–
Welcome to this extra episode of the Leaders in Finance Podcast, recorded live after the third Leaders in Finance AI Event at Pakhuis de Zwijger in Amsterdam.
Following a day of keynotes and discussions, host Kees de Wit is joined by Menno Bonninga (Partner at EY Consulting and EY Netherlands AI Lead), Bira Thanabalasingam (Managing Director at Yellowtail Conclusion), Kyriakos Fistos (AI & Analytics Advisor at SAS), and Yorick Naeff (Chief Innovation Officer at ABN AMRO) to reflect on some of the biggest questions facing financial institutions as AI moves from experimentation towards everyday business.
Why do so many AI initiatives still struggle to scale? Why is data quality often a bigger challenge than the AI models themselves? And how do large financial institutions balance innovation with governance, regulation and decades of legacy systems? The conversation explores the rise of agentic AI, the difference between trust and customer loyalty, why organisations should stop chasing the latest models and instead start with strategy, and how AI is forcing banks to rethink not only their technology, but also their operating models, workforce and long-term role in society.
One theme returns throughout the discussion: successful AI transformation is ultimately less about technology than about people, leadership and making the right organisational choices.
A big thank you to all speakers, participants and our event partners for making this another inspiring edition of the Leaders in Finance AI Event.
***
Leaders in Finance is made possible by the support of EY, Mogelijk Vastgoedfinancieringen, Duna and Lepaya. More information about our partners is available at our partner page.
***
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: AI Event 2026 Reflections (transcript)
***
Follow Leaders in Finance on LinkedIn.
***
Want to stay up to date with Leaders in Finance? Subscribe to the newsletter.
***
Questions, suggestions, or feedback? We would love to hear from you! You can reach us via email at [email protected]
***
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).
