CIONET

In the highly regulated and rapidly evolving world of banking, how do you maintain a competitive edge while ensuring impenetrable security? In the latest CIONET Podcast, we are joined by Krzysztof Słotwiński, Chief Security Officer at BNP Paribas Bank Polska and a CIONET 2026 Award Nominee in the Cybersecurity category. With over 20 years of experience across international financial institutions, Krzysztof is a leading voice on the intersection of innovation and resilience. Key takeaways from this episode: 🔹 Resilience by Design: How BNP Paribas integrates security into the very fabric of its digital transformation projects. 🔹 Navigating Complexity: Strategies for managing cybersecurity, business continuity, and open banking in a multi-market environment. 🔹 The Human Element: Why fostering a security-first culture is as vital as the most advanced technical defences. 🏆 Join us for the CIONET Awards 2026 Krzysztof is a finalist in the prestigious Cybersecurity category. To hear from him and our other visionary nominees—and to find out who will take home the top honours—make sure to join our online celebration. Register now for the CIONET Awards Part 2 Online Ceremony on 12th February. Connect with our global community, engage with the nominees, and be there when the winners are announced! 👉 Register your place here: https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-2 #CIONET #CyberSecurity #DigitalLeadership #FinTech #BankingInnovation #CIONETAwards #DigitalTransformation #CSO #TechLeaders

In this compelling episode of the CIONET Podcast, Daniel Eycken, Partner and COO at CIONET is joined by Major General Pierre Ciparisse, Commander of the Belgian Cyber ​​Force and a CIONET 2026 Award Nominee in the Cybersecurity category. From his background in satellite communications to leading the modernization of national defense capabilities, Pierre provides a masterclass in building a culture of "security by design." Key insights from this interview: 🔹 The New Command: Lessons from standing up a dedicated national Cyber ​​Force. 🔹 Adaptive Security Culture: Why technology alone isn't enough to mitigate modern risk. 🔹 Sovereign Capabilities: Strategies for maintaining control over digital assets and infrastructure in a globalized world. Join us for the #CIONETAwards2026 Part 2! Major General Pierre Ciparisse is a finalist in the prestigious Cybersecurity category. To hear more about his vision and the groundbreaking work of our other finalists, don't miss the official ceremony. Register now for the CIONET Awards Part 2 Online Ceremony on February 12th. Join our global community to hear from all the nominees and find out who will be crowned the winner! 👉 Register your place here: https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-2 #CIONET #CyberSecurity #DigitalLeadership #CyberForce #TechNominee #NationalSecurity #DigitalTransformation #CIONETAwards

How do you protect critical infrastructure that millions of people rely on every day? In this episode, Olga Forné, Global CISO at Abertis - who is a nominee for the CIONET Awards 2026 in the Cybersecurity category - sits down with Daniel Eycken to discuss her journey transforming cybersecurity from a fragmented, reactive function into a "nervous system" for global business resilience. Don’t miss the panel where Olga and other CIONET Awards 2026 nominees will share more about their cybersecurity journeys 👉 https://hubs.la/Q03_RQGl0! Abertis operates high-capacity roads and mobility services across Europe, the Americas, and India. Managing a complex mix of IT and OT requires more than just technical fixes—it requires a deep understanding of human culture and business risk. Make sure you watch the full conversation for key insights: 🚀 The Three Pillars: Why Governance, Operational Resilience, and Cultural Change must be sequenced for long-term success. 🚀 Alignment Without Imposition: How to build a global security community across 12 business units without relying on hierarchical authority. 🚀 IT/OT Convergence: Protecting legacy industrial systems while maintaining the continuous flow of traffic and tolling operations. 🚀 Speaking the Language of Risk: Moving executive conversations away from "vulnerabilities" and toward "business continuity." 🚀 Human-Centric Leadership: Olga’s unique approach to preventing burnout and building trust-based teams. Register for the Virtual Awards Ceremony on February 12th - powered by our partner, Splunk - to find out who wins CIONET Awards in the Cloud&Infrastructure and Cybersecurity categories 👉 https://hubs.la/Q03_RQGl0!

