Private Equity
International
International
Operating Partners Forum Europe
May 21-22, 2025
Convene, 133 Houndsditch, London
Harness value creation in a changing market
At a critical time in the economic cycle, Europe’s leading community of PE operating partners gathered to revitalise value creation strategies across all business areas.
The 14th annual Forum was designed to uncover new cross-functional levers, expand your professional network, and equip your operating team to drive value creation through 2025 and beyond.
“The first and largest event focused on the role of the OP and value creation. Great mix of attendees makes it the best networking event.”
James Markham
Senior Partner Value Creation, Graphite Capital
Transform your operations with collaborative content:
The 2025 agenda covered the most prominent functional topics in value creation:
- Portfolio company CEO perspectives – a deep dive into the “Do’s and Don’ts”
- How to collaborate with the deal team
- DPI vs IRR: Comparing impact on value creation
- How to efficiently use technology during economic uncertainty
- The role of tech and AI in building a strong talent pool
- Due diligence – does AI have a seat at the table?
- How to deliver revenue growth in changing markets
- And much more…
Join Europe's leading operating partner community:
What can I expect at an Operating Partners Forum?
Discover new value creation strategies
The content focuses on working with and scaling portfolio companies at a crucial time. Examine the evolution of value creation, steps to develop a world class value creation team, how to optimize CEO relationships, and much more.
Build a valuable network
Connect with industry leaders within all functional areas of value creation in think tanks, interactive workshops, networking breaks, an evening drinks reception, roundtable discussions, and invite-only breakfasts.
Hear from Operating Partners
Collaborate directly with 100+ operating partner speakers on trending topics. Speakers include representatives from Accel-KKR, BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, H.I.G. Capital, OTPP, Permira, STG, and many more.
“You have to keep yourself current and our firms are not academies for becoming better operating partners…The PEI Operating Partners Forum is the only academy that exists for Operating Partners.”
Aaron Miller
Head of Apollo Portfolio Performance Solutions, Apollo Global Management
2025 speakers
Our 2024 leading advisory board
For more information about next year’s agenda, please contact Brix Sumagaysay at brix.s@pei.group.
View agenda page
Agenda
Pre-Event Networking - Tuesday 20th
Pre-conference events
17:30 - 21:00
Welcome reception and dinner (invitation only, RSVP required)
Madera at Treehouse London | 14-15 Langham Place W1B 2QS
Join the operating partners attending the Europe Forum at our opening grand reception and dinner. Exchange valuable insights with your peers in a relaxed setting and build your connections before the conference kicks off.
Agenda
Day 1 - Wednesday 21st
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 rooms (invitation-only)
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.
08:00 - 08:55
Room 1 Digital and Technology Operating Partners
Rahul Shah,
Phil Carrivick
08:00 - 08:55
Room 2 Human Capital/Talent Operating Partners
Christian Truempler,
Lisa Telford
08:00 - 08:55
Room 3 Finance Operating Partners
Paul Reading,
Christian Schmehl
08:00 - 08:55
Room 4 GTM, Sales and Revenue Growth Operating Partners
Jawad Bhatti,
Nicola Mann
Plenary
08:55 - 09:00
PEI’s welcome
Lawrence Dvorchik, Business Development Director – Operating Partners, PEI Groupv
09:00 - 09:10
Chairman’s opening remarks
Jim Corey
Conference chair: Jim Corey, CEO, Blue Ridge Partners
09:10 - 09:50
Unlocking value creation in uncertain times – an interview with two thought leaders
Moti Shahani,
Dr. Paul Vega,
Bjørn Ruwald
- What market uncertainties are most impacting the private equity industry?
- What are the implications on Value Creation Teams and are these short-term or long -term implications?
- How can Value Creation Teams up their game in response so they maximize value contribution to portco performance?
