EVENT

The Age of A.I.: Innovating Business and Society

In an era of unprecedented technological acceleration, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as the most powerful force reshaping our world. We are living through a paradigm shift where AI is not merely a promising technology — it is the engine driving a global transformation.

From strategic decisions in boardrooms to the precision of factory floors, from safeguarding national security to enhancing everyday life, AI is disrupting, redefining, and revolutionizing every facet of human endeavour. This is more than a technological leap — it’s a fundamental change in how we innovate, operate, and envision the future of our interconnected world.

We stand at the threshold of an intelligence revolution with profound implications for every industry, every community, and every individual.

Key Themes

  • AI in Finance, Banking & Risk Management – From algorithmic trading to personalized banking and advanced risk strategies.
  • AI in Critical Infrastructure & Energy – Enhancing resilience, efficiency, and sustainability in vital systems.
  • Generative AI for the Enterprise – Driving creativity, content creation, and operational efficiency.
  • AI Infrastructure, Platforms & Cloud Ecosystems – Building the foundation for scalable AI innovation.
  • AI-Enhanced Cybersecurity & Digital Trust – Using AI as both a shield and a sword in cyber defense.
  • AI & the Future of Work – Preparing for new skills, roles, and collaboration models.
  • Strategic Vision & AI in the Boardroom – Integrating AI into core business strategy for competitive advantage.
  • AI Innovation & Startups: The Next Tech Disruptors – Spotlight on AI-native startups, open-source AI, foundation models, and next-gen VC trends in CEE.

Who Should Attend

CIOs, CTOs, AI professionals, IT managers, CISOs, compliance leaders, AI risk managers, and business executives determined to lead their organizations through the AI and quantum-powered future.

Event Details

Date: October 22, 2025
Location: National Bank of Romania, Bucharest
Format: By invitation only – Request an invitation.

This conference is your guide to understanding, harnessing, and leading in the AI era. Secure your invitation and be part of shaping the future of business, technology, and society.

AGENDA


0900 - 0945

Registration & Welcome Coffee

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0945 - 0955

Opening speech

Moderator: Yugo Neumorni, CIO Council President

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0955 - 1010

Title Session: AI FACTORY in Romania

Speaker: Victor Vevera, General Director, ICI Bucharest

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1010 - 1030

Title Session: Dell AI – Transform Ideas into Outcomes- Faster.

Synopsys: CxOs are under pressure to turn AI ambition into measurable impact, and the path forward starts with Enterprise AI—applying AI to the most critical processes in your organization to unlock productivity and sharpen competitive advantage.

In this session, we explore how the Dell AI Factory provides a pragmatic blueprint to get there: a strong data foundation, accelerated AI infrastructure, an open software ecosystem, and tailored services working together to deliver repeatable, secure, and scalable outcomes.

Speaker: Dan Bogdan, ISG Technology Consulting Manager, Dell Technologies

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1030 - 1050

Title Session: Workspace IT security and AI impact.

Synopsys: As digital transformation accelerates, securing the workspace in the age of AI becomes paramount. For IT managers, the challenge is how to enable innovation, without compromising security. Canon, as a trusted technology supplier, recognizes the dual challenge facing organizations: safeguarding data while harnessing the power of AI. Modern workspaces are increasingly hybrid, mobile, and data-driven—making endpoint security, secure document workflows, and access control critical. Intelligent solutions, from secure multifunction devices to cloud-integrated platforms, are designed to protect sensitive information across the entire document lifecycle. At the same time, AI is reshaping how organizations manage data, automate processes, and detect threats. Canon integrates AI-driven analytics to enhance operational efficiency and proactively identify vulnerabilities, with secure, scalable, and smart technologies, tailored to the evolving needs of Romanian enterprises and public institutions.

Speaker: Petronius Secareanu, General Manager, Canon Romania

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1050 - 1135

Panel 1: AI in Finance: From Disruption to Reinvention

Synopsys: The financial sector is undergoing a seismic shift, driven by the rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence. This panel explores how banks, fintechs, and financial institutions are leveraging AI to enhance fraud detection, automate credit risk, personalize customer experience, and streamline regulatory compliance. As AI becomes core to financial operations and strategy, how do institutions balance innovation with trust, security, and ethical responsibility?

