SHAPING PROCUREMENT’S FUTURE
Louis Chandor on Curating Europe’s Leading Procurement Agenda at ProcureCon EU
As Content Director of ProcureCon EU, Louis Chandor plays a pivotal role in shaping one of Europe’s most influential procurement events. With a background in producing high impact conferences across the UK, Europe and the US, Louis combines analytical insight with a passion for connection to deliver programmes that reflect the evolving needs of procurement leaders. In this Q&A, he shares the strategy behind building an agenda grounded in research, the growing role of AI and IT procurement, and how ProcureCon continues to foster meaningful partnerships, sustainability and resilience across the procurement ecosystem.
Professional Background & Role Evolution
Can you walk us through your career journey, what pivotal roles and experiences led you to your current position at ProcureCon EU and WBR?
After graduating with a history degree from the University of Bristol, I transitioned from archives to agendas and dove headfirst into the world of event production! Over the past three years, I’ve produced 54 events across the UK, Europe and the US, ranging from intimate roundtables to multi day conferences buzzing with ideas (and coffee).
Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of working with some remarkable leaders, from Blackstone’s Managing Director, who led a $70 billion data centre investment into Europe, to the Head of European Real Estate at Norges Bank, the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund.
Outside of work, I’ve always valued platforms for exchange, writing for the local newspaper, debating for the Model UN at the UN headquarters, and attending academic conferences. These experiences underpin my passion for building spaces where ideas and people come together.As Content Director for ProcureCon, I get to interview senior executives from companies like Ferrari and Novo Nordisk to uncover their biggest challenges and opportunities. I love turning these insights into impactful agendas that inspire connection, reflection and forward thinking, and at WBR, I’ve been lucky to do just that.
Vision & Purpose of ProcureCon EU
What do you see as the unique value that ProcureCon EU brings to procurement leaders across Europe, especially in comparison to other flagship procurement events?
ProcureCon Europe is the only event that brings together CPOs and their entire senior leadership teams across multiple categories. This means you’ll gain access to the most senior strategic thinkers in procurement, all in one place. ProcureCon Europe attracts key representatives from the largest organisations across Europe. It’s not just a meeting, it’s a gathering of the biggest and most influential players in the procurement industry.
The event’s content is meticulously crafted, drawing on more than 65 in depth interviews with senior procurement professionals across Europe, and over 90 total research calls with procurement leaders. As a result, ProcureCon Europe addresses the real, pressing issues and offers actionable solutions that drive value now.
Focus Themes for 2025
ProcureCon Europe 2024 emphasised navigating geopolitical pressures, sustainability, automation and analytics. Which of these will carry into 2025, and are there any new priority topics for this year’s event?
The advancement of Artificial Intelligence is unprecedented, moving from theory and buzzword status to real world application in 2025. It’s arguably the greatest invention since the internet, unlocking time savings and driving value across all industries, with trillions of dollars’ worth of investment from both public and private sectors.
Instability, whether inflation, fears of recession, supply chain bottlenecks or tariffs, continues to plague the global economy, with daily price and supply chain shocks. This is causing economies to become increasingly fragmented, putting procurement teams on high alert as they work to mitigate both existing and potential disruptions.
Sustainability has been a top priority for almost all multinational, publicly listed companies over the past decade. However, it’s now being scrutinised through a new lens, considering changing political climates and shifting public perceptions. It’s essential to assess whether the real time benefits of sustainability efforts remain justifiable amid rising costs and continued pressure to drive profitability in today’s macroeconomic environment.
All of the above are mission critical topics, and procurement professionals must ensure they aren’t left behind, implementing the necessary changes to thrive by benchmarking with their peers. As digitisation and software implementation have become essential for all Fortune 500 businesses, ProcureCon is putting a spotlight on technology procurement in 2025 with the launch of our dedicated ProcureCon IT stream. Co located alongside ProcureCon Europe, ProcureCon IT is designed to empower IT procurement professionals to cut costs, manage risk and fuel digital growth.
Partnerships & Collaborations
ProcureCon EU involves numerous sponsors and strategic partners. How do you work with core partners to shape the conference agenda, and what criteria do you use when selecting those collaborators?
Connecting and exchanging ideas with our advisory board is a central part of the agenda development process. After conducting more than 90 interviews, we bring our research to this group to ensure the programme remains relevant, honest and market leading. Working with advisory board members, made up of CPOs and senior procurement professionals from the likes of Asahi, Unilever and CSL Behring, is not only a real pleasure, but truly invaluable in ensuring our agenda retains both relevance and integrity.
We also work closely with partners who genuinely bring value. Whether it’s global players like VISA or GEP, or start ups like Denova and ProcureVue, we prioritise those who have a story to tell, not a sales pitch to deliver. The aim is always the same: thought leadership that informs and engages.
Engaging Procurement Thought Leaders
The speaker lineup features CPOs from Unilever, Tata Steel, Keurig Dr Pepper and others. How do you identify and secure these voices, and what impact do their insights have on the event’s outcomes?
