Unlocking the power of products
About Future of Product
Great design helps companies bring their products to market faster, lower their supply chain costs, and earn passionate customer loyalty. And design thinking holds unimaginable potential for achieving profitable growth. Brought to you by PERLab, the Future of Product summit brings together design and operations leaders from some of the world’s most innovative product companies to re-imagine what’s next in the product ecosystem.
The 2024 Future of Product Summit for Europe will take place on November 28 in Paris. Our panel themes for this event can be found below.
Welcome remarks
Delphine Bourrilly
President & Managing Partner, Kearney France
Product design’s seat at the table: a boardroom revolution
In this CxO session, we delve into the transformative journey of product design from the studio to the boardroom and explore the pivotal question: how can companies leverage the prowess of product design to leapfrog their competition? Join us as we unravel the reasons behind the ascension of design to the boardroom, examining how it is not only a creative endeavor but also steering the course of corporate strategy and propelling companies toward unparalleled competitive advantage. We’ll discover how companies harness the power of product design to fuel innovation, enhance customer experiences, and build loyalty to gain a leading edge. This session will focus on understanding the dynamic role of design in shaping the business landscape.
Joachim Fetzer
Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, Marelli
Marc Auclair, CEO, Carambar & Co.
CEO, Carambar & Co.
Benjamin Fitoussi
President, Rolling Stock & Components, Development & Operations, Alstom
Pascal Houdayer
Senior Advisor, Kearney; Former Executive Vice President, Beauty Care, Henkel
Moderator: Victor Graf Dijon von Monteton
Partner, Kearney
Supply chain resilience by design: unlocking the potential of supply chains through innovative product design
Global disruptions and evolving geopolitical tensions underscore the vital importance of robust supply chains. This session will unveil the pivotal role that product design plays in fortifying and reimagining supply chain dynamics. Join us for an insightful conversation that transcends traditional supply chain discussions, focusing on the power of product design. Our expert panel will discuss the intricacies between design decisions and supply chain resilience as well as how innovative product design choices can mitigate risks and reduce vulnerabilities, enhance adaptability, and create efficiencies throughout the entire supply network.
Winfried Rockensteiner
Global Vice President Logistics Bosch Power Solutions, Robert Bosch GmbH
Daniel Seh
Chief Procurement Officer, L’Oréal
Stéphane L'Hermine
Head of Global Risk & Resilience, Schneider Electric
Moderator: Fabrice Wagner
Partner, Kearney
From like to love: understanding why consumers fall in love with some products
Join us for a captivating session as we examine the psychology behind consumer affection toward certain products. Some products have a magnetic allure that goes beyond functionality and captivates the hearts and minds of consumers. This session isn’t just about selling products; it’s about understanding the deeper human desires and aspirations that drive consumer behavior. Our expert panel will discuss the underlying factors in product design that contribute to this phenomenon—from intuitive design, minimalism, personalization, and emotional resonance to storytelling, brand identity, and much more. We’ll uncover the secrets to what constitutes a great product design that forges deep connections with consumers, inspiring loyalty, advocacy, and even love.
Sabrina Herlory Rouget
Chief Executive Officer, Aroma-Zone
Isabelle de Ponfilly
Co-founder, Source Edition
Mary Minnick
Former COO Asia and former CMO and Head of Marketing, Strategy and Innovation at The Coca-Cola Company; Board Member at Heineken and Target Corporation
Eléonore Baudry
President, Figaret
Delphine Bourrilly
President & Managing Partner, Kearney France
Design for sustainability
With today’s growing emphasis on sustainability and ethical business practices, this enlightening session will dive into how companies can use the principles, strategies, and methodologies of designing for sustainability to create products that have a positive impact on people, profit, and the planet. Join us as we consider the crucial intersection of product design and sustainability. Our expert panel will share insights into the multifaceted aspects of sustainable product design throughout the various phases of a product’s life cycle—from conceptualization, product design, supply chain, and life cycle analysis to recovery and circularity. Discover how forward-thinking companies are integrating sustainability into their design processes, not only to minimize environmental impact but also to drive innovation, enhance brand value, and meet the evolving expectations of conscious consumers.
Barbara Bressand-Sussfeld
Global Vice President Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability, L’Oréal Paris
Christophe Aufrère
Chief Technology Officer, Forvia
Pierre-Alexandre Teulié
Founder, 1Pacte Conseil
Oliver Keller
Director Strategy & Product, TEAMS Design
Moderator: Angela Hultberg
Global Sustainability Leader, Kearney
AI unleashed: revolutionizing products for the future
As AI permeates every aspect of our lives, from smart homes to autonomous vehicles, this session will explore how AI is reshaping the very essence of products. Journey into the heart of the AI revolution as we investigate the ways AI is revolutionizing various stages of product development. From ideation, prototyping, consumer validation, and demand forecasting to personalized customer experiences and autonomous production, we’ll share real-world examples, discuss emerging trends, and uncover the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI into end-to-end product life cycles.
Stéphane Lannuzel
Beauty Tech Program Director, L’Oréal
Pierre-Yves Calloc’h
Chief Digital Officer, Pernod Ricard
Michel Forissier
CEO, TheMeeGoo
Mathieu Ovaert
Chief Digital Officer, Nestlé
Moderator: Reda Gomery
Partner, Kearney
Summit Wrap-Up
Dominik Leisinger
Partner & Europe Lead, Kearney PERLab