Programme

Mike Sutcliff is group chief executive of Accenture Digital, which integrates digital assets, software and services across digital marketing, analytics and mobility to help clients drive growth and create new sources of value. In his role, Mr. Sutcliff focuses on leveraging the full breadth and scale of Accenture’s cloud, systems integration and enterprise application capabilities—and its global delivery network—to help clients integrate digital into all facets of their organizations to transform their businesses. Specifically, he speaks to clients, media and industry analysts to position the digital difference and the opportunities it brings to improved business performance. Mr. Sutcliff sees two major themes driving the digital market: Digital Customers, Channels, and Markets, including designing and enabling improved multi-channel customer experiences, digital customer interactions, digital sales, and digital channel distribution capabilities; and Digital Enterprise, enabling new operating models and business processes, connected product platforms, analytics and collaboration capabilities to enhance productivity. He oversees a global team of 23,000 people who provide a comprehensive portfolio of business and technology services, from developing digital strategies to implementing digital technologies and running digital processes on behalf of clients. Mr. Sutcliff is also a member of Accenture’s Global Management Committee. Prior to assuming his current role, Mr. Sutcliff was Senior managing director of Accenture’s Financial Services business in North America, with broad responsibility for the group’s strategy, client relationships and financial performance. Between 2000 and 2005, he led Accenture’s Finance & Performance Management global service line. Mr. Sutcliff joined Accenture in 1987 and was named a Partner in 1999. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in electrical/computer engineering and a Master of Science degree in business from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Alexey Abramov was born September 16, 1979 in Gorky city (USSR). Graduated from Lobachevsky State University of Nizhni Novgorod (National Research Institute), Law Department. In 2000 started his career as an Attorney Assistant and within four years was engaged in attorney practice. In 2004-2006 was responsible for expert-legal activity in All-Russia Public Organization SUPPORT OF RUSSIA (OPORA RUSSIA). In 2006-2007 was an expert in the Centre for Legal Support of Local Self-Government. In 2007 became Vice-President of the Centre for Public Reforms. From 2008 to 2013 worked as an Assistant of the First Deputy Prime-Minister Igor Shuvalov. While working for Russia’s s Government Establishment, he supervised the technical regulating and standardization matters, the intellectual property institution development, small- and medium scale business support. September 2, 2013 was appointed Deputy Head of Rosstandart. July 9, 2014 A.Abramov was appointed Head of Rosstandart according to the Decree of the Russian Government. Married, two children.

Born March 21, 1957 in Leningrad. 1979 – graduated from Leningrad State University (Department of Mathematics and Mechanics) specializing in Applied Mathematics. 1979–1988 – Research Assistant, Junior Scientific Researcher, Scientific Researcher of the Institute of Theoretical Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 1986 – successfully defended his Candidate of Sciences thesis in Physics and Mathematics, USSR Academy of Sciences. 1984–1995 – Lecturer, Associate Professor of the Department of Computational Mathematics at Leningrad Polytechnic Institute, Faculty of Physics and Mechanics. 1988–1992 – Senior Scientist of the Leningrad Institute for Informatics and Automation of the USSR Academy of Sciences. 1991–1995 – Co-Founder and Chief Technical Officer of AstroSoft Company, St. Petersburg. 1995–1996 – Consultant of Microsoft Consulting Services, Microsoft Middle East (Dubai). 1996–1997 – Senior Consultant / Head of Practice, Microsoft Consulting Services, Microsoft Eastern Europe. 1997–1999 – Head of Accounts Department, Microsoft Representative Office in Russia, Microsoft Eastern Europe. 1999–2003 – University Relations Manager, Microsoft Research Lab (UK). 2003–2005 – Head of Government Relations, Microsoft Representative Office in Russia, Microsoft Central and Eastern Europe. 2005–2007 – Chief Strategy Officer, Cabinet of the Chairman of Microsoft in Russia and CIS Countries, Microsoft Central and Eastern Europe. 2007–2009 – General Director of Software Development Centre of EMC Corporation in St. Petersburg. Since April 2009, he has held the position of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Management Board of RVC OJSC.

Valentin Gapanovich was born on May 23, 1955. He graduated from Novosibirsk Institute of Railway Engineers in 1992 and from the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration in 1998 with qualifications in management of railway transport and railway engineering in railway transport management. He finished Gomel Railway Technical School and worked as assistant operator of a diesel locomotive, and as chief rolling stock repair man at the Topkino Cement Plant. After his military service, he worked as a rolling stock repair man for the Novokuznetsk Depot of Kemerovo Railway and assistant safety inspector of the Novokuznetsk Section locomotive depot. From 1989 to 1998, he served as Head of the Kemerovo Railway Novokuznetsk Locomotive Depot; Chief Engineer of the Kemerovo Railway Novokuznetsk Section; Deputy Chief Engineer on the Kuzbas Section of the West Siberian Railway. From 1998 to 1999, he was Deputy Head of Locomotive and Wagon Management of the West Siberian Railway and Deputy Railway Head. From 2000 to 2003, he served as Chief Engineer on the Oktyabrskaya Railway. In 2003, he was appointed Vice President of Russian Railways JSCo. In June 2008, he was appointed Senior Vice President of Russian Railways JSCo.