Moderator: Moti Shahani, Managing Director, Blue Ridge Partners
Paul Vega, Partner and Head of Portfolio Team, Cinven
Bjorn Ruwald, Partner, Head of Operational Support Group, Bridgepoint
09:50 - 10:30
Operating Partner/Deal Partner alignment: synergies for success
William Bundy,
Marcel Brinkman,
James Markham,
Grayden Reece-Smith,
Bihe Chen
- How can operating partners help investment teams maximize returns?
- How can you ensure alignment and resolve internal frictions?
- Operating partner best practices in working together as a team.
Moderator: William Bundy, Partner, McKinsey ＆ Company
Marcel Brinkman, Managing Director, GIP, a part of BlackRock
James Markham, Senior Partner – Value Creation, Graphite Capital
Grayden Reece-Smith, Investment Principal, Aurelius Investment Advisory
Bihe Chen, Operating Director, Limerston Capital
10:30 - 11:00
Networking break
11:00 - 11:40
New strategies for value creation for the first 100 days and throughout the first year
Luke Anderson,
Alex Kesseler,
Marine Diot,
Maria Orlowski,
Henry Weaver
- Identifying successful strategies to enhance value within the initial 100 days.
- How have 100-day plans changed in recent years? What does the future playbook look like?
- Real life examples of challenges and roadblocks during the first 100-days and how they’ve been resolved.
Moderator: Luke Anderson, Partner, KPMG
Alex Kesseler, Partner – Performance Improvement, Antin Infrastructure Partners
Marine Diot, Associate Director, EQT Group
Maria Orlowski, Partner, Value Creation, GTO Partners
Henry Weaver, Operating Principal, Bregal – Growth Factors
11:40 - 12:20
Redefining value creation: How long-term investors are shaping the future
Carmela Mendoza,
Jenny Newmarch,
Lorenzo Levi,
Erem Kassim Lakha,
Matt J. Baird
- Navigating market volatility with a focus on ensuring long-term value creation despite short-term challenges
- How to leverage advancements in technology and innovation to drive operational efficiency and unlock new growth avenues
- How is the role of the operating partner evolving given these market factors?
Moderator: Carmela Mendoza, Senior Reporter, Private Equity International
Jenny Newmarch, Head of Private Equity, Aware Super
Lorenzo Levi, Managing Director and Operating Partner, Private Equity, Europe, CDPQ
Erem Kassim Lakha, Senior Managing Director of Value Creation, Equities, OTPP
Matt Baird, Managing Director, OMERS Private Equity Europe
Erem Kassim Lakha
Senior Managing Director of Value Creation, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Read bio
INTERACTIVE WORKING GROUP SERIES A
12:20 - 13:00
Interactive Working Group 1 (for operating partners only) | An Operating Partner’s Playbook to Driving Value Through Procurement
Conrad Grajczak,
Henry Weaver,
Marc Bielitza,
Will Harman
- How companies are achieving significant procurement success
- Comparing cost management strategies to act as a hedge against the impact of inflation and other obstacles
- Exploring the critical role of collaboration between commercial and procurement teams to protect margins during economic volatility
Moderator: Conrad Grajczak, Managing Director, Accenture
Henry Weaver, Operating Principal, Bregal – Growth Factors
Marc Bielitza, Partner, Deutsche Private Equity
Will Harman, Principal, Margin Expansion, Apax Partners
12:20 - 13:00
Interactive Working Group 2 (for operating partners only) | Value creation with agentic ai in the voice channel
Michael Chen
- What differentiates Agentic AI from traditional AI-powered voice bots? What are the most common examples?
- How can AI solutions drive value, reduce contact center costs, and improve customer experience?
- How can new insights from the voice channel enhance operational efficiency and drive greater optimization?
