CIONET

In the next CIONET Podcast, Daniel Eycken (COO, CIONET) sits down with Francesco Ciuccarelli (Chief Innovation & Technology Officer at Alpitour World) - who is a Nominee for the CIONET Awards 2026 in the Cloud & Infrastructure category.

Don’t forget to register to CIONET Awards Virtual Ceremony on February 12, to find out who wins this prestigious title 👉 https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-2!

Francesco discusses his role at Alpitour World and the company's shift to a cloud-native architecture. He emphasises the importance of innovation and the successful decommissioning of a mainframe. The conversation touches on Alpitour's growth, pandemic challenges, and AI-driven solutions. Francesco shares insights on leadership, motivation, and future technologies like blockchain and quantum computing, stressing the need for business engagement in transformation efforts.

Watch the full interview for a deep dive into key leadership insights!

In the latest CIONET Podcast, Daniel Eycken (COO, CIONET) sits down with Aleksander Gawroński (Head of IT Infrastructure, mBank) - who is a Nominee for the CIONET Awards 2026 in the Cloud & Infrastructure category - to discuss a transformation that turned a 25-year-old legacy landscape into a streamlined, automated, and AI-ready powerhouse. Don’t forget to register to CIONET Awards Virtual Ceremony on February 12, to find out who wins this prestigious title 👉 https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-2!

Aleksander shares the "no exceptions" strategy that allowed mBank to build its own private cloud and adopt a dual-vendor public cloud policy—all while maintaining the strict security standards of a highly regulated financial institution.

Watch the full interview for a deep dive into key leadership Insights:

- Infrastructure as Code (IaC): At mBank, IaC isn't just a tool; it's a discipline. No system enters the cloud without meeting this quality gate.
- The "Build vs. Buy" Culture: With 90% of their software built in-house, mBank chose to build its own Kubernetes-based private cloud to maintain full control and elasticity.
- Operational Resilience: Why a dual-vendor strategy is essential for cost negotiation and mitigating geopolitical risks.
- Leading by Example: Why Aleksander was the first person in the organization to get cloud-certified.
- The "Best Mistake": Lessons learned from underestimating the cultural shift required for such a massive technological leap.

As Aleksander puts it: "Build the foundations right, or your life will be a constant nightmare of running legacy."

Don’t forget to register to CIONET Awards Virtual Ceremony to find out who wins this prestigious title 👉 https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-2!

In this episode of the CIONET Podcast, Daniel Eycken - Partner & COO at CIONET - sits down with Stefan Latuski, the CIO of the German Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) and CEO of its IT-Systemhaus, who is a Nominee for the CIONET Awards 2026 in the Cloud & Infrastructure category! Register here to find out who wins this prestigious title 👉 https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-2!

Managing one of Europe’s largest public institutions with over 113,000 employees, Stefan shares the "brave" journey of moving a massive legacy infrastructure into a cutting-edge multi-cloud broker platform. Learn how the agency is tackling a demographic change (losing 35% of its workforce to retirement) by leveraging automation, generative AI, and a groundbreaking cloud strategy that sets a new standard for digital sovereignty in Europe.

In this episode, Stefan explains why delivering a multi-cloud broker platform in under 12 months required more courage than code. By ignoring the "naysayers" and focusing on a clear vision, they built Germany’s first sovereign cloud framework involving seven different providers.

Don’t miss the panel where Stefan will share more about his journey, powered by our trusted partner, Splunk 👉 https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-2!

PAUL_MUKHERJEE_EDIT by CIONET

In this episode of the CIONET Podcast, Hendrik Deckers interviews, Gunter Van Craen, CDIO at Bekaert, the nominee in the Applications & Architecture category during the #CIONETAwards2026 . Register here to find out who wins this prestigious title: https://www.cionet.com/events/cionet-awards-2026-part-1!

A highly accomplished C-level executive, Gunter has built a distinguished international career leading complex, high-stakes digital transformations. With senior leadership roles across Manufacturing & Distribution, Healthcare, Consumer Goods, and Banking, he has repeatedly delivered measurable business value in environments marked by turnarounds, growth acceleration, and greenfield innovation.

During the interview Gunter talks about Bekaert's five-year digital transformation, evolving from basic IT to a modern architecture focused on business outcomes and customer engagement. The company modernises its manufacturing systems across 75 factories, enhancing efficiency and data-driven decision-making. The transformation includes integrating AI, data architecture, and cybersecurity while fostering a culture of collaboration. Key insights emphasise trust, knowledge management, and the changing role of CIOs in navigating new market