ABOUT
THE EVENT
ABSL invites you to the 11th Annual Conference, the largest event for Romanian Business Services Industry that brings together more than 600 professionals keen to find answers to current concerns, discover the latest trends for a new era of business, and network.
Since our last conference Generative AI has caused quite a buzz across the world due to the increasing popularity of programs like OpenAI’s ChatGPT to produce content, including marketing and sales emails, product descriptions, web content, social media posts, automated responses to customer, and so much more, within seconds.
AI is the future for some companies but may just be a buzzword for others. There’s no question artificial intelligence will change the world, as companies of all sizes are relying more heavily on data to make strategic decisions. AI technology is undoubtedly one of the core pillars of this digital transformation. It is rapidly making its way into processes across industries, driving organizational change and technological developments. Few would argue that AI won’t directly change how we live and do business, though the extent remains unknown.
The conversation about AI and the workplace is understandably dominated by the downsides – after decades of automation eliminating manufacturing jobs, people in the service sector are wondering how their jobs will be affected. For sure every technological shift creates as well as destroys jobs. Artificial intelligence – at least in its current iteration, which uses large language datasets to create text, audio, and video – is no different. What is, perhaps, interesting is the type of jobs it will create.
However, AI also presents challenges. From bias in machine learning used for sentencing algorithms, to misinformation, irresponsible development and deployment of AI systems poses the risk of great harm. How can we navigate these incredibly complex issues to ensure AI technology serves our society and not the other way around? If developed responsibly, AI can be a powerful tool to help deliver a better, more equitable future for all societies.
If AI proves to be more than this year buzzword, it is important to discuss how intelligent technologies can pave the way to a responsible business innovation and transformation, and how we can foster an ecosystem where innovation and scientific acceleration can benefit people, providing outcome-driven frameworks for companies to work within.
Join us in finding out what AI will practically mean for the business services industry, what areas will be the most impacted by it, how it will transform existing business models and relations with clients, and how our companies can use these tools or technological developments to attract more business.
Conference presentations
Plenary Session
Technology
Agenda
- 8:00 - 9:00
REGISTRATION & WELCOME COFFEE
- 9:00 -10:05
PLENARY SESSION
Conference Opening
Colin Lovering
ABSL 11th Annual Conference Moderator
Welcome Remarks
Ciprian Dan
President of ABSL
In the collaborative report released by ABSL and PwC, we analyse the Romanian business services sector, examining its primary prospects and challenges. The focus is primarily on the evolution of the industry, labour market, salary and benefits structures, and the office space market.
Francesca Postolache
Partner, PwC
Bogdana Buhos
Assurance Director, PwC
Oana Munteanu
Director People & Organisation, PwC
Explore the symbiotic relationship between man and machine in ‘Keeping Humans in the Loop,’ a keynote that delves into the essential role of human creativity and intuition in an increasingly automated workplace. Discover how businesses can achieve a harmonious balance for greater innovation and ethical decision-making.
Sorin Popescu
Vice President Transformation, Genpact
Paul Soare
Vice President Operations, Genpact
- 10:05 -11:05
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Ben Hodges
Reshaping Europe. How We Can Protect Our Democracy and Ensure Our Prosperity
General Ben Hodges will tackle the perils faced by the democratic world, during the tensest moments since the fall of communist regimes and the Soviet Union. Building on his military experience, he will analyze the main security challenges in the Black Sea Region, situated at the forefront of the biggest geopolitical struggle since 1945. In doing so, General Ben Hodges will seek to contextualize the biggest questions surrounding the topic. What impact do these challenges have on the global economy, on supply chains, connectivity, and mobility? What is the impact of disruptive technologies and lessons learned so far? How will artificial intelligence influence strategic thinking and leadership?
- 11:05 - 11:25
COFFEE BREAK
- 11:25 -12:35
PLENARY SESSION
Maturing the operating model and venturing into new ways of delivering strategic business value, by developing people’s capabilities and leveraging on new technologies
Cristina Dobrescu
Head of Retail operations & KYC, Societe Generale Global Solution Centre
An insightful session that delves into the transformative world of modern workplaces. The office of the future, or perhaps more fittingly, the office of future for now, is undergoing a revolutionary shift. We will explore together the evolving landscape of workspaces, encompassing their layouts, implications and adaptability to different buildings. We will also examine the changing requirements for offices over time, emphasizing the key criteria to maintain a healthy and productive hybrid workplace in this dynamic era. We’ll look the evolution of office tools and instruments over the past decade and discuss their potential future changes.
We aim to provide you with valuable insights into how office layouts have transformed in the last two years, showcasing the agility and resilience of modern workplaces in the face of unforeseen challenges. Join us as we navigate this exciting journey into the future of workspaces, where AI plays a pivotal role in reshaping the very fabric of how we work and collaborate.
Maria Florea
Head of Office Advisory, iO Partners
The presentation will provide insights regarding AI liability when it comes to GDPR enforcement and it will navigate the nuances of data subjects’ consent and the predictions regarding the differences between human decision and AI decision in the GDPR context.
Alexandra Pintilie
Manager - Legal & Compliance, Booking Holdings Romania
The presentation will go through what is the landscape of evolving technologies within the context of ongoing digital transformation and technology adoption among members of the largest international accountancy body. The speaker will choose one of them, AI, to discuss it in greater depth to understand member attitudes, potential uses, and considerations around the adaptation of existing practices. Last but not least it will consider new opportunities as well as how competencies and skills might be enhanced to enable wider adoption of AI and machine learning capabilities.
Andreia Stanciu
Head of ACCA - Southern Europe
The technology underpinning ChatGPT will undeniably change work and reinvent business. Everything from science to business to society itself will be transformed. Companies will have countless ways to apply generative AI to maximize efficiency and drive competitive advantage, while responding and anticipating how the new generations will consume information. In this session we’ll showcase Accenture’s perspective on GenAI and concrete steps on how companies can embrace it as a game changer, boosting human creativity and productivity.