Key Themes:

  • AI for fraud detection, credit scoring, and AML
  • Chatbots, personalization, and intelligent customer service
  • Regulatory compliance and AI governance
  • The future of fintech and traditional banking collaboration
  • AI in financial forecasting and algorithmic trading

Speakers: 

  • George Kalatzantonakis-Jullien, AI & Data Analytics Solution Manager Austriacard Holdings
  • Dan Bogdan, ISG Technology Consulting Manager, Dell Technologies
  • George Lazar, VP, Program Manager, Deutsche Bank, CIO Council member
  • Gabriel Herbei, CTO, First Bank, CIO Council Member
  • Daniel Calin, CIO CEC Bank, CIO Council Member

Moderator: Calin Rangu, Vicepresident, CIO Council

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1135 - 1155

Coffee Break 

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1155 - 1215

Title Session: Galaxy AI ​for Business

Synopsys: Mobile devices in AI environment empowering businesses to do more with less time and effort, by leveraging powerful AI in a secure ecosystem.

Speaker: Ion Zamfir, Samsung

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1215 - 1235

Title Session: Rezoomi: The AI-Powered Solution for Zero Bias Recruitment

Synopsys: Recruiters and hiring managers face a constant balancing act: processing candidates efficiently while ensuring fairness and compliance. This session will introduce Rezoomi, a platform designed to standardize candidate information, generate actionable shortlists, and support bias free decision-making, all while keeping humans in control. Learn how these features can make recruitment more consistent, transparent, and effective. Behind the scenes, Rezoomi combines AI and intelligent automation to standardize CVs, extract key features, and build an easy to navigate candidate database. A custom matching algorithm then aggregates AI-driven semantic interpretations with fully explainable techniques, such as Jaccard binary similarity, to identify the best candidates for each role. Attendees will see how these technical capabilities translate into practical benefits: more consistent evaluations, faster shortlisting, and improved decision-making in recruitment across Europe

Speaker: Andrei Georgescu - Digital Transformation Center Director, Stefanini

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1235 - 1320

Panel 2: AI in the Boardroom: CxO Strategic Leadership

AI is no longer a technology issue — it’s a board-level imperative. In this high-level CxO debate, we explore how top executives are integrating AI into strategy, governance, and organizational culture. How should boards and executive teams approach AI adoption, risk management, and value creation? What new leadership models are emerging in the age of machine intelligence?

Key Themes:

  • AI as a strategic enabler: vision, risk, and opportunity
  • Governance models for responsible AI
  • The evolving role of CIOs, CFOs, and CEOs in an AI-first world
  • Aligning digital transformation with business outcomes
  • Board-level literacy in AI and emerging technologies
  • Balancing innovation with regulatory and ethical accountability
  • Building an AI-ready organizational culture and workforce

Speakers: 

  • Bogdan Georgescu, Enterprise Sales Representative, Google Cloud
  • Aurelia Costache, Partner, AI & Data Leader, EY
  • Cristian Cucu, CIO Council Member
  • Oana Eremia, CIO MagnaPharm Group, CIO Council member 
  • Florina-Mondana Neag, IS Manager, EON Romania, CIO Council member

Moderator: Andreea Ioniță, Digital & Innovation Director CEE, CRH, CIO Council Member

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1320 - 1405

Networking Lunch  

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1405 - 1425

Title Session: Red Hat AI: Accelerating Business Momentum from Day One

Synopsys: .

Speaker: Andrzej Kowalczyk: CEE Principal Solution Architect, Red Hat

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1425 - 1510

Panel 3: “The AI-Driven Enterprise: From Production Lines to Smart Retail"

Artificial Intelligence is transforming how industries operate — from factory floors to supermarket shelves, from energy grids to global supply chains. This panel will explore how AI is driving value in manufacturing, energy, retail, FMCG, logistics, and utilities. Whether through predictive analytics, intelligent automation, demand forecasting, or personalization, AI is enabling faster decisions, greater efficiency, and entirely new business models.

