Finance Connect Leaders’ Summit Europe 2026 agenda announced

Finance Connect has unveiled the agenda for the Leaders’ Summit Europe 2026, bringing together financiers, captives, fintechs, investors and policy influencers to examine how the European auto and equipment finance landscape is being reshaped, and what organisations need to do to thrive in this new era.

The 2026 agenda is designed around the strategic, operational and leadership challenges now facing the sector, as geopolitical risk, policy reset, technological change and shifts in funding markets combine to redefine how auto and equipment finance businesses operate across Europe. The programme will explore how shifting global trade dynamics, changing policy priorities and macroeconomic volatility are reshaping strategy for industry leaders, and how firms are strengthening resilience in the face of rising cyber risk, fraud and broader operational threats.

A central theme of the Summit will be how funding models are evolving as wholesale bank appetite tightens across Europe, accelerating the role of private credit and alternative capital in funding growth. Alongside this, sessions will focus on how lenders are navigating a changing regulatory and political climate, balancing regulatory simplification agendas with the EU’s competitiveness objectives and the practical realities of operating in multiple jurisdictions.

The agenda also places strong emphasis on digital transformation and data strategy, examining how technology, automation and AI are being deployed to modernise origination, credit decisioning and operating models at scale. Leadership and collaboration will run as a cross-cutting theme throughout the Summit, with discussions exploring how banks, captives, independents and technology partners can work together to drive sustainable growth and innovation in a more complex and interconnected market.

The Summit format is designed to maximise interaction and practical learning, combining keynote interviews, roundtable discussions, research-led panels and focused breakout sessions. This structure creates space for senior leaders to challenge assumptions, share lessons from their own organisations and shape new strategies in response to a rapidly changing operating environment.

Finance Connect is delighted to confirm that many respected industry leaders are already confirmed to speak at the 2026 Leaders’ Summit. Speakers announced to date include:

• Pascal Layan, Deputy CEO at BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions
• Richard Knubben, Director General at Leaseurope
• Marcella Merli, Head of CA Auto Bank Italy
• Michaele Stewart, Senior Manager at Mazda Financial Services
• Katrin Puettmann, CEO at FMIT Technologies
• Ian Dennis, Head of EV Fleet at Zenobe
• Mark Byrne, Global Director, Pay Per Use at DLL
• Carlos Ribeiro, Managing Director for UK and Ireland at Volvo Financial Services
• Mathilde Saint Pol, Managing Director for Technology Management and Financing at Econocom France
• Manish Shah, Senior Advisor at Alvarez & Marsal
• Wolfgang Köhne, Senior Vice President at KION Financial Services
• Ivo Ljubica, CEO at Toyota Financial Services.

Further speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

The full agenda for Finance Connect Leaders’ Summit Europe 2026, in association with Invigors, is now available to view on the event website.

Attendance at the Summit is by invitation only, with places reserved for senior decision-makers from across Europe’s auto and equipment finance ecosystem. Keen to attend? Register your interest at https://afcleadersummit.com/2026/en/page/submit-your-registration