Valentin Iordache
Managing Director for CIO Organization in LATAM and EMEA, Accenture
- 12:35 -13:35
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Ian Goldin
Humanity at Crossroads
Professor Ian Goldin will identify the major forces shaping the future of companies, countries, and individuals. Drawing on the latest work at Oxford University, he will outline how the latest developments in artificial intelligence will transform work and businesses, and how the combination of economic, political, demographic, technological and environmental factors is reshaping globalisation and supply chains with an impact on all our futures. He will also cover the future of globalisation in the light of the new geopolitical events with a focus on Europe, China, and the US.
- 13:35 - 14:35
LUNCH
- 14:35 -16:45
PLENARY SESSION
There are nearly 8 billion people in the world. Yet for decades workplace design has focused on standards — giving everyone the same accommodations. Offices with rows and rows of desk, chair, monitor combinations strive for equality. But this assumes everyone works in the same way, at the same time, in the same place. That’s simply not true. Hybrid work is just the latest example of how people desire more choice and control over their work experience.
Inclusive design is not a destination or an outcome — it’s a process. Done well, inclusive design is baked into an organization’s culture, process, and place. It invites people in, gives them a voice and provides them with agency to participate. While most organizations agree they want to create more inclusive workplaces, many do not have a shared understanding of what that means or how to begin. Explore with us how to create an inclusive and equitable work experience anywhere work happens.
Ilinca Popescu
Sales Director for Central, Eastern & Northern Europe, Steelcase
A new report co-authored by Skanska suggests that tweaks to workplace design could improve working environments for both ‘neuroatypical’ and ‘neurotypical’ people alike.
Join us in a conversation about how to create neuro-inclusive workspaces.
Bartłomiej Budnicki
Strategy & Insights Advisor | D&I Lead, Skanska
This presentation is focused on providing an overview of how AI is disrupting jobs and the labour market, the major trends to keep an eye on in the coming years, as well as the key skills individuals will need to develop in order to not only remain relevant in the job market but thrive in the future of work.
David Timis
Global Communications Manager, Generation
In today’s rapidly evolving world, artificial intelligence (AI) is making remarkable strides, transforming various industries, and shaping the way we work. While AI offers numerous benefits and advancements, it is crucial to recognize the impact it has on employee wellbeing and health. Prioritizing the wellbeing of workers becomes even more essential as AI continues to influence and streamline processes across various sectors. This presentation explores the Health State of the Nation and what companies could do to focus on employee wellbeing and health.
*AI generated description
Georgiana Andrei
Sales Director – Subscriptions Division, Reteaua de Sanatate REGINA MARIA
Does AI have an impact in law?
We will explore how AI is reshaping the legal landscape, equipping lawyers and paralegals with tools to prioritize clients like never before. But it doesn’t stop there – we’ll also delve into the ethical challenges, especially the risk of bias in AI algorithms, when AI meets the world of prosecutors and judges.
Can AI operate without legal blessings?
Discover how the European Union is taking a digital leap by regulating artificial intelligence. Learn about the EU’s vision for secure, transparent, non-discriminatory, and eco-friendly AI systems.
Cătălin Micu
Partner, Zamfirescu Racoți Vasile & Partners
- 16:45 - 17:00
COFFEE BREAK
- 17:00 -18:15
BREAKOUT SESSION HR
In this session we will provide insights into harnessing the power of AI and machine learning for everyday know-how transfer. ABSL Romania members will discover how these technologies can drive growth and improve efficiency in their organizations.
The presentation will touch upon several key topics:
- Leveraging AI and Machine Learning for generating valuable content for any type of knowledge need. We will gain insights into how predictive modelling can optimise knowledge extraction and transfer across departments and teams.
- Practical Application: This segment will showcase real examples of how AI and machine learning are already revolutionizing know-how transfer across our industry. Participants will discover how they can use these technologies to enhance processes, customer experience, and business outcomes.
Sorin Paun
Partner, Code of Talent
Work is highly taxed. There are several exemptions to the general taxation rule that not only generate savings but can also positively impact attraction and retention rates. Change is not immediately embraced by employees and neither by employers. However, when it benefits both sides, why not? From a tax perspective, solutions such as increasing the percentage of benefits in kind within the remuneration packages, implementing a stock-options plan and identifying potential R&D exemption are few of the solutions that could help employers and employees overcome the impact of the increasing salary costs. Change comes with challenges but is this a solid enough reason to not act?
A discussion on the impact of such solutions in net wages and how to tackle the obstacles the employers might experience in implementation.
Monica Tariuc
Director | Global Employer Services, Deloitte Romania
Expectations of work have changed. The first HP Work Relationship Index shows majority of people worldwide have an unhealthy relationship with work.
As businesses navigate the changing world of work, the findings show a definitive view of our relationship with work today, across multiple vectors. Based on a global study of business leaders, knowledge workers and IT decision-makers, the Work Relationship Index identifies six primary drivers of a healthy relationship with work – and how to improve that health over time.
Raluca Gadiuta
Romania HR Leader, HP Inc
We will highlight on how to elevate employee experience in time of change centred on some quick concepts and tools to help organisations RE-Think Organizational Culture, RE-Design Work and RE-Empower Workforce combined with some examples on how companies must Tango a perfect calibration of PEOPLE and AI.
Maria Boldor
Principal, Horváth
Ruxandra Gaita
Senior Expert in Global Business Services, Horváth
In today’s fast-paced business environment, exceptional customer service is not just a nice-to-have – it’s the expected norm! But how do employees, especially those in shared service centers, truly grasp the breadth of their influence on the end user? At Michelin Corporate and Business Services, we tackled this challenge head-on with our “Customer Centricity in Action” presentation. Developed in partnership with Eagle’s Flight, this immersive experience pushes participants beyond traditional customer service paradigms. Through interactive discussions, experiential activities, and real-world case studies, attendees discover the impact of their roles on the customer journey. The presentation emphasizes a shift from a “me” mentality to a “we” perspective, fostering a genuine understanding of individual contributions to the larger customer-centric vision.