Moderator: Michael Chen, VP of Strategic Alliances & Corporate Development, Poly AI
12:20 - 13:00
Interactive Working Group 3 (for operating partners only) | AI-Led Value Creation in Operations
Thomas Mathews,
Marc Boullier,
Marja Verbon,
Gael Gibert
- Real examples of how AI can streamline processes, reduce costs, and improve productivity across all portco operations
- How operating partners have used agentic AI to optimise value creation
- Case study examples of leveraging tech and data to drive multiples
Moderator: Thomas Mathews, Head of Private Equity Practice, International Markets, Genpact
Marc Boullier, Managing Director, PAI Partners
Marja Verbon, Head of Innovation Acceleration – Portfolio Operations Group, Five Arrows (Rothschild)
Gael Gibert, Senior Director, Advent
13:00 - 14:00
Networking Lunch
13:00 - 14:00
Operating partner lunch at Interact Room (for operating partners only, RSVP required)
Deep Dive: From overspend to optimization – mastering software portfolio costs
- Gain clear insight into software utilization to identify underused tools and eliminate redundancies
- Leverage data for smarter negotiations, consolidate vendors, and proactively manage renewals to reduce spend
- Learn how to prioritize impactful solutions, foster collaboration, and view spend/savings as a value driver
Speaker: Roy Tuvey, CEO, Vertice
Will Harman, Principal, Margin Expansion, Apax Partners
FUNCTIONAL BREAKOUT SERIES 1
14:00 - 14:40
Track 1: Due diligence – does AI have a seat at the table?
Bala Narayanaswamy,
Phil Carrivick,
Marine Diot,
Marco Ferrara
- How has the role of the OP evolved with the application of AI in due diligence?
- Harnessing data analytics and AI.
- Successful examples of using AI in the due diligence process.
Moderator: Bala Narayanaswamy, Global Head – Private Equity Relations, Infosys
Phil Carrivick, Operating Partner, Northfirst
Marine Diot, Associate Director, EQT Group
Marco Ferrara, Operating Partner, Limerston Capital
14:00 - 14:40
Track 2: Revenue Growth: The silver bullet in times of depressed consumer.
Mark Billige,
Paul-Louis Andrés,
Peter Colman,
Streisan Bevan,
Mikael Castelluccio
- How to deliver revenue growth in changing markets?
- Sharing a pricing and sales toolkit to help navigate volatility.
- How to work with your commercial teams to enhance revenue growth.
Moderator: Mark Billige, Senior Partner, Private Equity, Simon-Kucher
Paul-Louis Andrés, Principal – Value Creation Team, Seven2
Peter Colman, Senior Operating Partner – Commercial Excellence, H.I.G. Capital
Streisan Bevan, Operating Partner, Independent
Mikael Castelluccio, Portfolio Director, Charterhouse
14:00 - 14:40
Track 3: Deep dive into how operating partners align with CEOs – the “Do’s and Don’ts”
Adam Smallman,
Jean-François Willame,
Naresh Kumar,
Sebastien Katch,
Felicity O'Kelly
- How to work effectively with CEOs to ensure and deliver growth
- The role of the CEO in succession planning and how this is anchored into the value creation strategy
- Best practises from operating partners and the value creation lifecycle
Moderator: Adam Smallman, Director, Membership Content, PEI Group
Jean-Francois Willame, Senior Director, Infrastructure, Operating Partner, Patrizia
Naresh Kumar, Independent Operating Partner, Operating Bridge Partners
Sebastien Katch, Managing Director & Global Lead, Operational Excellence, Verlinvest
Felicity O’Kelly, Principal, Climate Investment
FUNCTIONAL BREAKOUT SERIES 2
14:40 - 15:20
Track 4 How to collaborate with the deal team?
Luke Anderson,
Christopher Harwood,
Christian Schmehl,
Matt J. Baird,
Nick Day
- How to unlock value in the deal team effectively
- A playbook on how to collaborate with the deal team
- Successful and unsuccessful operating partner strategies
Moderator: Luke Anderson, Partner, KPMG
Christopher Harwood, Operating Partner, Apollo
Christian Schmehl, Managing Partner, Hypax
Matt Baird, MD – Operations & Strategy, OMERS
Nick Day, Operating Partner, Investcorp
14:40 - 15:20
Track 5 How to quantify and showcase success in the human capital function?
