First Business Leaders Night at IFA 2026

Ingolstadt, September 5, 2026

With its first Business Leaders’ Night, MediaMarktSaturn launched a new executive event format on the occasion of IFA Berlin 2026. The goal of the event is to bring together leading figures from various industries in a trusting environment and to foster dialogue on key issues shaping the future.

Last night’s inaugural event was held under the theme “The Future of Experience: Live, Media & AI.” The focus was on the impact of artificial intelligence, digital business models, a culture of innovation, and the future of customer experiences and retail.

Around 100 decision-makers from business, technology, retail, media, and culture accepted the invitation to Berlin. Guests included Dr. Axel Kniehl (Managing Director of Marketing and Sales at Miele), Fabio De’Longhi (CEO of De’Longhi), Stefan Luludes (SVP EMEAI at Nvidia), Mark Linton (CVP of Windows and Device Sales at Microsoft), as well as other leading figures and industry experts from the technology and innovation sectors.

Prominent guests from the worlds of culture and media, including actresses Nora Tschirner and Jeanne Goursaud, actors Fahri Yardim and Julius Weckauf, digital expert Sascha Lobo, and creator and author Alicia Joe, also attended the event.

A trusting environment for new perspectives and future topics

After welcoming the guests on the red carpet, Remko Rijnders, CEO of CECONOMY AG & MediaMarktSaturn Retail Group and host of the evening, opened the event with a welcome speech. In his remarks, he discussed the opportunities and changes brought about by new technologies and AI – and shared his perspective on the factors that will be crucial for business success in the future. “The future belongs to companies that combine technological innovation with trust. AI opens up entirely new possibilities for making customer experiences more relevant and personalized. What matters most is not the technology itself, but the added value it creates for people. We at MediaMarktSaturn will therefore place an even greater emphasis on ‘Moments of Trust’ – that is, trust-building customer experiences – in our strategic corporate management going forward.”

Between courses during dinner, keynote presentations by Moritz Fürste (co-founder of HYROX) and Marie-Eve Schroeder (EMEA Global Clients and Agencies Regional Director at Meta) delved into key future-oriented questions regarding customer relationships, customer experiences, and the meaningful use of AI and new technologies. These presentations provided a variety of starting points for the guests’ subsequent discussion.

Kickoff for a Long-Term Platform for Exchange

Unlike traditional networking events, the Business Leaders’ Night focuses on a carefully curated group of participants and personal encounters in a private setting. The goal is to create space for substantive conversations and to bring together people from different industries who are grappling with similar technological and societal changes.

Michael Schuld, CMO of MediaMarktSaturn Retail Group, and Mustafa Gungor, CCO of MediaMarktSaturn Retail Group, delivered the closing remarks at the end of the dinner. Michael Schuld remarked: “IFA Berlin brings together leading minds from technology, retail, and innovation. With the Business Leaders’ Night, we’re creating a space for cross-industry exchange on the topics that matter to companies today and in the future. Our goal is to establish the Business Leaders’ Night as a long-term platform, thereby facilitating encounters that can give rise to new perspectives, ideas, and collaborations.”

The positive response from guests underscores the relevance of a format that focuses on exchange, inspiration, and new perspectives. Across industries, companies are facing comparable technological and societal changes. The Business Leaders’ Night is therefore intended to bring together business leaders on a regular basis in the future and foster dialogue about shared challenges and opportunities.

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