Dorin Enache
Training Manager, Michelin Romania
Explore during this presentation the Employer Branding journey Tenneco embarked on over the last years. After changing the Company’s Brand several times, the Tenneco Shared Services Center in Bucharest decided to take the lead on this subject and designed their own local Employer Branding project that started officially in 2021. Despite the limited resources available, the project achieved a significant market presence through multiple channels. During the presentation you will get insights over the different stages the Employer Branding project had, from Analysis and Strategy, Design and Creation to Implementation, KPIs measurement and Continuity.
Miruna Ilie
HR Projects Coordinator & HR Business Partner, Tenneco
- 17:00 -18:00
BREAKOUT SESSION BUSINESS
Are you planning to hire more than 100 new employees in Romania? The Romanian Government offers the highest state aid intensity in CEE. Companies may apply to get cash grants for creation of jobs and obtain up to 60% of salary costs for at least 100 new jobs created. This is available for 24 months for each job since its creation in one or more locations in Romania, except Bucharest.
Cristina Cojocaru
Senior Manager | Grants & Incentives Department, Deloitte
Paul Evi
Manager | Grants & Incentives Department, Deloitte
Recent global crises, from the pandemic to logistical challenges like the Suez Canal blockage, highlighted the critical role of Supply Chain and Logistics in all businesses. Companies, including industry leader Michelin, recognized the need for robust Supply Chain processes powered by advanced software. In their journey to reach World Class Logistics, Michelin partnered with E2Open to implement a modern Intercontinental Booking Tool, with the aim to bring more efficiency, standardization, and automation in the logistics process, while guaranteeing a smooth flow of information and documentation among stakeholders. This project will not only enhance the capabilities and strategic focus but will also provide crucial visibility on the logistic performance, with direct expected impact on cost reduction. In the digital era, the synergy of logistic expertise and state of the art tools, proves to be essential in the attempt of any business to bring the value expected, while remaining agile and prepared for the future challenges.
Dan Jianu
Logistics Operations Manager, Michelin Romania
In an increasingly fast changing business environment, operational excellence is critical to maintaining momentum in the GBS Transformation journey. Perform is a comprehensive coaching programme for middle management which generates outstanding tangible business outcomes.
We will explore how coaching can deliver growth to GBS organisations, when focused on a high performing, people-centric framework that is sustainable, focused on the customer, instils rigor, and empowers ownership across teams. A high-performance culture can only be achieved through creating new ways of working by enhancing leadership capability, reducing operating costs, improving performance & service and an overall better engagement within the organisation.
Bogdana Buhos
Assurance Director, PwC
Radu Andrei
Director Management Consulting, PwC
When one of our partners started an expansion process, following the acquisition of an existing provider on the market, they needed an immediate and substantial increase in the customer support team. In a display of cross-functional collaboration, three departments came together to meet this challenge. Thanks to the joint efforts of the recruitment, training, and operations teams, we tripled our customer support team in just two months. This is a story about collaboration, ability to scale and stay flexible in a dynamic business environment and in a labour market where finding talents with specific skills gets harder and harder.
Alexandra Fus
Business Development Consultant, Valoris Center
- 17:00 -18:30
BREAKOUT SESSION TECHNOLOGY
In this presentation, we’ll showcase how we, in Accenture, use GenAI to supercharge productivity and engagement within our workplace. We’ll dive into the practical tools and strategies we’ve integrated into our daily routines, helping us work smarter, faster, and with a renewed sense of fulfilment.
Key Takeaways and Main Topics:
- Showcase of practical Gen AI applications used on a daily basis by our employees helping them to automate routine tasks and better prioritize what is important;
- Example of GPT integrated into internal chatbots and how employees can maximize its benefits;
- Practical examples of COPILOT’s role in daily activities and other GenAI applications within our internal operations.
The entire presentation will be framed as story, portraying a day in the life of an employee. This way, the audience can better imagine and explore the astonishing possibilities GenAI can produce in the way they approach work.
Aliona Hlusov
IT Automation Lead, Accenture
In an industry that is massively disruptive while the digital revolution is creating so many opportunities, Insurance companies need to be quick in responding to the competition and especially to the needs of their customers. Becoming a Constant Companion (via Customer Support innovative platforms), under the culture of Insurance in everybody’s pockets, is the new state of art in this business. This presentation will focus on how Insurance business is moving more and more towards partnering with AI and technology to provide more people than ever with peace of mind – just one click away.
Mihaela Jurje
Head of Global Competency Center Allianz Partners Romania
First, there was Excel. And we’re still grateful, 30 years and counting. Then, we beautified. And came up with pretty dashboards, to sell data-driven decision making. But buzz words like AI, Machine Learning, Process Mining are real living products which radically challenge our instinctual ways of working. Are we ready to delegate decision-making to data-driven insights? And how do we empower our strong talent market to scout for the latest cutting-edge technology? Can we hope to grow comfortable with allowing data to surprise us, as opposed to orchestrating analytics which feed our confirmation bias? Join this discussion for a glimpse on our lessons learnt in the journey towards sponsoring a data-driven culture across a GBS organization with +2000 employees.
Eveline Dicu
Business Optimisation Methods – CoE Lead, British American Tobacco
In this session, you will discover how to unlock valuable insights from your ERP data with a simple chat. Viorel will dive deep into this case study, demonstrating how AI can revolutionize the way you harness, analyse, and benefit from your business data. But that’s not all, he will also showcase the magic of crafting 100 websites from scratch in just 43 minutes using generative AI. This presentation is your ticket to understanding how AI redefines business.
Key takeaways & main topics:
- Explore the art of conversation with your ERP data, unveiling hidden insights with AI.
- Witness AI’s potential to create websites in record time, redefining web development.
- Gain insights into the impact of AI on businesses
Viorel Spinu
AI Expert, Cegeka Romania
Explore the groundbreaking potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI (GenAI) in shared services. We’ll focus on the fundamental concepts of AI and GenAI, showing how they work, how they can automate tasks, optimize decision-making processes, and even generate human-like content. Learn how combining these technologies can revolutionize your shared services, streamlining operations, fostering innovation, and boosting efficiency.
