Last month, our colleagues Kees de Wit and Tom van Disseldorp travelled to Sorrento, Italy, at the invitation of ObjectWay for OWIN26. During this multi-day event, they engaged with senior leaders from across the European financial services industry on the future of operating models, partnerships, and innovation.
In this episode, host Tom van Disseldorp speaks with Karl de Borger (Head of Sales and Relationship Management at KBC Securities Services), Thomas de Nil (Head of Savings and Investments at vdk Bank), and Kurt Vanhee (CEO Continental Europe at ObjectWay) about what it takes to build successful partnerships in an increasingly complex financial ecosystem.
They discuss how trust is built through delivery and shared accountability, how institutions are moving from standalone models to partner ecosystems, and why simplicity for the client requires complexity behind the scenes. The conversation also covers industry consolidation, shifting expectations of the next generation, and the growing importance of smooth onboarding and asset transfers. Finally, they reflect on how AI and automation are reshaping operations—from advisory support to fully automated processes—while the end goal remains the same: stronger, more personal client relationships in a digital world.
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Leaders in Finance is made possible by the support of EY, Mogelijk Vastgoedfinancieringen, and Lepaya. More information about our partners is available at our partner page.
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The conversations from Leaders in Finance are transcribed to make the podcast accessible to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as to those who prefer reading over listening: Karl de Borger, Thomas de Nil and Kurt Vanhee (transcript)
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Previous guests on the Leaders in Finance podcast include: Klaas Knot (President DNB), Frank Elderson (Executive Board, ECB), Roland Boekhout (CEO ASN Bank), Gerrit Zalm (former Minister of Finance and former CEO of ABN AMRO), Ingrid de Swart (member of the Executive Board, a.s.r.), Pinar Abay (Management Board ING, Head of Retail Banking), Robert Swaak (CEO ABN AMRO), Marcel Zuidam (CEO NN Bank), Saul van Beurden (CEO Consumer, Small & Business Banking, Wells Fargo), David Knibbe (CEO NN Group), Janine Vos (Executive Board, Rabobank), Nadine Klokke (CEO Knab), Maarten Edixhoven (CEO Van Lanschot Kempen), Jeroen Rijpkema (CEO Triodos Bank), Nout Wellink (former President DNB), Onno Ruding (former minister of finance), Yoram Schwarz (CEO Movir), Laura van Geest (Executive Board, AFM), Katja Kok (CEO Van Lanschot CH), Ali Niknam (CEO bunq), Nick Bortot (CEO BUX), Petri Hofsté (supervisory board member, including at Rabobank and Achmea), Peter Paul de Vries (CEO Value8), Barbara Baarsma (CEO Rabo Carbon Bank), Jan van Rutte (C supervisory board member, including at Rabobank and Achmea), Marguerite Soeteman-Reijne (Chair Aon Holdings), Lidwin van Velden (CEO Nederlandse Waterschapsbank), Jan-Willem van der Schoot (CEO Mastercard NL), Joanne Kellermann (Chair PFZW), Steven Maijoor (former Chair ESMA), Radboud Vlaar (CEO Finch Capital), Jos Baeten (CEO a.s.r.), Karin van Baardwijk (CEO Robeco), Annette Mosman (CEO APG).
