The Secret Source of Innovation Summit

With over 14 years of professional experience, Dr. Giordano Koch is a seasoned consultant and innovation management expert. For 40 episodes so far, he is also host of the podcast The Secret Source of Innovation.
Giordano holds a PhD from the University of Hamburg, where his research centered on Open Innovation within the public sector. Beyond academia, he shares his expertise as a lecturer for Executive MBA programs and as a guest researcher, having contributed to over 30 publications across various universities.

The newly appointed Group Chief Digital Officer (CDO) Gabriel von Mitschke-Collande previously held various management positions at BayWa AG, most recently also as CDO. A graduate in business administration, he is a member of the sixth generation of the entrepreneurial family. With his relevant experience, he will continue to drive the digital transformation at G+D and implement it strategically and operationally.

As CTO, Michael Tagscherer is responsible for overseeing the company’s technological innovations and strategies, focusing on areas such as secure payment, identity management, connectivity, and data protection. Under Tagscherer’s leadership, G+D has emphasized the importance of trust in data, which is crucial for the functioning of modern technologies like autonomous driving, smart energy grids, and highly automated factories. Tagscherer highlights that the integrity of data is fundamental to the viability of many business models and innovations today​.

Sindy Leffler-Krebs is a Compliance Manager at Deutsche Telekom. She has been actively involved in initiatives related to digital transformation and the integration of AI within the company. Leffler-Krebs has emphasized the importance of building competencies and awareness around the use of AI tools, advocating for comprehensive training and practical approaches to ensure employees are well-equipped to handle AI technologies.

Mathias Oppelt leads a team focused on transforming industries through digitalization and customer-driven innovation. His work involves leveraging advanced technologies like AI and digital twins to enhance industrial operations and drive sustainable transformations. He has extensive experience in simulation, digitalization, and automation, and previously led the Simulation and Digitalization Center within Siemens Digital Industries. His current role involves optimizing industrial operations using software-driven control systems and generative AI to streamline processes and enhance efficiency

Kai-Uwe Reimers has been Head of Research & Innovation at REWE Digital since the end of 2018. In this role, he is responsible for R&I, in which technology-driven, disruptive innovations for use in retail are identified and tested and new business models are developed.

When REWE digital was founded in 2014, Kai-Uwe Reimers played a key role in setting up the software development organization as Head of Development. After studying business informatics in Münster, he worked at SAP for around 10 years as a software engineer, project manager and development manager before founding a start-up in the online food retail sector in 2009.

Dr. Volker Glaeser is the CEO of DISH Digital Solutions (Metro AG) focused on providing digital solutions for the hospitality industry.

Dr. Glaeser has a diverse background in leadership roles across major companies such as Vodafone and Yahoo, where he managed various digital and e-commerce portfolios. He also held consulting positions in digital strategy and transformation​. Additionally, Dr. Glaeser has contributed to academia as a visiting lecturer at FOM University in Düsseldorf and Macromedia University in Cologne. His expertise spans areas like big data, multichannel distribution, and digital transformation.​