We’ll uncover real-world examples and gain insights into the challenges and ethical considerations that come with AI integration, including bias mitigation and the need for responsible AI governance.
Key topics:
- Fundamental mechanics of AI and GenAI
- AI and GenAI tools
- Practical examples and use-cases of AI and GenAI
- AI and GenAI considerations – ethical and other
Tomas Husner
Senior Manager, Deloitte
Continuous improvement playing a pivotal role in achieving operational excellence and its depiction as a collective mindset that stems from the drive to better and faster satisfy customers’ real needs. Dual Driving Forces: the intrinsic desire among all employees to improve, and strong support from the leadership team. Implementation of a simple and efficient framework empowers employees to propose improvements using a user-friendly and transparent in-house developed tool. A vibrant Green Belt community assesses improvement needs, working closely with relevant stakeholders. Teams of operations and improvement specialists employ Lean Six Sigma tools and methods to analyze ideas, define needs, identify problems, and create deliverable outcomes. Smart Automation team’s collaboration plays a key role in automating processes when needed. The importance of nurturing a continuous improvement culture through regular training, sharing successes, and celebrating achievements is emphasized.
Claudia Dina
Operational Excellence Specialist, Michelin Romania
In the dynamic world of cybersecurity, Vulnerability Management is crucial in defending against an ever-growing threat landscape. This presentation aims to offer a nuanced exploration of our approach to Vulnerability Management, a service delivered to multiple internal clients, showcasing a unique blend of proactive and reactive strategies. First, we will explore the Preventive Mode – a proactive approach centered on security patching activities across critical components, including the operating system, database, middleware, and more. Furthermore, we dive into the Reactive Mode – a responsive strategy that deals with vulnerabilities detected through various activities, including patching, configuration changes, adoption of secure protocols, and the meticulous closing of potential security gaps. Join us in this concise 10-minute presentation, as we unveil a comprehensive Vulnerability Management framework that equips organizations to stay ahead of emerging threats while maintaining the integrity of their digital infrastructure.
Stefan Costea
Vulnerability Management Coordinator, Technology _VOIS Romania
WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN
- 600+ participants
- 100 + Companies
- 2 Industry Studies
- Partners‘ Exhibition Area
- 2 Keynote Speakers
- 25 + Speakers
- 3 Breakout Sessions
-
Networking & Business
Connections opportunities
Keynote Speakers
Ian Goldin
Oxford University Professor of Globalisation and Development and the founding Director of the Oxford Martin School, the world’s leading centre for interdisciplinary research into critical global challenges- is one of the Keynote Speakers at ABSL Annual Conference. Ian leads research groups on Technological and Economic Change, Future of Work and Future of Development. He previously was World Bank Vice President and the Group’s Director of Policy, as well as Chief Executive of the Development Bank of Southern Africa and Economic Advisor to President Nelson Mandela, accompanying President Mandela on all major international engagements and serving as Finance Director for South Africa’s Olympic Bid.
Click for bio
Ian Goldin
Ian Goldin is Oxford University Professor of Globalisation and Development and the founding Director of the Oxford Martin School, the world’s leading centre for interdisciplinary research into critical global challenges. Ian leads research groups on Technological and Economic Change, Future of Work and Future of Development. Ian previously was World Bank Vice President and the Group’s Director of Policy, and served on the World Bank Executive and other key committees. He previously was Chief Executive of the Development Bank of Southern Africa and Economic Advisor to President Nelson Mandela, accompanying President Mandela on all major international engagements and serving as Finance Director for South Africa’s Olympic Bid.
Ian is an advisor to a wide range of businesses, governments and international agencies and been a non-executive director of leading Fortune 100 firms, serving as the Senior Independent Director and on Remuneration, Risk, Investment, Credit and other key committees. Ian was knighted by the French Government and is Chair of the core-econ.org initiative to transform economics, as well as being a trustee of Comic Relief and other charities. He has written and presented three BBC series, After the Crash, Will AI Kill Development and The Pandemic that Changed the World and his BBC Analysis The Death of Globalisation? was broadcast in March 2023. The most recent of Ian’s 24 books is Age of the City was published in June 2023. His previous books include Rescue: From Global Crisis to a Better World; Terra Incognita: 100 Maps to Survive the Next 100 Years; Age of Discovery: Navigating the Storms of our Second Renaissance; The Butterfly Defect: How globalisation creates systemic risks; and The Pursuit of Development: Economic Growth, Social Change and Ideas. He tweets on @ian_goldin and his website is iangoldin.org.
Ben Hodges
Lieutenant General (Retired) Ben Hodges, the former Commanding General of US Army Europe (2014-2017) is one of the Keynote Speakers at ABSL Annual Conference. He currently serves as NATO Senior Mentor for Logistics, consults for several companies on Europe, NATO, and the European Union, and he is co-author of the book, Future War and the Defence of Europe, published by Oxford University Press. Hodges has a regular media presence on important international channels (CNN, MSNBC, BBC, Times Radio, ZDF, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Deutsche Welle) with inputs on NATO, US and European security, the greater Black Sea Region, as well as governance, and human rights.
Click for bio
Ben Hodges
Lieutenant General (Retired) Ben Hodges, the former Commanding General of US Army Europe (2014-2017), currently serves as NATO Senior Mentor for Logistics, he consults for several companies on Europe, NATO, and the European Union, and he is co-author of the book, Future War and the Defence of Europe, published by Oxford University Press. Hodges has a regular media presence on CNN, MSNBC, Fox, BBC, Times Radio, ZDF, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Deutsche Welle, The Daily Telegraph and other media on NATO, US and European security, the greater Black Sea Region, geopolitical issues and regional security, governance, human rights, and other topics. He was most recently Senior Advisor to Human Rights First, a non-profit, nonpartisan international human rights organization based in New York, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles. Prior to joining Human Rights First, he held the Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA).
