AI is Easy. Transformation is Hard
14th May at 6:30pm . Keynotes . Panel . Private Dining . Networking
An invite only CXO evening on what it takes to succeed in AI transformation. Get inspired by AI industry leaders from AXA, Gartner and OAO - the recent winners of the World Economic Forum Minds Award 2026.
Transformation
is an Enterprise Mission
About the Event
This exclusive insights event with networking dinner is bought to you by event partners OAO and Eden Smith.
It is designed for CXO's to be inspired on how to progress from AI pilots and use cases to enterprise wide transformation and change.
Get inspired by AI industry leaders from AXA, Gartner and OAO - the recent WEF Minds Award Winner 2026.
Success depends on how effectively leaders can inspire strategy, culture, and capability evolve together OR leaders align people, process, and strategy.
Join this exclusive executive session designed for c-suite leaders navigating the realities of digital transformation, exploring how cross-functional collaboration fuels transformation - from strategic design to measurable adoption.
Learn from case studies of successful transformation, discover practical frameworks for adoption, and see how OAO helps organisations translate AI potential into business value. Join a panel of experts and peers for an evening of insight, discussion, and networking.
Who Should Attend
- CXO
- Senior Executives
- Executive Responsibility for Transformation
Agenda
Venue: The 1776 at 1 Lombard Street
Date: Thursday 14th May, from 6:30pm-10pm
- Welcome reception
- Keynote with Niresh Rajah, CDAIO and Lauren Morgan, Exec Leader for Global CDAO’s, Gartner.
- Panel Discussion on Transformational Change
- Private dining with a 3 course dinner & networking
Speakers
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Niresh Rajah
CDAIO, Fellow at Imperial College, Innovation Expert at Oxford University and Chair of UK AI - FS
Niresh Rajah is a globally recognised executive leader with over 20 years’ experience across Financial Services and Professional Services, specialising in Data & Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Automation and large‑scale transformation.
He has has held senior leadership roles at Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group, Danske Bank, DLA Piper and Grant Thornton, reporting to Group CEOs, COOs.
He is the innovation expert at Oxford University, Honorary Practice Fellow at Imperial College and Chair of UK AI’s Financial Services Working Group.
Niresh is recognised as a multi‑year Global CDO‑100 and AI Executive to Watch.
Vice President, Gartner Research Board – Executive Community Lead for Global CDAOs
Lauren Morgan leads Gartner’s Executive Community for Global Chief Data, Analytics and AI Officers, advising the world’s most senior data leaders on strategy, transformation and AI adoption.
She joins straight from the Gartner Data & Analytics Summit in London (May 11–13), where 3,000+ CDAOs convene for Europe’s premier conference on data, analytics and AI.
With over four years at Gartner Research Board, Lauren brings a unique perspective on what separates successful AI transformations from the rest.
Chief Innovation, Data & Analytics Officer at AXA XL
Ashok Krishnan leads AXA XL’s Data, AI, Analytics, Digital Transformation and Innovation functions globally.
A keynote speaker at ITC London 2026 on “Data is the new currency of competitive advantage,” he brings over 12 years at AXA – first as Chief Data Officer and Customer Experience Director at AXA Hong Kong, then as CDAO and now CIDAO at AXA XL, the group’s global Commercial P&C and Specialty Insurance business.
Prior to AXA, Ashok held strategy and finance roles at Prudential plc.
He holds an MBA from Cranfield School of Management.
Co-Founder at OAO & Academic Director at HEC Paris
René Eber is Co-Founder of OAO and Academic Director for AI at HEC Paris.
He holds a PhD in applied machine learning, with an academic background in both Business Administration and Computer Science from institutions including Harvard, MIT and the University of St. Gallen.
Together with Julian Schirmer, René was recognised at the World Economic Forum with the WEF MINDS Award 2026 for OAO's measurable impact on Sanofi's enterprise AI transformation.
He helps organisations leverage machine learning to translate strategic vision into competitive, data-driven solutions across industries from healthcare to hedge funds.
Ex-CDAO AXA, Snr Partner Kearney
Roland Scharrer is a Partner in Kearney's Digital & Analytics practice and former Group Chief Data, AI & Emerging Technology Officer at AXA, where he sat on the Executive Committee of AXA Group Operations and led the global data and AI strategy.
A Stanford Visiting Research Scholar, MIT Fellow, and regular World Economic Forum contributor, he brings over 15 years of experience driving AI transformation at enterprise scale.
Roland is currently pursuing an executive PhD at ESCP, researching how organisational AI adoption impacts competitiveness.
Co-Founder at OAO, Prof. HEC Paris
An expert in AI transformation at the intersection of academia and entrepreneurship.
Julian holds a PhD in AI-driven transformation and has trained over 6,000 executives globally, engaging 25+ Executive Committees at companies such as Sanofi and AXA.
He is a two-time World Economic Forum award winner – most recently the WEF MINDS Award 2026 with OAO for creating measurable impact in Sanofi's enterprise AI transformation.