Jamie Merrick,
Cordelia Dolan,
Lisa Telford,
Kelly Carlson
- What is being done around pipelining talent and tracking the impact of human capital?
- With the fatigue surrounding DE&I, how are PE houses holding themselves to account?
- Exploring the use of data in the human capital function.
Moderator: Jamie Merrick, VP, Private Equity, Workday
Cordelia Dolan, Partner and Global Head of Portfolio Talent, InvestIndustrial
Lisa Telford, Partner, Montagu
Kelly Carlson, Managing Director, Head of Talent, STG
14:40 - 15:20
Track 6 Profitable revenue generation through sales, pricing and cost optimisation.
Julian Short,
Maria Orlowski,
William De Vliegher,
Jawad Bhatti,
Christian Atherton
- Simultaneous optimization of pricing, revenue, and costs to drive EBITDA increases.
- Addressing challenges in high-inflation environments and improving commercial practices.
- Addressing revenue and margin leakage in complex organizations.
- Aligning cross-functional business strategies for pricing and margin optimization.
Moderator: Julian Short, EMEA Lead – Growth Practice Group, Partner & Managing Director, AlixPartners
Maria Orlowski, Partner, Value Creation, GTO Partners
William De Vliegher, Principal ＆ EU Lead, Operational Excellence, Verlinvest
Jawad Bhatti, GTM Operating Advisor / Head of AI and Cyber Centre of Excellence, AnaCap
Christian Atherton, Managing Director, PAI Partners
15:20 - 15:30
Networking break
FUNCTIONAL BREAKOUT SERIES 3
15:30 - 16:10
Track 7 Incorporating commercial due diligence into your operational playbooks.
Jens Weber,
Alex Kesseler,
Peter Colman,
Wessel Schevernels,
Louis Saund
- How to leverage market analysis and competitor intelligence to inform operational strategies?
- Strategies to align operational and financial goals.
- How to ensure commercial due diligence findings shape both short-term and long-term operational plans?
Moderator: Jens Weber, Partner, Alysian
Alex Kesseler, Partner – Performance Improvement, Antin Infrastructure Partners
Peter Colman, Senior Operating Partner – Commercial Excellence, H.I.G. Capital
Wessel Schevernels, Operating Partner, Patrizia Infrastructure
Louis Saund, Vice President, Business Operations, Brookfield
15:30 - 16:10
Track 8 A deep dive into the private equity sponsor/CFO dynamic in an uncertain environment
Atul Aggarwal,
Ralph Friedwagner,
Leo Scanavino,
Simon Hardy,
Paul Reading,
Markus Nagel
- Enabling CFOs to balance growth initiatives (advancing value creation goals) with risk management (protecting the business from uncertainty)
- How CFOs can prioritize defensive strategies like forecasting, scenario planning, digitization, and operational resilience
- Practical ways PE sponsors can support CFOs in balancing growth and risk during economic uncertainty
Moderator: Atul Aggarwal, President, Growth Markets, Accordion
Ralph Friedwagner, Operating Partner, CDPQ
Leo Scanavino, Director, British International Investment
Simon Hardy, Head of Portfolio Operations, Attestor Capital
Paul Reading, Partner, Chief Strategy Officer, Mayfair Equity Partners
Markus Nagel, Managing Director, Operational Finance, Astorg
15:30 - 16:10
Track 9 Talent transformation in the age of technology and ai
Kristin Jochum,
Phil Carrivick,
Alpesh Doshi,
Felicity O'Kelly
- How introducing technology can enhance efficiency, productivity and create value?
- How can AI help to recruit and retrain talent?
- Case studies demonstrating the positive impact of AI on the recruitment process.
Moderator: Kristin Jochum, Private Equity Partnerships, Workday
Phil Carrivick, Operating Partner, Northfirst
Alpesh Doshi, Managing Partner, Redcliffe Capital
Felicity O’Kelly, Principal, Investments, Climate Investment
FUNCTIONAL BREAKOUT SERIES 4
16:10 - 16:50
Track 10 Driving digital transformation for SaaS companies.
Lisa Weaver-Lambert,
Marja Verbon,
Toni Bonet,
Nathan Atkinson,
Tim Kohn
- How is AI being integrated into SaaS businesses, and what role does automation play in enhancing operational efficiency?
- Preparing for the next wave of digital disruption in emerging technologies (e.g., generative AI, blockchain)
- What KPIs are most important to track during the transformation journey?
Moderator: Lisa Weaver-Lambert, Data and Digital Operating Partner, Independent
Marja Verbon, Head of Innovation Acceleration – Portfolio Operations Group, Five Arrows (Rothschild)
Toni Bonet, Partner, Parlementia Capital
Nathan Atkinson, Executive – AI and Machine Learning, Cinven
Tim Kohn, Technologist-in-Residence, Summit Partners
16:10 - 16:50
Track 11 Go-to-Market strategy and execution: What defines excellence?
Rory Sweeney,
Jawad Bhatti,
Marc Schiekofer,
Ada Pham,
Dr Natalia Blagburn
- Exploring the advantages and drawbacks of traditional go-to-market strategies and how to refine the approach for enhanced sales performance.
- Leveraging data-driven insights and analytics to shape targeted go-to-market strategies that boost revenue growth and create value.
- Diversifying your route to market and identifying the most effective channels to pursue.
Moderator: Rory Sweeney, Partner, Simon Kucher
Jawad Bhatti, GTM Operating Advisor / Head of AI and Cyber Centre of Excellence, AnaCap
Marc Schiekofer, Operating Partner, Triton
Ada Pham, Assistant Director, Inflexion
Natalia Blagburn, Portfolio Director, Independent
16:10 - 16:55
Track 12 Strategies to turn around underperforming portfolio companies
Adam Smallman,
James Markham,
Christian Schmehl,
Sebastien Katch,
Johannes Brunner
- Operating partner strategies to work with underperforming companies to get them back to a higher performance
- Identifying key and common challenges to move towards growth
- Case studies of successful transformations and the goals they used
Moderator: Adam Smallman, Director, Membership Content, PEI Group
James Markham, Senior Partner – Value Creation, Graphite Capital
Christian Schmehl, Managing Partner, Hypax
Sebastien Katch, Managing Director & Global Lead, Operational Excellence, Verlinvest
Johannes Brunner, Operating Director, FSN Capital Partners
INTERACTIVE WORKING GROUP SERIES B
16:55 - 17:40
Interactive Working Group 4 (for operating partners only) | The Digital Evolution: Technology-Driven Value Creation in Enterprises.
Vijay Koppula,
Ben Rogers,
Guy Willner,
Dr. Benjamin Kleidt
- Maximizing ROI through AI and other transformative technologies
- Digital tools to optimize internal efficiencies and strengthen market positioning
- Driving operational excellence to gain a competitive edge in an evolving business landscape
Moderator: Vijay Koppula, Chief Consulting Officer, ValueLabs
Ben Rogers, Vice President, Permira
Guy Willner, CEO & Co-Founder, IXAFrica Data Centre
Benjamin Kleidt, Partner, Deutsche Private Equity
16:55 - 17:40
Interactive Working Group 5 (for operating partners only) | From tariffs to tailwinds: How supply chains are creating value in volatile times
Cornelius Herzog,
Sebastian Janssen
- When tariffs hit – just noise or real margin compression?
- Beyond tariffs – where are hidden vulnerabilities across your supply chains?
- Adding resilience – how do you build a supply chain value creation playbook for volatile times?
Moderators: Cornelius Herzog, Partner, Head of Supply Chain Europe, Oliver Wyman
Sebastian Janssen, Partner, Head of Operations Europe, Oliver Wyman
16:45 - 17:40
Interactive Working Group 6 (for operating partners only) | Overcoming growth challenges for exit: Achieving a realistic valuation.
Streisan Bevan,
Lorenzo Levi,
Wessel Schevernels,
Nick Eichorn
- What does exit readiness mean? What is the importance of formalising an exit readiness process?
- How to take a B grade asset and prepare it for exit
- How should you use data analytics and reporting during exit preparation to maximize return
Moderator: Streisan Bevan, Operating Partner, Independent
Lorenzo Levi, Managing Director and Operating Partner, Private Equity, Europe, CDPQ
Wessel Schevernels, Operating Partner, Patrizia Infrastructure
Nick Eichorn, Partner, Value Creation, Graphite Capital
17:40 - 19:00
Conference sessions conclude and Grand Reception begins
19:00 - 19:00
End of day one
Agenda
Day 2 - Thursday 22nd
07:40 - 09:25
Registration and breakfast
THINK TANK SERIES 2
07:45 - 08:45
Think tanks for full-time operating partners: value creation war room (invitation-only)
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.
07:45 - 08:45
Room 1 Advanced Operating Partners
Silvio Stockmann
Silvio Stockmann, Managing Partner, Strongfield Management
07:45 - 08:45
Room 2 Emerging Operating Partners (1-2 years in PE)
Lisa Weaver-Lambert
Lisa Weaver-Lambert, Data and Digital Operating Partner, Independent
Lisa Weaver-Lambert
Board Advisory and Strategic Business Transformation, Data ＆ AI Executive
Read bio
07:45 - 08:45
Room 3 Sustainability Think Tank
Alison Prout
Alison Prout, ESG Specialist Transformation Consultant, Agilitas.
Breakfast Deep Dive Discussion 1 (for operating partners only)
08:45 - 09:25
Discussion 1 Proactive turnaround in underperforming assets
Stelios Fragkos,
Sean O’ Flynn
- How to identify issues early and take action when assets fall behind their investment thesis
- Addressing operational and financial underperformance holistically – deploying high impact solutions to improve cash and EBITDA
- Lessons from recent turnarounds: aligning management, sponsors, and financing stakeholders around a realistic recovery plan
Stelios Fragkos, Partner & Managing Director, AlixPartners
Sean O’Flynn, EMEA Co-Lead, Private Equity, AlixPartners
08:45 - 09:25
Discussion 2 Cracking the commercial code: How operating partners create value in diligence
Hank Boye,
Chris Madaus,
Pat Donegan,
Vincent Schuller tot Peursum
- Building conviction in bidding by assessing the durability, scalability, and efficiency of the revenue engine
- Pinpointing high-ROI value levers that endure investment committee scrutiny and accelerate VCP
- Reach beyond market diligence to assess customer economics, GTM, and sales execution/efficiency
- Pressure-test year-one revenue targets to avoid lost time early in the hold period
Hank Boye, Managing Director, Strategic Resource Group (SRG), THL
Chris Madaus, Senior Managing Director, Blue Ridge Partners
Pat Donegan, Senior Managing Director, Blue Ridge Partners
Vincent Schuller tot Peursum, Managing Director, Blue Ridge Partners
08:45 - 09:25
Discussion 3 Results of the 2024 McKinsey Operating Partner Group Survey
William Bundy
- Provide statistics on the size and composition of operating partner teams
- Review the roles Op Partner teams play in value creation
- What will operating partner teams look like in the future
William Bundy, Partner, McKinsey ＆ Company
Jason Phillips, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company
Plenary
09:25 - 09:30
Chairman’s welcome
Jim Corey
Conference chair: Jim Corey, CEO, Blue Ridge Partners
09:30 - 10:10
Shaping the future of value creation through the AI lens: real world implementations.
Simon Murray,
Florent Melis,
Gilad G. Amir,
Jamaria Kong,
Tim Kohn
- An OP playbook on AI – what is there to know and understand?
- Identifying innovative ways of how operating partners and portfolio companies have implemented AI across the board.
- How to correctly allocate and resource for AI?
Moderator: Simon Murray, Practice Director Digital Strategy, Adobe
Florent Melis, Principal Portfolio Performance, Eurazeo
Gilad G. Amir, Digital Operating Partner, Pollen Street Capital
Jamaria Kong, Managing Director, Towerbrook Capital Partners
Tim Kohn, Technologist-in-Residence, Summit Partners
10:10 - 10:50
Showcasing functional specialist initiatives that move the needle
Amit Vij,
Riccardo Basile,
Alessandro Moretti,
Michal Karnibad,
Karl Sahyoun
- Highlighting first year transformations through the lens of different functional specialists
- The increasing role of tech and AI across all functional initiatives
- Operating partner success stories across the value creation ecosystem
Moderator: Amit Vij, SVP, Private Equity Leader, Tech Mahindra
Riccardo Basile, Operating Partner, Permira
Alessandro Moretti, Head of Operational Value Creation (OPG) – Direct Investments, Sovereign Wealth Fund
Michal Karnibad, Managing Director of Digital Transformation, Mattioli Woods
Karl Sahyoun, Principal, Milestone Performance Partners, Bregal Milestone
10:50 - 11:10
Networking break
INTERACTIVE WORKING GROUP SERIES C (for operating partners only)
11:10 - 11:50
Interactive Working Group 7 | A deep dive into key KPIs that matter at every growth stage.
James Cope,
Keith Goldschmidt
- Identifying and tracking the most critical KPIs to drive portfolio company performance at each growth stage
- The role of scalable systems in ensuring accurate KPI tracking and sustainable growth as companies evolve from startup to scale-up
- Aligning financial and operational metrics with investor expectations and value creation strategies
Moderator: Keith Goldschmidt, VP, Strategic Alliances, Zone & Co
James Cope, Portfolio Senior Executive, Hg Capital
11:10 - 11:50
Interactive Working Group 8 (for operating partners only) | Driving value across the supply chain: proven strategies to unlock consistent, measurable gains
Chris Powell ,
Crispin Mair
- How to apply adaptive, end-to-end supply chain diagnostics to identify sustainable, high-impact opportunities that drive measurable value
- Uncovering overlooked areas of the supply chain that hold untapped value—and turning them into strategic advantages
- Leveraging AI-enabled soft process automation to boost efficiency, reduce friction, and unlock new sources of value creation
Chris Powell, Associate Partner, Argon & Co
Crispin Mair, Partner, Head of M&A, Argon & Co
11:10 - 11:50
Interactive Working Group 9 (for operating partners only) | Operating partner perspectives on what effective tech and digital value creation playbooks look like.
Hema Prem,
Gilad G. Amir,
Ben Rogers
- Comparing tech spend vs tech value creation
- An operating partner step-by-step guide to technology and digital value creation
- Identifying the most common challenges and roadblocks
Moderator: Hema Prem, Vice President, Infosys
Gilad G. Amir, Digital Operating Partner, Pollen Street Capital
Ben Rogers, Vice President, Permira
Plenary
11:50 - 12:30
The exit plan in the current climate – Operating Partner perspectives
Carmela Mendoza,
Ralph Friedwagner,
Ilinca Rosetti,
Naresh Kumar,
Paul Reading,
Dr Natalia Blagburn
- A check list of non-negotiables before considering an exit
- How are exit plans and strategies being affected by current market conditions?
- What are the main challenges faced when preparing for exit?
Moderator: Carmela Mendoza, Senior Reporter, Private Equity International
Ralph Friedwagner, Operating Partner, CDPQ
Ilinca Rosetti, Operating Partner, JC Flowers & Co
Naresh Kumar, Independent Operating Partner, Operating Bridge Partners
Paul Reading, Partner, Chief Strategy Officer, Mayfair Equity Partners
Natalia Blagburn, Portfolio Director, Independent
12:30 - 13:10
Debate: Functional specialists vs generalists. What is seen as more valuable?