A native of Quincy, Florida, General Hodges graduated from the United States Military Academy in May 1980 and was commissioned as an Infantry Officer in the US Army. After his first assignment as a Lieutenant in Garlstedt, Germany, he commanded Infantry units at the Company, Battalion, and Brigade levels in the 101st Airborne Division, including the First Brigade Combat Team “Bastogne” in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (2003-2004). His other operational assignments include Chief of Operations for Multi-National Corps-Iraq in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (2005-2006) and Director of Operations, Regional Command South in Kandahar, Afghanistan (2009-2010). General Hodges has also served in a variety of Joint and Army Staff positions. From 2012-2014 he served as Commander, NATO Allied Land Command in İzmir, Turkey. His last military assignment was as Commanding General, United States Army Europe in Wiesbaden, Germany from 2014 to 2017. He retired from the U.S. Army in January 2018 and lives today with his wife in Frankfurt, Germany. General Hodges is a member of the International Consultative Board of the New Strategy Center.
Speakers
Georgiana Andrei
Sales Director – Subscriptions Division, Reteaua de Sanatate REGINA MARIA
Click for bio
Georgiana Andrei
Corporate Sales Director – Subscriptions Division, Reteaua de Sanatate REGINA MARIA
Experienced Director of Corporate Sales with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital & health care industry, Georgiana joined REGINA MARIA in 2016. Skilled in Negotiation and Business Planning, for the past 3 years she focused on development of projects that improve the wellbeing of the employees.
Radu Andrei
Director Management Consulting, PwC
Click for bio
Radu Andrei
Director Management Consulting, PwC Romania
In his more than 20 years as a management consultant, Radu has worked on several share service center set-up, operating model transformations, process improvement, merger and carve-out engagements, with local and international footprint.
Adrian Baron
Breakout Session Moderator
Click for bio
Adrian Baron
ITSM Process & Technology Manager, Stefanini EMEA
Adrian is EMEA ITSM Process & Technology Manager at Stefanini. Having worked for businesses in almost every industry, he fully understands multiple frameworks and how different systems and technologies are connected. During his 10 years at Stefanini, Adrian has demonstrated a deep commitment to delivering successful outcomes for his clients and ensuring true value can be realized.
Maria Boldor
Principal, Horváth
Click for bio
Maria Boldor
Principal, Horváth
Maria has over 16 years of management consulting experience, having managed large-scale international corporate transformation and performance optimization projects. She leads the Competence Centres Strategy & Transformation and Operations in Romania and the Balkan region. Maria has substantial expertise in developing and implementing Target Operating Models, HR Transformations, Business Process Excellence, Procurement Frameworks, Contractor Management and Efficiency Increase Initiatives. Fluent in German, English. Six Sigma Certified.
Bartłomiej Budnicki
Strategy & Insights Advisor | D&I Lead, Skanska
Click for bio
Bartłomiej Budnicki
Strategy & Insights Advisor | D&I Lead, Skanska
Experienced strategy & project manager with more than 10 years of experience delivering complex projects for large brands, many branches (from transportation to real estate), and sectors (both public & private). Passionate, energetic, dedicated, and ambitious. Creative professional, strategic thinker, and big picture leader. He has been with the Skanska Group for more than 5 years - first as head of marketing for Business Link, and now as an internal strategy and insights advisor. In addition to activities strictly related to the company's core business, he serves as D&I Lead for the CEE region, i.e. Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania. Co-author of the D&I development plan for the region, including the activation and promotion of ERGs' activities, representative of the region at the global D&I forum, and co-founder and co-leader of the first ERG of LGBTQ+ employees and allies in this geographic region of the Skanska Group. He also co-founded and co-leads an informal agreement of corporate networks of LGBTQ+ employees in the private sector in Poland called LGBTQ+ NoN.
Bogdana Buhos
Assurance Director, PwC
Click for bio
Bogdana Buhos
Assurance Director, PwC
Cristian Cilibiu
Breakout Session Moderator
Click for bio
Cristian Cilibiu
- 19 years experience in Operations covering multiple roles
- Responsible of Operations in Austria
- Responsible of Operations in Romania
- Responsible of Operations Global Hub strategy definition in the CEE countries
- Country Manager for UniCredit Branch Romania (backoffice and ICT services)
Cristian Cilibiu is fluent in English and Italian, holds a degree in economy with Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca and 2 master degrees, one in Information Technology at ASE Bucharest and another in IT Governance at Polytechnics University in Milan.
From 2005 he joined UniCredit Group covering multiple managerial positions both organizational and project based ones. He consolidated his expertise in Operations, Process Management, Employee engagement, RPA, Cost Management following complex Group-level projects from Bucharest, Milano, Vienna and Munich. During 2005 and 2020 he covered multiple positions within UniCredit from responsible of the Organization to Senior Project Manager, Capacity Planner in CEE countries, set up of Robotics center in the group and consolidating his experience with the role of head of Operations Austria.
From 2020 Cristian is Responsible for UniCredit Branch Romania performing services for Italian, Austrian and German business.
Cristina Cojocaru
Senior Manager | Grants & Incentives Department, Deloitte
Click for bio
Cristina Cojocaru
Senior Manager | Grants & Incentives Department, Deloitte
Cristina Cojocaru is a Senior Manager within Deloitte’s Grants & Incentives department. She has a very good knowledge of EU funds, programmes and procedures, regional & cohesion policy, procurement procedures, incentives, and state aid. Her 21 years professional experience includes feasibility studies, cost-benefit analysis, business plans, evaluation of projects/ programmes/ public policies and EU funds/ state aid applications. Cristina has been involved in over 23 state aid projects (application preparation and/or project implementation), in various economic areas: Automotive, Manufacturing, RD&I, SSC and IT centres, Consumer.