In our latest podcast, Laura Garrido, CTO at Ferrovial, who is as a Nominee for the CIONET Awards 2026 in the Cloud & Infrastructure category, sits down with Daniel Eycken to pull back the curtain on Ferrovial’s "Industrialized Digital Foundation"—a massive multi-year transformation that synchronized technology across 15 countries and 25,000 employees. Register for the Virtual Awards Ceremony on February 12th to find out who wins this prestigious title 👉 https://hubs.la/Q03_RQGl0! In this episode, Laura shares how her team balanced rigid compliance with the flexibility needed for innovation - from the high-stakes pressure of a NASDAQ listing to achieving a 30% reduction in data center costs. Highlights of the conversation include: - Industrialization at Scale: How the "X-rators" and "Infinity" programs unified a fragmented global footprint. - Empowering Developers: Building a framework that prioritizes autonomy without sacrificing security. - The AI Foundation: Why meticulous documentation is the secret to moving from human-in-the-loop to autonomous AI agents. - The "Best Mistake": Why shifting from total centralization to a "service flavor" model was the key to business buy-in. Don’t miss the panel on February 12th, where Laura will share more about her journey, powered by our trusted partner, Splunk 👉 https://hubs.la/Q03_RQGl0

In the next CIONET Podcast, Daniel Eycken (COO, CIONET) sits down with Francesco Ciuccarelli (Chief Innovation & Technology Officer at Alpitour World) - who is a Nominee for the CIONET Awards 2026 in the Cloud & Infrastructure category. Don’t forget to register to CIONET Awards Virtual Ceremony on February 12, to find out who wins this prestigious title 👉 https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-2! Francesco discusses his role at Alpitour World and the company's shift to a cloud-native architecture. He emphasises the importance of innovation and the successful decommissioning of a mainframe. The conversation touches on Alpitour's growth, pandemic challenges, and AI-driven solutions. Francesco shares insights on leadership, motivation, and future technologies like blockchain and quantum computing, stressing the need for business engagement in transformation efforts. Watch the full interview for a deep dive into key leadership insights!

In the latest CIONET Podcast, Daniel Eycken (COO, CIONET) sits down with Aleksander Gawroński (Head of IT Infrastructure, mBank) - who is a Nominee for the CIONET Awards 2026 in the Cloud & Infrastructure category - to discuss a transformation that turned a 25-year-old legacy landscape into a streamlined, automated, and AI-ready powerhouse. Don’t forget to register to CIONET Awards Virtual Ceremony on February 12, to find out who wins this prestigious title 👉 https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-2! Aleksander shares the "no exceptions" strategy that allowed mBank to build its own private cloud and adopt a dual-vendor public cloud policy—all while maintaining the strict security standards of a highly regulated financial institution. Watch the full interview for a deep dive into key leadership Insights: - Infrastructure as Code (IaC): At mBank, IaC isn't just a tool; it's a discipline. No system enters the cloud without meeting this quality gate. - The "Build vs. Buy" Culture: With 90% of their software built in-house, mBank chose to build its own Kubernetes-based private cloud to maintain full control and elasticity. - Operational Resilience: Why a dual-vendor strategy is essential for cost negotiation and mitigating geopolitical risks. - Leading by Example: Why Aleksander was the first person in the organization to get cloud-certified. - The "Best Mistake": Lessons learned from underestimating the cultural shift required for such a massive technological leap. As Aleksander puts it: "Build the foundations right, or your life will be a constant nightmare of running legacy." Don’t forget to register to CIONET Awards Virtual Ceremony to find out who wins this prestigious title 👉 https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-2!