David leads the Channel Ecosystem across Europe including all Partners in the IBM One Channel Partner program. Including Value Added Distributors, Value Resellers, Cloud Service Providers, Industry Solution Vendors and Global System Integrators across the full IBM portfolio of Hardware, Software and Services. Prior to this role David was General Manager for IBM's business in Central and Eastern Europe - part of IBM's European Unit - where he was responsible for 29 countries including Russia/CIS, Poland and Baltics, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and the remaining Adriatic region. Central to this role was to lead all sales across the IBM portfolio, integrating the teams and bringing value to IBM's clients and Business Partners across this region. Previously David was the Vice President of sales for IBM’s channel organization in the Growth Markets region, including Greater China, India/South Asia, Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe. David led the end to end operations of IBM’s channel business, from strategy to execution. He was responsible for IBM’s business controls, deal making, helped shape IBM’s image in the market through press and analysts and led a team of IBM employees and IBM’s Business Partners.

Born in Moscow, Russia on 27 August 1979.Graduated from the State University “Higher School of Economics”, Diploma in Economy and Business Administration.Since 1995 in Healthcare and Pharmaceutics.R-Pharm Founder. President of All-Russia Business Association “Delovaya Rossiya” (“Business Russia”), actively participating in the improvement of investment climate in the Russian Federation and the establishment of the regional investment standard.Member of the Economic Council under the President of the Russian Federation.Member of the Presidential Council for Priority National Projects and Demographic Policy.Member of the Expert Council under the Government of the Russian Federation. Member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, Head of Commission on Investment Climate.Representative (public ombudsman) of the Commissioner of the Presidential Council on the protection of the rights of entrepreneurs on issues related to the protection of the rights of foreign investors.Board-member and Co-chairman of Committee of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs on pharmaceutical and medical industry.Co-Chairman of the National Rating CommitteeMember of the Public Council under the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation (pharmaceutical, medical equipment and technologies).Member of the Supervisory Board of the Autonomous Nonprofit Organization "Agency for Strategic Initiatives".

Dr.-Ing. Bernhard Thies, born on 22.11.1951, studied Power Engineering at RWTH Aachen, followed by his doctorate at Institut für Allgemeine Elektrotechnik und Hochspannungstechnik. In 1999 Dr. Thies started as Deputy Managing Director of the DKE (German Commission for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies of DIN and VDE), followed with the nomination as Chairman of the Board of Directors in May 2007. In his capacity as Secretary of the German National Committee of IEC and CENELEC Dr. Thies also represents German interests in various Management Committees. In March 2014 he was elected as Chairman for the External Relations Committee of CEN, CENELEC and ETSI. In December 2014 Dr. Thies has been nominated as Vice-President of the Asian Management Association (China), the international institute engaged in providing professional training and consulting services for the organizations and the individuals in China. Since many years he holds lectures at the RWTH Aachen “Protective Measures and Equipment in Power Supply Systems and Electrical Installations” (Master-Studies Electrical Power Engineering.) Dr Thies is Vice-Chairman of the EEBus Initiative, a network of leading companies, associations and stakeholders in the German and international energy, telecommunications and electrical industry in order to open up the new market of smart connectivity In Januar 2015 Dr. Thies started his duties as the incoming CENELEC President; his CENELEC presidency will last from 2016 until 2018.

Wim Elfrink is the executive Vice-President of Cisco for industry solutions, and head director for globalization. In this role, he is responsible for three global functions at Cisco: Industry Solutions, Business Developments in countries with fast-growing economies, and Company Strategy for globalization. Mr Elfrink is the executive director and is part of Cisco’s Operating Committee. Mr Elfrink has taken up various positions at Cisco, beginning in 1997 and including a post as Senior Vice-President, Head of Global Business Services, and executive Vice-President. He also created the Cisco Eastern Center for Globalization in Bangalore, India, which after four years of his activity has become Cisco’s second global headquarters. Mr Elfrink is an honored Cisco entrepreneur, and has led various company initiatives to support the development of the concept of the “Internet of Everything” (IoE) and the “Internet of Things” (IoT). Elfrink’s main focus for global strategy is determining the technological opportunities for the transformation of cities, countries and also businesses in countries with fast-growing economies, which are undergoing significant economic, social and ecological changes. Mr Elfrink has a BA in technical sciences from the Rotterdam Technological Institute, the Netherlands. He was born on April 12, 1952 in Rotterdam, in the Netherlands.

Irina Gaida joined BCG in 2005. She is the leader of the Energy practice group in BCG CIS. Irina works on a variety of issues, including organizational issues, operational efficiency improvements, and growth, as well as market entry strategies and due diligence/PMI support. Her client portfolio includes Russian VIOCs and major international companies working in Russia. As a member of the global Energy practice group, Irina is closely involved in several global studies on topics such as BRIC markets fuel retailing and gas market developments. Prior to BCG Irina worked as a strategy consultant on various projects for industrial goods, FMCG, health care, and financial services companies in Europe and former CIS countries. She also worked as an operational and financial auditor for United Technologies Corporation in London and Hartford, CT, and as an audit consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers in St. Petersburg. Irina earned her MBA degree at Harvard Business School in 2003. She also holds an MSc degree in economics from the St. Petersburg State University, specializing in operations research. Irina has ACCA diploma in auditing and accounting and is a certified Russian Statutory Auditor.

Carlo Rossotto is the Lead ICT Specialist and Regional Coordinator in ECA and MENA regions in the ICT Sector Unit at the World Bank. He has previously held the positions of Middle East and North Africa Regional Coordinator in the GICT Department and the Senior ICT Specialist at the World Bank. Prior to that, Mr. Rossotto served as economist at the Inter-American Development Bank and the Foundazione Roselli. Mr. Rossotto authored several World Bank publications focused on the role of ICT and broadband strategies in the job creation. Mr. Rossotto holds a Master’s degree in Financial and Commercial Regulation, Utilities Regulation, and Financial Market Regulation from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Business Administration from the Università Commerciale 'Luigi Bocconi.' He speaks six languages and is fluent in Italian, French, and Spanish.