Stefan Costea
Vulnerability Management Coordinator, Technology _VOIS Romania
Click for bio
Stefan Costea
Vulnerability Management Coordinator, Technology _VOIS Romania
Stefan Costea is 25 years old; he has graduated from University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest as an engineer, and now he is working as a Vulnerability Management Coordinator in the Security department of Technology _VOIS Romania. He is a very ambitious person, who dedicates all his attention once he sets his mind to achieve something and found his interest in Cyber Security, currently taking part in various Security workshops and guidance projects for students while ensuring performance is delivered on the job from all perspectives.
Eveline Dicu
Business Optimisation Methods – CoE Lead, British American Tobacco
Click for bio
Eveline Dicu
Business Optimisation Methods – CoE Lead, British American Tobacco
Passionate about People Development & Data Analytics. In this order. Lucky to be coordinating the cross-geographies teams that make magic happen with Analytics Process Automation, Business Excellence and Process Mining. Leveraging the power of data to reveal blind spots which can be converted into multi-million cash, income or working capital business opportunity.
Claudia Dina
Operational Excellence Specialist, Michelin Romania
Click for bio
Claudia Dina
Operational Excellence Specialist, Michelin Romania
Claudia has a vast experience in sales and customer relationship management in a multicultural environment. Last years were dedicated to Logistics Operations. Claudia’s career path followed a natural change towards Operational Excellence enhancement where she can use her experience to improve the overall services provided to the customers.
Cristina Dobrescu
Head of Retail operations & KYC, Societe Generale Global Solution Centre
Click for bio
Cristina Dobrescu
Head of Retail operations & KYC, Societe Generale Global Solution Centre
Cristina Dobrescu is the Head of Retail operations & KYC within Societe Generale Global Solution Centre, in Romania. The perimeter covers back and middle office banking processes in the retail, wholesale and private banking areas as well as Know Your Customer (KYC) operations with a total size of approx. 800 FTEs. Cristina is coming with over 20 years of experience, from various sectors (IT/Telecom, Gaming, Transportation) where she handled roles in operations management, HR, process transformation, program management, business development.
Dorin Enache
Training Manager, Michelin Romania
Click for bio
Dorin Enache
Training Manager, Michelin Romania
Dorin Enache, with a rich 16-year tenure in Learning & Development, has seamlessly navigated various roles and responsibilities across multiple organizations. Currently at the helm as the Training Manager for Michelin CBS Bucharest, Dorin's expertise lies in organizational development, leadership, and talent management. In his pivotal role at Michelin, he extends invaluable support to the management team, guiding them in matters related to both behavioral and professional competencies. Over the recent years, Dorin's primary focus has been on the strategic integration of competencies into diverse HR processes, ranging from recruitment to holistic talent management.
Paul Evi
Manager | Grants & Incentives Department, Deloitte
Click for bio
Paul Evi
Manager | Grants & Incentives Department, Deloitte
Paul is Manager within Deloitte’s Grants & Incentives department, with an experience of more than 17 years in accessing grant financing through EU Funds and state aid. His work involves identifying the optimal financing opportunities and the subsequent preparation and implementation of a wide array of financing projects in such fields as automotive, manufacturing, food processing, agriculture, services, energy, and the hospitality industry. Paul’s expertise in the development of successful applications for EU and state aid funded projects focuses on business plans, feasibility studies and market analyses, as well as in all stages of the implementation of such projects, from organizing the tendering and procurement process to preparing the disbursement documentations and the mandatory compliance activities.
Maria Florea
Head of Office Advisory, iO Partners
Click for bio
Maria Florea
Head of Office Advisory, iO Partners
With 18 years of real estate experience, Maria Florea is currently in charge with leading the office agency team in iO Partners, JLL Preferred partner in Romania, offerings strategic office leasing consultancy services for occupiers and landlords. She has an outstanding track record in brokerage and management, coordinating over 100 transactions and leasing of more than 300,000 sq m in her career. Maria works with key clients and manages the strategy and training program of JLL Office Department. Professionalism, prompt reactions in addressing client’ needs, and a creative mind are some of the unique skills Maria is putting to work for the benefits of her customers.
Alexandra Fus
Business Development Consultant, Valoris Center
Click for bio
Alexandra Fus
Business Development Consultant, Valoris Center
I am a highly driven and motivated person working in the BPO sector for over 16 years with passion about customer service, outsourcing, business development and project management. My focus is on helping companies provide excellent Customer Service and continuously learn and develop new ways of improving CX.
Raluca Gadiuta
Romania HR Leader, HP Inc
Click for bio
Raluca Gadiuta
Romania HR Leader, HP Inc
Raluca is leading the HR function of HP in Romania. Working for various international companies, from FMCG to consulting and technology in present, Raluca has coordinated projects in various HR areas in Romania and Central-Eastern Europe: from employer branding, development and organizational culture to compensation and implementing HR systems, automation, agile and others. Raluca is CIPD Associate, trainer and executive coach.
Ruxandra Gaita
Senior Expert in Global Business Services, Horváth
Click for bio
Ruxandra Gaita
Senior Expert in Global Business Services, Horváth
Ruxandra has over 25 years of Industry and Executive experience including large scale Global Services in Insurance and Pharma. Ruxandra brings a very pragmatic approach in the executive consulting field to identify the most suitable and practical approaches for addressing challenges, innovating, risks mitigations and managing change to outperform. Leading large Global HR Transformation Programs, Target Operating Models, Multi Country Delivery Optimizations, Business Outcome alignments, Post Merger Integrations. Fluent in German, English. Six Sigma Certified.
Aliona Hlusov
IT Automation Lead, Accenture
Click for bio
Aliona Hlusov
IT Automation Lead, Accenture
Aliona Hlusov, an IT professional with over a decade of experience in Continuous Improvement, currently holds the role of IT Automation Lead within the CIO organization at Accenture. She leads automation and innovation initiatives, coordinates IT trainers, and actively contributes to employee training in various relevant technologies, boosting productivity and engagement. Beyond her professional commitments, she leads the Digital Skills Academy CSR program in Romania, dedicated to nurturing digital literacy among the next generation. Her profound passion for Generative AI and Innovation motivates innovative projects and knowledge dissemination, bringing valuable contributions to her field.