I have the honour of working with some of the industry’s heavyweights. Their insights, case studies, mistakes, successes, challenges and learnings are all crucial to delivering meaningful thought leadership to our audience of over 650 procurement professionals.
We give these leaders a platform to share their experiences, and in turn, they help raise the bar for the entire community. The opportunity to benchmark with peers at this level is truly invaluable.
Technology & Innovation Integration
With strong interest in automation and data analytics highlighted previously, how do you ensure ProcureCon showcases the most cutting edge technological solutions for procurement teams?
ProcureCon Europe stays at the forefront of procurement technology and innovation by curating sessions and partnering with tech providers that offer hands on insights.
This year’s event will open with a compelling case study from Unilever’s newly appointed CPO, who will share how they’ve successfully embedded AI into procurement, turning theoretical buzz into practical value.
Over the following three days, numerous procurement professionals will deliver deep dives into how they are integrating new technologies to help resolve some of the key challenges the community is facing.
Sustainability & Responsible Sourcing
Sustainable procurement continues to gain traction. How do you build sustainability into the DNA of ProcureCon (e.g., through session selection, speaker criteria, or content collaboration)?
Sustainability is firmly in the spotlight due to shifting political landscapes, evolving public sentiment and new policy developments. Many of our speakers, those responsible for purchasing goods and services, recognise sustainability as a real value add in contracts and negotiations. When weighing the benefits and costs, we prioritise bringing speakers to the stage who have heavily invested in this space, with a story to tell and tangible ROI to share.
ProcureCon EU has also partnered with One Tree Planted to support global reforestation. Each delegate’s registration triggers a £1 donation, contributing to our goal of planting over 9,000 trees. Beyond donations, we embed sustainability into the event experience itself, from choosing eco friendly venues and using paperless apps, to encouraging reusable materials and promoting public transport.
I’d encourage all our attendees to visit our website to find out more: https://procureconeu.wbresearch.com/one-tree-planted
Supplier Relationship & Ecosystem Management
Conferences emphasise networking and fostering supplier partnerships. How does ProcureCon facilitate genuine supplier–buyer engagement or ecosystem building during the event?
Alongside all the thought leadership and opportunities for in depth learning, ProcureCon Europe is also about expanding your network. Facilitating an ecosystem of exchange is a key aim, with over 15 hours of networking built into the agenda across breakfasts, lunches and evening drinks, attendees have ample opportunity to shake hands and share ideas.
The exhibition hall offers a unique chance to discover the “who’s who” in the procurement space. With a number of exciting and interactive stands planned, we’re confident every attendee will leave with a buzz.
Interactive formats such as roundtables, workshops and boardroom sessions create space for more intimate exchanges, allowing attendees to focus on core topics and drive conversations around the key challenges the industry is facing.
Sustainability is firmly in the spotlight due to shifting political landscapes, evolving public sentiment and new policy developments.
Responding to Market Volatility
Given ongoing supply chain disruptions, from inflation to geopolitical shifts, what concrete strategies or case studies will ProcureCon spotlight to help procurement leaders build resilience?
ProcureCon Europe is laser focused on helping procurement leaders build stability in an unstable world by bringing together industry experts to share their experiences and showcase actionable strategies.
I’m especially excited about our keynote presentation from the CPO of Siemens Energy on navigating volatility. This session will offer a bold, in depth look at how enhanced visibility and agility have enabled companies to thrive amid shifting tariffs and trade policies.
Throughout the three day event, we’ll focus on providing end to end visibility, governance frameworks and adaptive strategies, all designed to empower procurement teams not just to respond to crises, but to build lasting resilience.
Legacy & Future Direction
As ProcureCon EU approaches its next editions, what long term objectives or evolutions do you envision for the event to enhance its impact on the procurement community in Europe?
Our long term vision is to keep reflecting the real world of procurement, its challenges, opportunities and constant evolution. By anchoring our agenda in research interviews with procurement professionals, we ensure every session speaks directly to our audience’s needs and priorities.
Even with 30 percent year on year growth in attendance*, we’re committed to keeping the event personal and focused. We know attendees are taking time out of busy schedules, and it’s our responsibility to ensure they leave with more than they expected, whether that’s new ideas, meaningful connections or both.
Looking ahead, we’re expanding further into the DACH region and introducing new content areas such as IT procurement. However, our goal remains the same; to make ProcureCon the essential gathering point for Europe’s most influential procurement leaders.
ProcureCon Europe is the leading event for senior procurement professionals, bringing together CPOs and leadership teams from Europe’s top organisations for three days of strategic insights, innovation, and networking. Organised by WBR, the agenda is shaped by 90+ indepth interviews with procurement leaders to address the most pressing challenges—from AI adoption and supply chain volatility to sustainability and technology procurement. With interactive formats, 15+ hours of networking, and the introduction of the dedicated ProcureCon IT stream in 2025, the event offers unmatched opportunities to benchmark, collaborate, and drive real impact. Committed to responsible sourcing, ProcureCon partners with One Tree Planted and incorporates eco-friendly practices across the event.
Louis Chandor Conference Producer