In this episode of the CIONET Podcast, Daniel Eycken - Partner & COO at CIONET - sits down with Stefan Latuski, the CIO of the German Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) and CEO of its IT-Systemhaus, who is a Nominee for the CIONET Awards 2026 in the Cloud & Infrastructure category! Register here to find out who wins this prestigious title 👉 https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-2! Managing one of Europe’s largest public institutions with over 113,000 employees, Stefan shares the "brave" journey of moving a massive legacy infrastructure into a cutting-edge multi-cloud broker platform. Learn how the agency is tackling a demographic change (losing 35% of its workforce to retirement) by leveraging automation, generative AI, and a groundbreaking cloud strategy that sets a new standard for digital sovereignty in Europe. In this episode, Stefan explains why delivering a multi-cloud broker platform in under 12 months required more courage than code. By ignoring the "naysayers" and focusing on a clear vision, they built Germany’s first sovereign cloud framework involving seven different providers. Don’t miss the panel where Stefan will share more about his journey, powered by our trusted partner, Splunk 👉 https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-2!

In the latest episode of the CIONET Podcast, Daniel Eycken, Partner and COO of CIONET sat down with Paul Mukherjee, CTO at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). As a CIONET 2026 Award Nominee for Cloud & Infrastructure, Paul shares his transition from the private sector to driving large-scale innovation in the public sector. Key themes explored in this episode: 🔹 Strategic AI: Moving beyond the hype to implement a real-world, scalable AI strategy. 🔹 Infrastructure Modernisation: Lessons in building agility and resilience through cloud adoption. 🔹 Future-Proof Leadership: Why leading in 2026 requires a focus on both technological courage and organisational culture. Join us for the CIONET Awards 2026 Want to see the results? Paul is one of the standout nominees being recognised for his impact on the digital landscape. Register now for the CIONET Awards Part 2 Online Ceremony on February 12th. Join our global community to hear from all the nominees and find out who will be crowned the winner in the Cybersecurity and Cloud & Infrastructure categories! 👉 Register your place here: https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-2 #CIONET #DigitalLeadership #CTO #GovTech #CloudStrategy #AI #CIONETAwards #DigitalTransformation #UKTech

In this episode of the CIONET Podcast, Hendrik Deckers interviews, Gunter Van Craen, CDIO at Bekaert, the nominee in the Applications & Architecture category during the #CIONETAwards2026 . Register here to find out who wins this prestigious title: https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-1! A highly accomplished C-level executive, Gunter has built a distinguished international career leading complex, high-stakes digital transformations. With senior leadership roles across Manufacturing & Distribution, Healthcare, Consumer Goods, and Banking, he has repeatedly delivered measurable business value in environments marked by turnarounds, growth acceleration, and greenfield innovation. During the interview Gunter talks about Bekaert's five-year digital transformation, evolving from basic IT to a modern architecture focused on business outcomes and customer engagement. The company modernises its manufacturing systems across 75 factories, enhancing efficiency and data-driven decision-making. The transformation includes integrating AI, data architecture, and cybersecurity while fostering a culture of collaboration. Key insights emphasise trust, knowledge management, and the changing role of CIOs in navigating new market

In this episode of the CIONET Podcast, Hendrik Deckers interviews, Raul Jimenez, Head of Data, AI & Integration Platforms at Sika, the nominee in the Data & AI category during the #CIONETAwards2026. Register here to find out who wins this prestigious title: https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-1! Raul’s CV is seriously impressive, boasting over two decades of international experience. He's been at the helm, steering digital transformation, innovation, and technology strategy across a wide range of industries globally. From being knee-deep in software engineering to project leadership and executive advising, he’s seen the whole picture. Crucially, he’s recognised for building and successfully scaling complex enterprise platforms. His focus is spot on: embracing federated models, leveraging emerging technologies, and, most importantly, making sure everything is tightly aligned with the business strategy. Raul doesn't just manage technology; he cleverly bridges technical expertise with strategic vision, turning big, innovative ideas into real, lasting organisational impact. Sika transforms its data and AI governance by centralising initiatives and establishing core platforms for data, AI, and integration. The organisation addresses connectivity issues, builds a data platform, and implements an AI governance framework. It shifts from project-based to product-based management, focusing on foundational data and processes. The future vision includes a cognitive enterprise system that leverages AI across all functions, ensuring competitiveness in the digital landscape.