Tomas Husner
Senior Manager, Deloitte
Click for bio
Tomas Husner
Senior Manager, Deloitte
Tomas is a Senior Manager leading the GBS advisory practice for Czech Republic and Slovakia. He is part of the Finance & Performance team focusing on the shared services industry (SSC/GBS), process redesign and optimization, change management, transformation of finance departments and other CFO areas. He is also focusing on technology led process automation, application design and GBS customer experience.
Miruna Ilie
HR Projects Coordinator & HR Business Partner, Tenneco
Click for bio
Miruna Ilie
HR Projects Coordinator & HR Business Partner, Tenneco
Miruna is an HR Enthusiast with over 7 years of experience Human Resources. Her core strength is her positive thinking, which helps facing each challenge with enthusiasm and determination. Over the years, Miruna gained experience by coordinating different Employer Branding and Talent & Development initiatives with local and regional exposure within the organization she is part of, and by completing successfully different certifications in areas such as Human Resources Management, DDI training facilitator and Diversity & Inclusion Champion.
Valentin Iordache
Managing Director for CIO Organization in LATAM and EMEA, Accenture
Click for bio
Valentin Iordache
Managing Director for CIO Organization in LATAM and EMEA, Accenture
Dan Jianu
Logistics Operations Manager, Michelin Romania
Click for bio
Dan Jianu
Logistics Operations Manager, Michelin Romania
Dan Jianu is an experienced professional who studied economics at the Academy of Economic Studies Bucharest from 2001 to 2008. Dan began his career in 2006 in sales, transitioning to debt collection until 2012. He lived in France from 2012 to 2014, engaging in volunteering and entrepreneurship. Joining Michelin in 2014, he had various roles in Purchasing and Logistics, becoming Logistics Operations Manager for Europe in March 2022. Committed to continuous learning, he believes that empowering and positively impacting individuals and teams are the most important contributions of a true leader in an organization. Outside of his professional life, Dan is married and father of two children, a 3-year-old daughter, and an 8-year-old son.
Mihaela Jurje
Head of Global Competency Center Allianz Partners Romania
Click for bio
Mihaela Jurje
Head of Global Competency Center Allianz Partners Romania
With over 15 years of experience in managing IT operational teams in an EMEA as well as global set up, Mihaela had joined Insurance sector in 2017 and since then managing the Global Competency Center Team of Allianz Partners in Romania. Focused on team growth and development as well as motivated into getting operational excellence value added inhouse, she had led the Romanian global center towards doubling the headcount in the past 2 years as well as towards getting the prestigious Great Place to Work certification in August 2023. Building up on an unique International claims management team covering 3 lines of business (Travel, Digital and Micro Mobility) as well as developing a focused anti-fraud engagement locally, Mihaela has set as first priority providing first class services to the GCC customers.
Cătălin Micu
Partner, Zamfirescu Racoți Vasile & Partners
Click for bio
Cătălin Micu
Partner, Zamfirescu Racoți Vasile & Partners
Cătălin Micu has an unsurpassed practice in employment law with an exceptional reputation for advising clients on all aspects of individual and collective labour law. Having thorough and solid knowledge of the Romanian corporate regulations, Cătălin is popular among major domestic and international corporations for advice on agreements negotiation, implementation of sophisticated management organization systems, important business transfers, corporate restructurings and collective bargaining agreements. During 2014 Cătălin successfully coordinated the first ad integrum reorganization in Romania for a bank, by the means of collective dismissal integrated in a sophisticated mechanism of repositioning the human resources on a new jobs’ structure approved by the shareholders of the bank. Cătălin has also a notable reputation for advising on medical law and commercial law matters, acting for a client roster encompassing companies acting in a variety of industry sectors.
Oana Munteanu
People & Organisation Director, PwC
Click for bio
Oana Munteanu
People & Organisation Consulting Director, PwC
Sorin Paun
Partner, Code of Talent
Click for bio
Sorin Paun
Partner, Code of Talent
Sorin Paun is a Partner at Code of Talent. He relies on over 20 years of experience in entrepreneurship , multinational companies and consulting.
He now leads projects in organizational development, with an impact both at the level of processes and systems and at the level of skills and competences. For more than 5 years he is generating content for enaging micro-learning journeys being involved in more than 400 digital development projects with more than 100 multinational companies.
He is passionate about learning design and he believes in the power of evolution generated by microlearning.
Alexandra Pintilie
Manager - Legal & Compliance, Booking Holdings Romania
Click for bio
Alexandra Pintilie
Manager - Legal & Compliance, Booking Holdings Romania
Alexandra Pintilie is Manager - Legal & Compliance at Booking Holdings Romania and she has joined the team in October, 2022, managing the legal and compliance activity. Her role focuses on local activities, and it also implies alignment with the Booking Holdings Inc. group and delivery of legal services in line with the international standards in the field. Prior to her current role, Alexandra has been working as a Compliance Legal Counsel for 4 years, with focus on ethics and privacy programs. Having the opportunity to implement transversal projects and regulatory changes in all company structures, created the proper context for developing her skills on managing the interaction with various stakeholders from different backgrounds. With 14 years of professional experience, Alexandra Pintilie worked as an in-house legal counsel for challenging industries such as retail, culture, agriculture, IT, finance and energy. This gave her the opportunity to develop as a professional, in international entities, working together with legal specialists across the world.
Ilinca Popescu
Sales Director for Central, Eastern & Northern Europe, Steelcase
Click for bio
Ilinca Popescu
Sales Director for Central, Eastern & Northern Europe, Steelcase
As Sales Director for Central, Eastern & Northern Europe at Steelcase, Ilinca helps people do their best work by creating places that work better. She leverages applied research and takes a user-centered approach to understand the way people work and learn and the goals their organization are trying to achieve.