Executives and industry leaders will share how they are embedding AI into their operational DNA, overcoming data and talent challenges, and staying competitive in a rapidly evolving digital economy

Key Themes:

  • AI in manufacturing: predictive maintenance, quality control, process optimization
  • Smart energy and utilities: grid forecasting, energy efficiency, infrastructure resilience
  • AI in retail & FMCG: personalized marketing, inventory optimization, demand prediction
  • Logistics & supply chains: real-time routing, warehouse automation, AI for procurement
  • Industry-wide challenges: scaling AI, data governance, workforce adaptation
  • Computer vision and robotics in physical operations
  • AI for sustainability: energy optimization, waste reduction, and ESG reporting

Speakers: 

  • Gabriela Stanica, Chief Information, Data Officer and E-commerce Director, Carrefour Romania, CIO Council Member
  • Petronius Secareanu, General Manager, Canon Romania
  • Cosmin Pascu, Customer Engineer, Google Cloud
  • Ion Ionuț Georgian, Head of IT, OMV Petrom Global Solutions

Moderator: Laurentiu Mandu, Board Member, CIO Council 

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1510 - 1530

Title Session: Grower Selector - Sell the Pile!

Synopsys: "Identify geographies, where the products show good performance and drive sales by selecting the right Growers in those geographies".

Speaker: Dragoș Stănescu, CIO Syngenta, CIO Council Member

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1530 - 1550

Title Session: 5 Years of AI Lessons from the Trenches

Synopsys:  An honest account of what actually works in AI beyond ChatGPT, when delivery is what matters. I distill experiments, failures and real wins into clear guidance: how to choose which problems to tackle today and avoid the hype, focus on the processes and metrics that count and how to calibrate expectations correctly.

A pragmatic playbook for companies seeking measurable impact.

Speaker: Bogdan Tudor, Board Member, CIO Council

Watch video here.

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1550 - 1630

Panel 4: AI Innovation & Startups — The Next Tech Disruptors

Artificial Intelligence is not just transforming industries — it’s creating them. AI-native startups are emerging at record speed, leveraging data, automation, and generative technologies to redefine how products are built, decisions are made, and markets evolve. This panel will showcase how AI acts as the ultimate startup accelerator — lowering barriers to entry, enabling rapid experimentation, and scaling innovation faster than ever before. Visionary founders and investors will discuss the tools, technologies, and mindsets driving the next generation of disruptors.

Key Themes:

  • How AI empowers founders to build faster, smarter, and leaner startups
  • Generative AI as a co-founder: product ideation, design, and go-to-market acceleration
  • AI-driven automation in R&D, customer engagement, and business operations
  • From data to differentiation: leveraging AI for competitive advantage
  • The rise of AI toolchains, open-source models, and APIs fueling new business creation
  • Rethinking venture capital in the age of AI-first entrepreneurship

Speakers: 

  • Catalin Popescu, CIO Council member
  • Andrei Brad, CEO, VerbalEaze, , former Head of AI Products at Rolls-Royce
  • Bogdan Patriniche, Founder & CEO at Lexivision Ltd.
  • Andrei Pitis, Founder & CEO at Genezio

Moderator: Yugo Neumorni, Presedinte, CIO Council

Watch video here. 

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1630 - 1650

CIO Council Awards ceremony

Lead by: Steliana Moraru, Community Manager, CIO Council

imagine

 

SPEAKERS

MODERATORS

PARTNERS

REGISTRATION for The Age of A.I.: Innovating Business and Society

The CIO Council National Conference is an exclusive, by-invitation-only gathering, designed for senior IT professionals, C-level executives, and decision-makers from leading organizations. To ensure a high-value experience for all participants, attendance is reserved for “end-user” professionals—we do not accept vendor or sales representatives unless part of the official sponsorship program.

Participation is strictly limited and registrations will be reviewed to ensure alignment with the event’s audience profile. We encourage you to request your invitation early to secure your place.

Your personal data will be processed in full compliance with applicable data protection laws and will be used solely for the purpose of managing your participation in this event.





Location:

Bucharest
Palatul BNR, Lipscani 25

Supporting Partners:
Partners: