What's in Store on Day 1 of DPW Amsterdam 2025?

One word dominates procurement right now: technology. 

Whether it’s dealing with ever-increasing levels of disruption, managing growing and complex supplier networks or understanding best practice for putting AI to work across the function, digital innovation is everything. 

It’s why events like DPW Amsterdam, held annually in the Dutch capital, are so critical. Widely billed as one of the most influential tech shows in the sector, the two-day conference brings together global leaders intent on plotting an innovative path to the future. 

Day One on 8 October sets the standard, covering critical themes affecting procurement right now. 

The agenda consists of a mix of keynote addresses, panel debates and start-up pitches designed to explore how functions are adapting to shifting risk, new technology and different expectations from the business. 

Procurement in the age of disruption

The day starts with opening remarks from host Vivianne Bendermacher and DPW Amsterdam Chief Executive Herman Knevel, before a scene-setting keynote from DeepMind’s Vice President for AI Technical Strategy, Kareem Ayoub on how to “put AI to work”. 

Google’s AI lab is a leading voice in the deployment of advanced AI systems that benefit humanity. Within this context, Kareem will give a pragmatic view on where AI already fits into enterprise workflows and what this means for procurement data, tooling and the skills mix inside teams.

A headline panel follows, with industry big-hitters gathering on stage to explore what it means to lead in the age of disruption. 

Former Unilever Chief Executive Paul Polman will join C-suite leaders from Kraft Heinz and Henkel, as well moderator Pierre-François Thaler from EcoVadis, to discuss the intricacies of leadership behaviour, the role of purpose in supplier ecosystems and how to balance investment in innovation with resilience.

Suppliers are critical to the success of effective procurement teams, but that success won’t come without leveraging the potential of data. 

Kraft Heinz’s Stefanie Fink, BCG’s Tyler Vigen and Stephanie Lapierre, Founder and CEO of TealBook will discuss why many organisations are still overlooking supplier data quality. 

Implications of this oversight can be broad, including limiting the accuracy and impact of AI-driven initiatives that are so important across procurement functions. 

In reality, the panellists suggest, supplier data quality is the foundation for AI readiness.

Redefining procurement

Attention then shifts to operating model design. Laila Dalla Torre of Bekaert and Michael DeWitt of QXO join Kearney partner Elouise Epstein for a session on next-generation procurement structures, moderated by Google CPO Jennifer Moceri. 

With category management under pressure from volatile demand and faster product cycles, this session will give practical takeaways on centres of excellence, platforms and the governance needed to scale digital.

Rapidly shifting geopolitics are the root cause of much of the pressure procurement faces, both across category management and more broadly. 

Barbara Kux, a board member at Henkel, joins a conversation on navigating supply chains amid geopolitical disruption, chaired by Zero100’s Geraint John. 

The session will take a sweeping look at board-level themes such as footprint decisions, multi-sourcing and inventory strategies, weighing up how they should be effectively balanced against cost and sustainability targets in an increasingly complex environment.

AI talent, adoption and workforce

AI takes centre stage in the afternoon of day one, with sessions covering topics such as how to ensure the human element remains in an increasingly AI world, nurturing AI-savvy talent and a growing question: how to manage AI agents within workflows. 

Mithun Sharma, CPO at Block, appears with Zip co-founder Felix Meng to share findings from more than 1,000 procurement and finance leaders on AI, talent and strategy. 

The session promises a candid and honest reflection on the current state of play when it comes to AI in procurement, particularly how leaders and their teams are adjusting and adapting.

Soon after, Google Cloud’s Dai Vu outlines how marketplace models are evolving for AI agents and what this could mean for procurement’s software stack and vendor management. 

Talent and capability development are addressed via ‘The next-gen CPO playbook’, featuring leaders from Henkel and Bristol Myers Squibb, moderated by former Johnson & Johnson CPO Shashi Mandapaty. 

Expect discussion on career pathways, data literacy and how to embed change across business units. 

A later panel contrasts how investors and corporates assess emerging technologies, bringing in executives from Siemens, Salesforce Ventures, Miro and PepsiCo alongside ICONIQ as moderator.

The day closes with reflections from McKinsey senior partner Mauro Antonio Erriquez on where procurement value will come from next as AI scales and category boundaries blur. 

For attendees, Day One offers a clear narrative: sharpen leadership, modernise operating models, assess AI with rigour and keep one eye on start-up innovation.