Top 20 Dynamic European CEOs of 2025

Leaders need to recognize that people want meaning in their lives, and their work. Previous research has found that companies with a strong sense of purpose outperform those that lack one. And those who say they live their purpose at work are simply better employees—more loyal, more likely to go the extra mile, and less likely to leave. Purpose helps companies recognize emerging opportunities and connect with their customers. This, too, should therefore be seen as a priority and a source of competitive advantage.

“The digital revolution isn’t just about technology; it’s about people. As we move deeper into web3 and the next phase of the internet, the definition of community, connection, and collaboration is changing at a rapid pace. In 2024, leaders who want to excel must look beyond traditional KPIs and engage with their teams on a fundamentally human level, using new technologies like immersive environments, Blockchain and AI to deepen and further humanize their interactions” offers Dani Van de Sande, Founder & CEO at ULO.WORLD.

Here are some of the pioneering leaders who have been taking their companies to new heights with their innovative approaches.

Cover Story

Josef Gross | Chief Executive Officer | BBC Bircher Automation

Having a growth mindset is an advantageous trait for business leaders. It means believing that they can develop strengths and that learning, and progress are just as important as effort. Leaders with a growth mindset can learn from setbacks, avoid distractions, and make substantial gains through hard work and dedication. Josef Gross, the CEO of BBC Bircher Automation, has a growth mindset, which has aided him in taking the company to new heights...

Alin Ioanes | CEO | Rombat S.A.

Alin Ioanes, CEO of SC Rombat SA, is a leader who inspires and motivates employees, creating a positive and high-performance culture within the organization. Essential for him is to possess strong leadership skills, provide guidance, set expectations, and empower the teams to excel. Communication is a crucial aspect of Alin’s approach; he cares a lot about communication in all its...

Dr Ashkan Pitchforth | CEO | South Cliff Dental Group

Dr. Ashkan is the owner and CEO of South Cliff Dental Group, which, as of September 2022, has 23 practices across the South of England. He has managed to grow this group from one practice in Handcross, purchased in 2015, with a turnover of £450,000 per annum, to 23 practices with over 300 employees and clinicians, with a turnover of...

Benoit Poletti | CEO | INCERT Public Agency

Determination is a key trait that separates influential leaders from ineffective ones. Without determination, plans, ideas, and goals will stagnate without the perseverance to make them come to life. Determination is about staying focused on a goal and pushing boundaries when faced with obstacles, giving direction and focus to everyone involved in the project. Leaders with determination show initiative by...

Conor Coyne | CEO | Kylemore Abbey

Built as a breath-taking castle in 1868, Kylemore Abbey’s history is a truly remarkable one with an outstanding legacy, spanning 155 years in Connemara, from the construction of the Castle and Gardens to the arrival of the Benedictine Order over 100 years ago from war-torn Belgium to its establishment as a globally celebrated visitor attraction punctuating the stunning and ever-changing...

Gerd Beilke | CEO | Teutoburger Ölmühle

According to DW (Deutsche Welle radio), Germany’s most popular cooking oil comes from the seeds of a bright yellow flowering member of the Brassicaceae family. This clan also include mustard, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and turnips. Known as rapeseed oil, this light and delicate oil is widely used in cooking and baking far beyond the German border. And one company has...

Kathryn Mason | Co-Chief Executive Officer | Rice Search Partners

Being open and transparent is an essential and intrinsic part of Kathryn Mason, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Rice Search Partners’, leadership style. This has resulted in an ongoing focus on diversity and inclusion within the company. In 2013 Rice Search Partners was predominately white, male, and privately educated. The team is now over 70% diverse (as defined by gender, ethnicity...

Laura Bolger | Managing Director | Polaris Corporate Risk Management

Harvard Business School Professor Amy Edmondson has found that a “psychologically safe work environment” – an environment in which teams feel free “to take risks, to express their ideas and concerns, questions, and to admit mistakes without fear of negative consequences” – promotes team engagement and motivation...

Nikos Kontoyannis | CEO | Apella S.A.

In today’s time, leaders need to learn to adapt to changes because the world is constantly evolving, and businesses must keep up with the pace of change to remain competitive. Adaptable leaders can anticipate shifts in the market and adjust their strategies accordingly, which can help their organizations stay ahead of the curve. As the son of an Air Force...

Roy Henderson | CEO | Green Cell Technologies®

Roy Henderson’s background as a decorated combat officer in the South African Navy, together with his MBA, has given him the decisive leadership qualities to bravely lead Green Cell Technologies® (GCT®) from a start-up to where it is now, a successful global commercial entity. Razor sharp insight, coupled with a fair share of sheer bloody-mindedness and absolute belief in what...

Vasco Jorge | CEO & Owner | LS Enterprises Group

LS Enterprises is an International Health Cluster, born in Portugal, which manages a diversified portfolio of businesses, with a particular focus on the distribution of pharmaceutical products at an international level, common denominator and starting point of the group, but which over the last decade has been diversifying and internationalizing, with emphasis on its operations in medical services, through...