In this episode of the CIONET Podcast, Hendrik Deckers interviews, Carla Milovanov, the Group CIO at Landal, the nominee in the Applications & Architecture category during the #CIONETAwards2026 powered by Splunk. Register here to find out who wins this prestigious title: 👉 https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-1! Carla Milovanov shares her experiences in integrating two holiday park brands. She discusses the challenges of cultural integration, the need for a unified architecture, and the role of technology in enhancing customer experience. The conversation covers the importance of governance, stakeholder management, and strategic decision-making in managing large-scale transformations, while also addressing the impact of digital transformation and AI in the hospitality industry. Don’t miss the panel where Carla will share her accomplishments!

Watch the newest episode of the CIONET Podcast, where Claudio Balbo, Senior Director and Head of IT Architecture at Intesa Sanpaolo, discusses one of the most ambitious core banking transformations in Europe. Claudio is a Nominee in the Applications & Architecture category and a speaker at CIONET Awards: Part 1 on 9 December 2025 at 15:00 CET. Save your seat now to find out who wins this prestigious title 👉 https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-1 In this episode, Claudio shares his journey in tech and his pivotal role in designing and implementing isytech – a cloud-native core banking platform that is revolutionizing the way Intesa Sanpaolo operates. Watch the full episode to find out more about: 🔹 Cloud-Native Core Banking: The strategic shift from legacy systems to modern, scalable cloud solutions. 🔹 AI Adoption: How AI is becoming a critical part of the transformation, driving productivity and enhancing system capabilities. 🔹 Leadership in Large-Scale Digital Transformations: Insights on leading teams, managing change, and balancing innovation with feasibility. 🔹 Building the IT Future: How the bank is future-proofing its infrastructure, ensuring long-term sustainability. Claudio emphasizes the importance of strategic thinking, team empowerment, and consistency in execution to successfully navigate digital transformations. Secure your spot to discover who will win the CIONET Awards 2026 — and hear from Claudio and other Europe’s top digital leaders at CIONET Awards Part 1, powered by our partner Splunk 👉 https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-1

In this episode of the CIONET Podcast, Hendrik Deckers interviews Angélique Bidault-Verliac, the Chief Data & Performance Officer at SNCF Connect & Tech, the nominee in the Data & AI category during the #CIONETAwards2026. Register here to find out who wins this prestigious title: https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-1! Angélique is the force behind the evolution of SNCF Connect & Tech from its strong digital foundation to becoming a data-driven and AI-augmented organisation. This transformation powers the SNCF Connect platform, which is used daily by millions of people in France. Angélique's work spans critical areas including customer data, performance management, and AI innovation, driving significant business impact. Angélique shares her career journey, which is rooted in a core conviction: data must be used to solve an issue or fix something important, not collected merely for pleasure5. This problem-solving approach is central to her belief that data should help people make better decisions. The conversation spotlights two major, impact-driven applications her team delivered: - My Retrainspective: This initiative, which began as an internal hackathon, provided customers with a "year-in-journey" retrospective. It compared the kilometres travelled by train to the CO2 emissions saved versus driving. The result was phenomenal, with over 5.6 million visits in one day, showcasing its high customer engagement and reputational return. - The Full Train Alert: Developed to address customer frustration over full trains, this feature allows users to subscribe to an alert for when a seat becomes available. The project was a great success, boosting client satisfaction, with one in two subscribers later booking a train. - She concludes by identifying the next big challenge as moving from mass segmentation to true one-to-one personalisation using AI, a goal that places even higher demands on data quality. She also stresses the ongoing need to challenge and test the output of AI tools to ensure accuracy and responsibility. Don't miss this inspiring talk about driving transformative change in the heart of French mobility!

