Seerene
Insights · Executive conversations · Event report · 2 min

Who Controls the Software Factory?

Senior executives from European industry in an invitation-only exchange on AI, software governance, and who's really in control.

By Software Excellence NetworkPublished 1 June 2026
Software Excellence Network · Retreat · 7–8 May 2026
Klausurtagung Software-Management 2026 · Schloss Fürstlich Drehna, Brandenburg · Article published 1 June 2026
Event page →

On May 7 and 8, 2026, the Software Excellence Network brought together a selected group of senior executives from European industry and technology companies for an invitation-only Executive Exchange at Schloss Fürstlich Drehna, one of the most distinctive venues in Brandenburg and Berlin.

The topic: AI, software governance, and corporate control. AI-assisted coding is fundamentally changing how fast software gets built. With that comes a shift in control over what actually gets produced — a question that deserves more attention at the executive level than it typically receives.

Contributions came from Dr. Jürgen Sturm (former CIO, ZF Group), Dr. Jürgen Müller (former CTO, SAP), Dr. Henrik Hahn (Chief Digital Transformation Officer, Evonik), Tobias Naumann (CFO, SAP), Lars Neumann (SVP T Cloud, Deutsche Telekom), and Dirk Wollschläger (former IBM General Manager Global Automotive). Dr. Johannes Bohnet, founder of Seerene, made the case for why C-level governance is the critical lever for a successful transition into the age of AI coding — and why that decision cannot be delegated to the engineering team.

The format was deliberate: no stage, no audience, no pitch. Schloss Fürstlich Drehna, managed by Châteauform, sets the right tone for that kind of conversation. The castle's architectural roots go back to the Renaissance, while the interiors draw on Bauhaus modernism and Berlin street art. A setting that creates the space for deeper, more focused exchange.

The Software Excellence Network was built around a single ambition: to give senior leaders the forum they need to address software production as a strategic business priority. The network brings together decision-makers from technology, industry, and academia for an open, peer-level exchange. It is organized jointly by the Hasso Plattner Institute, German Deep Tech Group, and Seerene.

→ Full impressions and presentations on the event page

Executive Exchange 2027

The next Executive Exchange is planned for 2027. For more information on participation, contact Oliver Viel: hello@seerene.com

From the gathering · Klausurtagung Software-Management 2026
AI Applied: schnelle KI-Transformation als Schlüssel zur industriellen Wettbewerbsfähigkeit
Dr. Jürgen Sturm, Digital Transformation Advisor; former CIO ZF Group, BSH Hausgeräte, Grundig
Autonome Agenten als (k)ein Teil der Belegschaft
Dr. Jürgen Müller, entrepreneur; former CTO SAP
Digitale Souveränität, oder wie die Henne ins Ei beißt
Dr. Henrik Hahn, Chief Digital Transformation Officer, Evonik
C-level governance as key for successful transformation into the age of AI coding
Dr. Johannes Bohnet, Founder and CEO, Seerene
Guilty until proven innocent: SAP AI turnaround
Tobias Naumann, CFO, SAP
Thoughts on complex systems and software development paradigms
Dr. Stefan Poledna, CTO, TrustMotion
Die Spielregeln von morgen: ist Europa nur noch Markt?
Dirk Wollschläger, CEO W& Consulting; former IBM General Manager Global Automotive, Aerospace and Defense
Zwischen Abhängigkeit und Kontrolle: Souveränität in der Cloud- und KI-Ära
Lars Neumann, SVP T Cloud, Deutsche Telekom Geschäftskunden
In the room · speakers and panelists
7–8 May 2026 · Schloss Fürstlich Drehna, BrandenburgTwo days, invitation onlyEight talks, moderated discussionOff the record; this page is published with speakers’ consent
Dr. Jürgen Sturm
Dr. Jürgen Sturm
Digital Transformation Advisor, former CIO ZF Group
Dr. Jürgen Müller
Dr. Jürgen Müller
Entrepreneur, former CTO SAP
Dr. Henrik Hahn
Dr. Henrik Hahn
Chief Digital Transformation Officer, Evonik
Dr. Johannes Bohnet
Dr. Johannes Bohnet
Founder & CEO, Seerene
Tobias Naumann
Tobias Naumann
CFO, SAP
Dr. Stefan Poledna
Dr. Stefan Poledna
CTO, TrustMotion
Dr.-Ing. Sven-Kelana Christiansen
Dr.-Ing. Sven-Kelana Christiansen
SVP IT & Process Services, Aurubis
Dirk Wollschläger
Dirk Wollschläger
CEO W& Consulting, former IBM General Manager Global Automotive
Lars Neumann
Lars Neumann
SVP T Cloud, Deutsche Telekom Geschäftskunden & CEO ITENOS
Christof Schmidt
Christof Schmidt
Head of Strategic Alliances and Partnering, Deutsche Telekom Geschäftskunden
Marc Hildebrandt
Marc Hildebrandt
Chairman & Founder, German Deep Tech Group
Oliver Viel
Oliver Viel
CMO, German Deep Tech Group & Seerene
Impressions

Documentation and photographs from the Network’s event page, shown with the consent of the people pictured. Full event page →

Who Controls the Software Factory?

Event report · 2 min · Software Excellence Network · 2026-06-01

Senior executives from European industry in an invitation-only exchange on AI, software governance, and who's really in control.

On May 7 and 8, 2026, the Software Excellence Network brought together a selected group of senior executives from European industry and technology companies for an invitation-only Executive Exchange at Schloss Fürstlich Drehna, one of the most distinctive venues in Brandenburg and Berlin.

The topic: AI, software governance, and corporate control. AI-assisted coding is fundamentally changing how fast software gets built. With that comes a shift in control over what actually gets produced — a question that deserves more attention at the executive level than it typically receives.

Contributions came from Dr. Jürgen Sturm (former CIO, ZF Group), Dr. Jürgen Müller (former CTO, SAP), Dr. Henrik Hahn (Chief Digital Transformation Officer, Evonik), Tobias Naumann (CFO, SAP), Lars Neumann (SVP T Cloud, Deutsche Telekom), and Dirk Wollschläger (former IBM General Manager Global Automotive). Dr. Johannes Bohnet, founder of Seerene, made the case for why C-level governance is the critical lever for a successful transition into the age of AI coding — and why that decision cannot be delegated to the engineering team.

The format was deliberate: no stage, no audience, no pitch. Schloss Fürstlich Drehna, managed by Châteauform, sets the right tone for that kind of conversation. The castle's architectural roots go back to the Renaissance, while the interiors draw on Bauhaus modernism and Berlin street art. A setting that creates the space for deeper, more focused exchange.

The Software Excellence Network was built around a single ambition: to give senior leaders the forum they need to address software production as a strategic business priority. The network brings together decision-makers from technology, industry, and academia for an open, peer-level exchange. It is organized jointly by the Hasso Plattner Institute, German Deep Tech Group, and Seerene.

/sen/klausurtagung-software-management-05-2026

Executive Exchange 2027

The next Executive Exchange is planned for 2027. For more information on participation, contact Oliver Viel: hello@seerene.com

From the gathering

Klausurtagung Software-Management 2026 · 7–8 May 2026 · Schloss Fürstlich Drehna, Brandenburg

Event page: Klausurtagung Software-Management 2026

Program

Speakers and panelists