutional systems, with a focus on building trusted data foundations, regulatory integrity, and long-term structural resilience.
Through partnerships with international organisations, governments and cross-border initiatives, he shapes governance frameworks and institutional architectures that turn policy into practice, supporting responsible use of AI across borders, sectors, and public missions.
Silky Vaidya
Event Sessions
Tuesday, April 14 2026 10:40 am | Location:
Opening Panel Discussion: From Cyber Risk to Digital Trust: The CIO’s Role in Security, Sovereignty and Strategic Control
As organisations become increasingly data-driven and cloud-dependent, CIOs sit at the centre of a growing web of cyber risk, regulatory pressure and strategic accountability. Moving beyond traditional security models, this panel explores how CIOs are redefining digital trust not just through technology, but through governance, supplier choices and control over critical data and systems.
The discussion will examine the CIO’s role in navigating digital sovereignty, managing third-party and geopolitical risk, and balancing innovation with resilience. Listen to CIOs sharing practical insights on the decisions they are making today to protect their organisations, maintain autonomy, and build trust with boards, regulators and customers in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
Amy Jones
Amy Jones is Chief Transformation Officer at Emerald Publishing, where she brings people, process and technology together to accelerate real world impact. In 2025, Amy was named to the CIO 100 UK list and received the Visionary Leadership in Technology award, recognising her people first approach to purposeful transformation. At Emerald, her remit spans delivery excellence, IT operations and modern engineering. Amy focuses on building resilient platforms, clearer ways of working and a culture where change sticks—so teams can move faster with confidence. A committed advocate for women in tech, she mentors emerging leaders and is hands on about making inclusion practical, not performative. She’s also a proponent of ethical AI, championing transparent governance, human in the loop design and tools that augment judgement while protecting trust.
Manuj Sarpal
David Harding
David Harding is the CEO of MagicOrange, the market’s first cloud-native IT financial management and FinOps platform. Prior to MagicOrange, David was a Managing Director and Technology COO at Morgan Stanley for 15 years and has more than two decades’ experience in technology management. Prior to Morgan Stanley, David spent 6 years at Credit Suisse where he launched and led the firm’s first global technology cost transparency initiative, a program which he also subsequently led at Morgan Stanley. As a career-long practitioner, David has developed and continuously drives a strong culture of accountability in the business, delivering value through cost transparency, so our clients can know their numbers and make their investment decisions confidently. David is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. He also holds a certificate in Digital Innovation for Finance and a Bachelors degree in Modern Languages from the University of Southampton in the UK
Andrew Simpson
Andrew has worked in the computer software industry for over 30 years starting off as a programmer to development manager, moving to technical consulting and then to a pre-sales engineering role. Andrew is currently a Principal Solutions Architect at Rocket Software after being with Rocket for over 20 years, focussing on application and data modernisation, optimisation and process improvement solutions for enterprises across the EMEA region.
Event Sessions
Tuesday, April 14 2026 9:50 am | Location:
AI Isn’t the Foundation for Modernization. Trust Is.
Build the shared trust layer first—where data and security come together—and every team moves faster.
AI is accelerating modernization efforts, but it’s not the foundation of long-term success. Trust is. Trust is built on the “shared trust layer,” where data and security work together to form the backbone of a resilient, future-ready IT ecosystem. Without robust security, your data is vulnerable; without actionable data, your security measures lack precision. Together, they enable innovation, agility, and long-term impact.
IDC research shows nearly 40% of CIOs expect to overspend on digital infrastructure in the next 18 months, driven by technical debt and initiatives that stall before delivering results. Operational friction—rework from quick fixes, access exceptions from workarounds, inconsistent controls, reactionary audit scrambles, and untested recovery plans—undermines progress.
This keynote introduces the Shared Trust Layer as the foundation beneath every modernization initiative. Build it first, and teams move faster everywhere: delivery cycles shrink, resilience improves, compliance gets easier, and AI scales with confidence.
You’ll leave this session with:
- A practical model to align data and security strategies for IT modernization.
- Steps to reduce operational friction and accelerate delivery cycles.
- A focused 90-day action plan to benchmark your maturity with the IDC Modernization Index and build a resilient, future-ready IT ecosystem.
Michael McKay
Michael McKay is a senior engineer at Rocket Software, specialising on Mainframe Storage, Resiliency and Security technologies. Michael has a background in Storage Infrastructure and eventually became a Sysprog at a leading UK bank, before transitioning to Rocket Software where he is now working with various customers to implement solutions to better manage and secure their Mainframe environment.
Event Sessions
Tuesday, April 14 2026 9:50 am | Location:
AI Isn’t the Foundation for Modernization. Trust Is.
Build the shared trust layer first—where data and security come together—and every team moves faster.
AI is accelerating modernization efforts, but it’s not the foundation of long-term success. Trust is. Trust is built on the “shared trust layer,” where data and security work together to form the backbone of a resilient, future-ready IT ecosystem. Without robust security, your data is vulnerable; without actionable data, your security measures lack precision. Together, they enable innovation, agility, and long-term impact.
IDC research shows nearly 40% of CIOs expect to overspend on digital infrastructure in the next 18 months, driven by technical debt and initiatives that stall before delivering results. Operational friction—rework from quick fixes, access exceptions from workarounds, inconsistent controls, reactionary audit scrambles, and untested recovery plans—undermines progress.
This keynote introduces the Shared Trust Layer as the foundation beneath every modernization initiative. Build it first, and teams move faster everywhere: delivery cycles shrink, resilience improves, compliance gets easier, and AI scales with confidence.
You’ll leave this session with:
- A practical model to align data and security strategies for IT modernization.
- Steps to reduce operational friction and accelerate delivery cycles.
- A focused 90-day action plan to benchmark your maturity with the IDC Modernization Index and build a resilient, future-ready IT ecosystem.
Manoj Kumar
Gokul Ramasubramanian
Bukky Yusuf
Bukky Yusuf is a senior leader, leadership coach and author, working with educators on a national and international basis. She has undertaken several leadership roles within mainstream and special school settings.
Beyond the classroom, Bukky is a Trustee and an Ed Tech Thought Leader with a variety of experiences that includes serving as an Advisory Council member for Good Future Foundation. In 2019, she was appointed by the Department of Education as co-chair for the EdTech Leadership Group to support the Government’s EdTech strategy.
Bukky has been awarded fellowship status within the industry in particular the Chartered College of Teaching (FCCT) and the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) for her work in education.
Lydia Nicola
Event Sessions
Tuesday, April 14 2026 10:40 am | Location:
Opening Panel Discussion: From Cyber Risk to Digital Trust: The CIO’s Role in Security, Sovereignty and Strategic Control
As organisations become increasingly data-driven and cloud-dependent, CIOs sit at the centre of a growing web of cyber risk, regulatory pressure and strategic accountability. Moving beyond traditional security models, this panel explores how CIOs are redefining digital trust not just through technology, but through governance, supplier choices and control over critical data and systems.
The discussion will examine the CIO’s role in navigating digital sovereignty, managing third-party and geopolitical risk, and balancing innovation with resilience. Listen to CIOs sharing practical insights on the decisions they are making today to protect their organisations, maintain autonomy, and build trust with boards, regulators and customers in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
Carl Davis
Carl Davis is CTO of Keensight Capital’s Performance Team, partnering with portfolio companies on tech value creation and AI across cybersecurity, post-merger integration, software architecture, cloud strategy, and scaling engineering organisations. He was recognised in the CIO 100 UK in 2025 and 2022.
Sharon Parmar
Alex Butler
Event Sessions
Tuesday, April 14 2026 10:40 am | Location:
Opening Panel Discussion: From Cyber Risk to Digital Trust: The CIO’s Role in Security, Sovereignty and Strategic Control
As organisations become increasingly data-driven and cloud-dependent, CIOs sit at the centre of a growing web of cyber risk, regulatory pressure and strategic accountability. Moving beyond traditional security models, this panel explores how CIOs are redefining digital trust not just through technology, but through governance, supplier choices and control over critical data and systems.
The discussion will examine the CIO’s role in navigating digital sovereignty, managing third-party and geopolitical risk, and balancing innovation with resilience. Listen to CIOs sharing practical insights on the decisions they are making today to protect their organisations, maintain autonomy, and build trust with boards, regulators and customers in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
2026 Prediction
By 2027, 55% of G1000 CIOs will be tasked to create enterprise AI value playbooks, featuring expanded ROI models to define, measure, and showcase AI impact across efficiency, growth, and innovation.
Main Themes
The CIO as Business Strategist
CIOs have evolved from operational leaders to enterprise strategists. As digital transformation reshapes every business model, technology leadership now defines competitiveness. Today’s CIO must align IT priorities with business outcomes, influence the boardroom agenda, and drive innovation that delivers measurable value.
Modernization, Legacy and Technical Debt
Managing technical debt is no longer just a maintenance concern, it’s a strategic priority. Modernizing legacy systems, simplifying architectures, and optimizing cost structures allow organizations to shift resources from upkeep to innovation. Streamlined technology portfolios create the agility needed to compete in a digital economy.
The Agentic AI Revolution
Agentic AI marks a shift from automation to autonomy. How CIOs can govern, scale, and integrate autonomous AI systems responsibly (balancing opportunity with oversight to create intelligent, self-directed enterprises.
Resilience by Design
Resilience is emerging as the defining capability of modern enterprises. Adaptive architectures, secure infrastructure, and integrated continuity planning enable organizations to withstand disruption (whether from economic uncertainty, regulatory shifts, or cyber threats) while sustaining growth and trust.
Cybersecurity, Trust, and Digital Sovereignty
As digital ecosystems expand, trust becomes a critical currency. CIOs must address cybersecurity, data sovereignty, and compliance in tandem, ensuring that cloud strategies and cross-border operations align with evolving regulations. Building digital trust creates both protection and competitive advantage.
Building the Intelligent Enterprise
Data is the foundation of every intelligent organization. Reliable, governed, and accessible data architectures enable AI, automation, and analytics to operate at scale. Enterprises that invest in strong data foundations are better positioned to extract insight, anticipate change, and deliver smarter, faster business outcomes.
2026 Prediction
By 2027, G1000 organizations will face an up to 30% rise in underestimated AI infrastructure costs, driving CIOs to expand the scope of FinOps teams to optimize expenses and enhance business value.
Venue
etc.venues’s County Hall space is as stunning on the inside as it is on the outside, with over 68,000 sq ft of multi use event space over two floors for conferences, meetings and events.
In a great location with breathtaking views over The Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the London Eye, its also only a few minutes away from Waterloo Station.
Knowledge Hub
The AI homework nobody asked for (but everyone’s getting anyway)
Artificial Intelligence has officially reached the “you can do anything with it” stage of technological hype. Judging just by AI vendor narratives, and by some of the media, it’s the golden key to productivity, efficiency, optimization and innovation.
The Agentic Business Future: Driving Resilience, Sovereignty, and Innovation in EMEA
As organizations navigate an era defined by economic uncertainty, geopolitical shifts, and relentless technological change, one truth stands out: the future belongs to those who can harness AI, automation, and sovereignty to build resilience, drive innovation, and unlock growth.
EMEA’s Tech Evolution – 7 Key Themes Transforming Business in 2025
The technology landscape across Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) is changing rapidly in 2025, with innovations actively reshaping industries and creating new business opportunities.
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