Adam Smallman,
Fiona Satchell,
Ronald Van Loo,
Martin Mc Court,
Sheilja Patel,
Ramon de la Sota
This session will explore the ongoing debate between functional specialists and generalists, examining the value each brings. Attendees will gain insights into which approach is currently seen as more valuable in today’s evolving business landscape.
Moderator: Adam Smallman, Director, Membership Content, PEI Group
Fiona Satchell, Operating Partner, Three Hills
Ronald Van Loo, Global Head of Portfolio Group, TowerBrook Capital Partners
Martin Mc Court, Operating Partner, Corsair Capital
Sheilja Patel, Operating Principal – Head of EMEA Operating Team, Accel-KKR
Ramon de la Sota, Founder and Operating Partner, Parlementia Capital Partners
13:10 - 13:15
Closing remarks
13:15 - 14:15
Networking Lunch
This closed-door lunch discussion will explore what it’s like being a woman in PE and VC portfolio.
13:15 - 14:15
Women in PE portfolio operations lunch at Interact Room
Lisa Weaver-Lambert,
Kelly Carlson,
Sheilja Patel
This off-the-record lunch discussion will explore what it’s like being a woman in a PE and VC portfolio.
Moderator: Lisa Weaver-Lambert, Data and Digital Operating Partner, Independent
Kelly Carlson, Managing Director, Head of Talent, STG
Sheilja Patel, Operating Principal – Head of EMEA Operating Team, Accel-KKR
14:15 - 14:15
End of conference
Cultivate your operating partner community
Cultivate a professional community that extends beyond the Forum in operating partner exclusive networking events.
Connect with the brightest leaders in cross-functional value creation to exchange ideas, solve challenges, and benchmark strategies to improve your day-to-day operations.
Operating Partners Forum Europe Welcome Reception and Dinner (invitation-only)
Tuesday, 20 May, 2025
5:30 – 9:00 pm
Venue: Madera at Treehouse London
Perched high above the city, the vibrant Madera at Treehouse London offers breathtaking skyline views, warm hospitality, and a relaxed atmosphere—the perfect setting to start making meaningful connections before the main event begins. Join fellow Operating Partners and select industry leaders for an evening of curated cocktails, inspired small plates, and engaging conversation. Whether reconnecting with familiar faces or meeting new peers, this reception sets the tone for productive and collaborative days ahead.
Operating Partners Forum Europe Day 1 Networking Reception
Wednesday, 21 May, 2025
17:40-18:30
After a full day of insight-packed sessions and high-level discussions, join us for an exclusive evening networking reception. This is your opportunity to relax, recharge, and reconnect with peers, speakers, and industry leaders in a more informal setting. Enjoy curated cocktails, light bites, and engaging conversation as you continue the dialogue and forge valuable new relationships. Whether you’re deepening connections made earlier in the day or meeting fresh faces, this reception is the perfect capstone to an energizing day at the conference.
Deep Dive Breakfasts (operating partners only)
Thursday, 22 May, 2025
8:45 – 9:25
These discussions will focus on specific strategies in value creation and allow you to share your views and learn key insights from peers.
Women in PE Portfolio Operations Lunch Discussion (invitation-only)
Thursday, 22 May, 2025
12:30 – 13:30
This closed-door lunch discussion will explore key challenges and opportunities for women in PE portfolio operations.
Sessions designed for collaboration
Think Tanks
Put your heads together with other operating partners to examine niche areas of value creation. With crowd-sourced discussion topics, these peer-led sessions will provide personalized takeaways.
Interactive Working Groups
Hear how your peers are navigating specific value creation levers. These interactive discussions, facilitated by our expert speaking faculty, will provide a closer look at specific cross-functional topics.
Pre-Event Resources
2025 speakers
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
