Insights from the Leaders’ Summit Europe - a special podcast episode

The latest episode of the Finance Connect European Equipment Finance Podcast, sponsored by Alfa, was recorded live at the Finance Connect Leaders’ Summit Europe 2026, held on March 10th in Cologne, capturing the conversations, insights and energy of the day.

Hosted by Richard O’Donohue, this first of two Summit-special episodes features a series of interviews with delegates, speakers and sponsors, reflecting on the themes shaping the equipment finance industry – from AI and pay-per-use to healthcare, private credit and evolving capital strategies.

From uncertainty to opportunity

The day opened on a cautious note, with macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty setting the tone. But as the conversations unfolded, a more optimistic narrative emerged.

Rich Dewire, Chief Revenue Officer at Alfa – headline sponsor of the Finance Connect Leaders’ Summit Europe 2026 – reflected on this shift, noting that while there are clear challenges in the wider environment, the industry itself remains focused on opportunity.

That sense of cautious optimism was echoed later in the episode by Alfa’s Leon Atkins, who highlighted Europe’s relative stability as a potential advantage for investors and lenders navigating global disruption.

This balance between realism and opportunity became a recurring theme throughout the podcast.

AI: urgency over hesitation

Artificial intelligence was one of the most prominent topics discussed during the Summit.

Katrin Puettmann emphasised that many organisations are still underestimating the pace of change.

Treating AI as a traditional, long-cycle IT investment risks falling behind, she argued. Instead, businesses should begin building capability now — even without overhauling their entire technology stack.

For first-time attendee Mike Yiannakou (CF Corporate Finance), AI was one of the standout areas of learning, alongside exposure to new funding models and investor perspectives.

Pay-per-use and servitisation regain momentum

Another theme returning to the spotlight was pay-per-use and as-a-service models.

Mark Byrne (DLL) noted that while adoption is still developing, interest is clearly growing again — particularly as organisations look for more flexible financing options.

Importantly, discussions at the Summit suggested a shift from theory to execution, with companies now focusing on how to scale these models commercially.

This was reinforced by Leon Atkins, who observed that the conversation has moved beyond pilots. Businesses are increasingly finding practical ways to make servitisation models viable, particularly in areas such as green assets and capital-constrained sectors.

Healthcare moves from niche to mainstream

Healthcare was introduced as a key theme at this year’s Summit and generated strong engagement.

Kursad Terzi (Philips) and Peter Krause (Invigors) both highlighted the growing importance of healthcare equipment financing. While still considered a niche within the broader leasing industry, there is clear momentum building.

Peter noted that reduced public funding across Europe is creating a structural shift, increasing the role of private financing solutions. The strong participation from OEMs, funders and advisors in the roundtable discussions reflected both the opportunity and the need for greater collaboration across the ecosystem.

Private credit and new funding strategies

The role of private credit was another major focus.

From a capital perspective, Gautam Pandey (Alvarez & Marsal) highlighted growing interest from investors looking to deploy funds into asset finance. Meanwhile, Leon Atkins pointed to private credit as an increasingly strategic tool for lenders — enabling diversification of funding sources and supporting newer, more innovative business models.

Even for long-established players like Alfa, as noted by Rich Dewire, exploring adjacent areas such as commercial finance and private credit is becoming part of the broader strategic conversation.

A platform for connection and collaboration

Beyond individual topics, the podcast captures what makes the Summit distinctive: its ability to bring together a diverse group of industry participants in a highly interactive setting.

From Enrique Riquelme (CSI Leasing) and Didier Moller (BPCE Equipment Solutions) to Finance Connect’s John Rees, the feedback was consistent – the energy in the room, particularly during the breakout sessions, reflected a genuine appetite for discussion, learning and collaboration.

As John Rees noted, the conversations did not end when the sessions finished – they continued into networking, dinner and beyond, underlining the value of creating space for meaningful connection.

A market evolving together

This special episode highlights an industry that is actively evolving – exploring new models, embracing new technologies and building new partnerships.

Whether through AI, pay-per-use, healthcare financing or private credit, the discussions in Cologne pointed to a market that is not only adapting to change, but actively shaping what comes next.

Listen now to the Finance Connect European Equipment Finance Podcast to hear the full range of insights, recorded live amid the buzz of networking and conversation at the Finance Connect Leaders’ Summit Europe 2026.

Stream the episode now at https://finance-connect.com/european-equipment-finance-podcast/ or tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and Amazon Music.