In this episode, Hendrik Deckers sits down with Rajat Dhawan, Group Chief Digital & Technology Officer at Soho House, who is a nominee for the CIONET Awards 2026 in the Data & AI category. Register here to find out who wins this prestigious title 👉 https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-1! Together, they explore how Soho House - one of the world’s most iconic hospitality brands - transformed into a data-driven, AI-powered global leader — without losing its uniquely human, high-touch identity. Over his six-year journey, Rajat has led a wholesale cultural, digital, and technological transformation, modernising over 300 legacy systems, building a world-class data and AI capability, and reshaping how Soho House understands, engages, and serves its 200,000+ members worldwide. Don’t forget to join the online Awards Ceremony that we’re organising together with our partner - Splunk - where Rajat will talk more about this impressive journey https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-1!

In this episode of the CIONET Podcast, Hendrik Deckers interviews Hanna Huber, CTO of Flix Tech, who is a nominee for the CIONET Awards 2026 (Applications & Architecture). Register here to find out who wins this prestigious title: https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-1! Hanna Huber, CTO of Flix Tech, shares her career journey and the transformation at Flix, which operates in 44 countries. She discusses the need for a new tech operating model to support business growth and the importance of managing tech costs. Hannah emphasizes collaboration with tech teams and business units, the value of visual communication, and the significance of understanding complexities in leadership. She also identifies future challenges and offers advice for leaders. Don’t miss the panel where Hanna will share her accomplishments: https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-1!

In this episode of the CIONET Podcast, Hendrik Deckers interviews Giuseppe Ficara, Senior Director and Global Head of Data and AI at Amplifon in Milano, Italy, the nominee in the Data & AI category. Register here to find out who wins this prestigious title 👉 https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-1! Giuseppe is leading a transformative data and AI initiative at Amplifon, a global leader in hearing care with over 20,000 employees. Giuseppe shares the story of how Amplifon moved past foundational data challenges following a complex cloud migration to spearhead a critical AI-driven phase of data governance. The company faced a deficit in internal knowledge after integrating 16 different data platforms over four years. He explains that the transformation was essential to transition Amplifon from a reactive to a proactive data governance model. Giuseppe emphasises the dramatic results of their AI-first approach, including a 90% reduction in the effort and cost of the data governance program by leveraging AI for the 'back office' definition work and asking human stakeholders only to review the output. Their efforts also led to a 15% reduction in cloud spending for the data ecosystem by optimizing data pipelines. Throughout the conversation, Giuseppe reveals how Amplifon prioritised the engagement of the final stakeholder to successfully build the new capability. He discusses the three core objectives: reducing technical debt, internalising knowledge, and changing the data governance approach. He further explains how setting up the AI ​​platform and architecture has created a long-term capability for scaling AI responsibly in compliance with regulations like the AI ​​Act. Don’t miss the panel where Giuseppe will share more about his AI journey, powered by our trusted partner, Splunk 👉  https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-1!

In this episode of the CIONET Podcast, Hendrik Deckers interviews Jesús Oliva, Head of Data & AI at Moeve, who is a nominee for the CIONET Awards 2026 in the Data & AI category. Register here to find out who wins this prestigious title 👉 https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-1! Jesús shares the story of how he took Moeve from foundational data challenges to leading the way in industrial AI implementation, delivering tens of millions in value. He emphasizes the importance of value over volume in AI projects and shares how his team proved that AI could drive tangible business results, including a 300% ROI from their first pilot. Throughout the conversation, Jesús reveals how Moeve prioritized data democratization and AI accessibility to create a data-driven culture across the organization. He discusses the three pillars that guided the transformation: building robust data foundations, democratizing data access, and demonstrating tangible business value through AI. Jesús also dives into the modular approach that underpins Moeve’s AI strategy, stressing how modularity in AI development ensures scalability and sustainability across projects. He further explains how Moeve’s responsible AI practices, coupled with their AI governance framework, have ensured the company’s AI initiatives are ethical and effective at scale. Don’t miss the panel where Jesús will share more about his AI journey, powered by our trusted partner, Splunk 👉 https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-1!