Sorin Popescu
Vice President Transformation, Genpact
Click for bio
Sorin Popescu
Vice President Transformation, Genpact
Transformation leader and business executive with over 15 years’ experience in professional services, digital transformation, and business development. He brings a unique blend of sound expertise in shared services strategies and change management, digital disruption, and client relationships, within different industries and across multiple cultures. Out of the box critical thinking and flexibility enable a clear vision on ever-changing business climate, coming up with disruptive solutions to overcome challenges, and making strategic decisions to support the development and growth of the business. Sorin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Management and a Master’s degree in Management and Business Communication. He is also Six Sigma certified and is recognized as one of the most engaged people leaders, having a key impact on career development for many individuals across the organization.
Francesca Postolache
Partner, PwC
Click for bio
Francesca Postolache
Partner, PwC
Francesca is a Partner within the Assurance Department of PwC Romania and joined the company in 2000. With over 25 years in audit practice and a high interest in watching the way the business environment evolves, Francesca assisted, over the years, PwC’s large international and local clients in different industries such as retail, oil&gas, tobacco in major audits performed under the International Standards of Accounting.
She also contributes to the constant dialogue and collaboration among the companies of the business services sector in her role as a Vice President of the Association of Business Services Leaders in Romania (ABSL).
Also, Francesca is interested in the field of education, thus she continued to consolidate her career and became an International Certified Coach (ICF) in 2020. She is also a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in the United Kingdom and the Romanian Chamber of Financial Auditors (CAFR)
Paul Soare
Vice President Operations, Genpact
Click for bio
Paul Soare
Vice President Operations, Genpact
Forward-thinking Leader with 20 years’ experience in Professional Services & Transformation. Leadership journey that spans various industries from BPO, Manufacturing, Telecom, Tech, Life Sciences, and is accentuated by an adeptness in navigating diverse cultural landscapes and building robust client relationships. The propensity for forward-thinking and adaptability equips Paul with a lucid perspective on the ever-evolving business milieu, allowing him to ideate pioneering solutions to address contemporary challenges and steer strategic imperatives that bolster business expansion and transformation. Paul's commitment to lifelong learning is reflected by his various degrees (Bsc, Msc, 6σ), including PhD in Management from the esteemed ASE Bucharest.
Viorel Spinu
AI Expert, Cegeka Romania
Click for bio
Viorel Spinu
AI Expert, Cegeka Romania
Viorel Spinu is an AI Expert at Cegeka Romania with two decades of experience in emerging technologies. He has been with the company for over 5 years and has contributed to various innovative projects, leveraging the power of technology for global players in various markets.
Andreia Stanciu
Head of ACCA - South-Eastern Europe
Click for bio
Andreia Stanciu
Head of ACCA - South-Eastern Europe
Andreia is heading the South Eastern European office of the largest and fastest growing international business and accountancy association. She established the office in March 2006, in Bucharest and is now responsible for ACCA’s activities in Romania, Bulgaria, Albania and Moldova. Her previous position was with the Body of Expert and Licensed Accountants of Romania, as Manager of the International Relations Department. She has eight years of academic accounting training and close to 20 years work experience with professional accountancy bodies at national, regional and international level. She is a Project Management Professional and holds an MSC in Marketing.
Monica Tariuc
Director | Global Employer Services, Deloitte Romania
Click for bio
Monica Tariuc
Global Employer Services, Deloitte Romania
Monica is Director within the Global Employer Services practice of Deloitte Romania. Her areas of expertise cover salary tax and social security contributions, international mobility of employees (EC Directives), remuneration and collaboration structures (design and implementation of stock-option plans, augmented workforce), application of tax incentives (IT, constructions). She was involved in various local and international consultancy projects, serving a significant number of clients and being a connoisseur of both the domestic and international legislation on tax and social security matters. She coordinates the Romanian streams on various global engagements handling all aspects concerning the mobile workforce of multinationals, both inbound and outbound population. Clients and colleagues recognize Monica for her technical knowledge, her ability to coordinate large accounts, her genuine interest for improving daily processes and nonetheless, her out-of-the-box thinking and innovative solutions.
David Timis
Global Communications Manager, Generation
Click for bio
David Timis
Global Communications Manager, Generation
David Timis is the Global Communications Manager of Generation, the largest global employment program by annual volume that both trains and places people into life-changing careers that would otherwise be inaccessible. His mission in life is to prepare people for the future of work and his interests lie at the intersection of reskilling, employment, and technology. David was educated in Business and Management at the University of Glasgow and in European Political and Governance Studies at the College of Europe. He has 8 years of work experience in marketing, communications, and public affairs in organisations such as Google, BCW, L’Oréal, and Mars Inc. David has guest lectured at renowned universities such as Cambridge University and the College of Europe and delivered keynote speeches about the impact of technology on the future of work for a wide range of clients including TEDx, Google, and the European Commission. He has been recognised as an Influential Leader by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, included on the Forbes 30 Under 30 List for his work to equip young people with digital skills, and selected by the World Economic Forum to be part of the Davos Lab.
For more information about David's work, please visit his personal website: http://davidtimis.com/
WHY BECOME
A CONFERENCE PARTNER
Event Partners come to ABSL 11th Annual Conference to display their latest products and services and to explore business opportunities. Being a partner of our conference will give you the opportunity to:
- Develop and strengthen your brand
- Generate lucrative, highly targeted business leads
- Build long lasting relationships
- Get in touch with potential business partners
- Position the company as a leader in the domain
- Network
- Obtain Customer Feedback
If your company is part of ABSL, you can benefit of discounted partnership packages.
STRATEGIC PARTNERS
EVENT PARTNERS
Platinum
Gold partners
Silver partners
REGISTRATION & TICKETS*
*Tickets are limited according to the hall capacity & first come, first served basis
1 ticket
250 € + VAT
4 tickets bundle
500 € + VAT
FREE FOR ABSL MEMBERS & PARTNERS (according to the membership type).
Check here the membership type of your company: https://www.absl.ro/members/
Discuss with your company representative about participation and register afterwards.
ABSL CONFERENCES AT A GLANCE
ABSL IN ROMANIA
PRESS ROOM
© 2017-2023 ABSL ROMANIA | Developed by Online Hub