In this episode of the CIONET Podcast, Hendrik Deckers interviews Radosław Maćkiewicz, CEO of COI – Polish Centre for Information Technology, who is a nominee for the CIONET Awards 2026 (Applications & Architecture). Register here to find out who wins this prestigious title: https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-1! Radosław unpacks Poland’s public-sector digital transformation—most visibly mObywatel (mCitizen), the national digital wallet and reflects on how COI: - Reorganized ~700 engineers into 46 cross-functional product teams - Shifted decisively to Agile with clear KPIs and product ownership - Elevated delivery quality using DORA metrics (and dramatically improved time to restore) - Boosted NPS from ~20 to 47 and raised app store ratings via continuous citizen feedback - Built API-first platforms and a reusable design system aligned with eIDAS 2.0 - Drove adoption to ~11M mObywatel users with an ambition of 20M by 2035 Beyond tech, Radosław highlights the human side: emotional engagement, trust, and empowerment as the foundation for change—plus the importance of investing in the Product Owner role to keep ministries, market feedback, roadmaps, and support aligned. Don’t miss the panel where Radosław will share his accomplishments: https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-1! #CIONET #CIONETAwards #CIONETAwards2026 #DigitalLeadership #CIO #CDO #CTO #CXO #Data #AI #Applications #Architecture #CIOCommunity

This February, CIONET hosted CIONEXT | Mastering Complexity, powered by Hitachi Vantara. We’re thrilled to present a new episode of our #LeadershipDeepDive series, featuring Kalman Tiboldi, CTO and Founder at GemOne–TVH. In this insightful conversation, Hendrik Deckers explores why mastering technological complexity is essential to future-proofing businesses. Kalman shares how TVH is transitioning away from legacy systems toward a capability-based architecture, built on a composite model that focuses internal development on core differentiating systems. He emphasizes the importance of simplification—untangling legacy “spaghetti” architectures and removing unnecessary layers. Data, he says, must be treated as a strategic asset: governed centrally and managed via data fabric and virtualization to ensure AI readiness without duplicating datasets. On the infrastructure side, TVH is executing a cloud-first strategy, gradually moving toward full cloud adoption while currently operating in a hybrid environment. For Kalman, AI is not the destination, but a tool—used to improve decision-making, boost productivity, and turn static manuals into intelligent knowledge sources. Looking ahead, he envisions AI agents automating business logic and enabling autonomous enterprises, while preserving the unique role of human intuition. Curious to learn more? Watch the full interview now!

#CIONEXT | The End of IT Leadership? is around the corner! Watch the full #LeadershipDeepDive interview with Sharon Prior who will be our panellist on April 3rd at 15:00 CET. Don’t forget to register 👉 www.cionext.com/21! In this episode, Hendrik Deckers discusses with Sharon how today’s CIOs must act as strategic business enablers rather than just technical experts. The traditional IT silo has given way to "fusion teams" — cross-functional groups where IT and business co-create solutions. Sharon highlights that the modern CIO must prioritize business outcomes, such as revenue growth and customer experience, over technology itself. She advocates for enterprise architecture and long-term roadmapping as essential foundations for agile and continuous delivery. A strong proponent of data governance, Sharon warns against fragmented data ownership and insists that business functions—not IT—must be accountable for the quality and clarity of their own data. Sharon also underscores the importance of education and governance in the AI era. She encourages building AI governance boards and setting clear guardrails to empower business users while maintaining control. What skills are essential for modern IT leaders? How can IT leaders balance long-term strategy with agile delivery in a fast-paced tech landscape? Watch the full interview to find out!