Serhii Bondarenko is a construction and technical management professional with deep specialization in infrastructure delivery, engineering systems, and multi-site construction management. As a Velto judge, he brings twelve years of experience at TOV Promenergobud, progressing from skilled trades to Technical Director — including the reconstruction of municipal sewage pumping and pressure sewer infrastructure, industrial and recirculating water supply systems, heating installations, and the construction of a primary care medical facility. Having also built a manufacturing operation producing insulated facade elements and founded RV Fix & Go in California, his perspective is highly relevant for evaluating sustainable infrastructure, resource-efficient building systems, and the long-term environmental and social value of delivered projects.

Stefan Brausam is a digital transformation manager with deep specialization in industrial digitalization, process automation, and Industry 4.0 strategy across manufacturing environments. As a Velto judge, he brings extensive experience delivering complex transformation programs — including digital strategy aligned to business KPIs, IIoT-driven process optimization, operational productivity platforms, and technology-led change management in industrial plants. Having worked with Coperion on digital productivity initiatives for plastics and process equipment, his perspective is highly relevant for evaluating AI-enabled automation, industrial digital transformation, and scalable technology adoption across European manufacturing businesses.

Rustam Kolchin is a cybersecurity engineer and security architect with deep specialization in Zero Trust architecture, privileged access management (PAM), and security automation across corporate and distributed infrastructures. As a Velto judge, he brings extensive experience delivering complex enterprise security projects — including ZTNA-based remote access protection, multi-layer corporate email defense, continuous IT asset monitoring and vulnerability management, DNS threat filtering, and SIEM/SOAR-driven detection and incident response. Having worked with leading Russian and international information security companies including Softline, BI.Zone, Gazinformservice, and Positive Technologies, his perspective is highly relevant for evaluating AI-driven automation, security engineering, and digital transformation initiatives across large-scale enterprise systems.

Benjamin Ederer is a corporate strategy manager and transformation specialist with deep specialization in board-level strategy, corporate development, and operational change across regulated financial services and healthcare markets. As a Velto judge, he brings extensive experience delivering complex enterprise strategy programs — including claims-management transformation, market-access research, healthcare public-affairs strategy, and board-level strategic projects in insurance and financial services. Having worked with ALH Gruppe, Werter, and PIVOT Regulatory, his perspective is highly relevant for evaluating business growth, strategic execution, and organizational transformation across large-scale European companies.

Dina Zhumassultanova is an airline pricing, tariff architecture, and global distribution expert with deep specialization in ATPCO fare systems, interline e-ticketing, and GDS integration. As a Velto judge, she brings extensive experience leading complex airline system integrations — including interline distribution (HR-169), BSP participation, and multi-system synchronization across global distribution environments. Recognized by the Government of Kazakhstan with the national distinction "Outstanding Tourism Worker", her perspective is highly relevant for evaluating digital transformation initiatives across travel, distribution, and large-scale enterprise systems.

Magdalena Daghish is an environmental compliance specialist and water-management engineer with deep specialization in environmental regulation, ESG operations, and industrial sustainability systems. As a Velto judge, she brings extensive experience delivering complex environmental programs — including ISO 14001 environmental management, permitting and regulatory reporting, life-cycle assessment and EPD readiness, water-treatment optimization, and Management of Change processes in industrial operations. Having worked with Cummins, IDAGIDA, Milieudefensie, and the Water Application Centre, her perspective is highly relevant for evaluating sustainability leadership, industrial ESG execution, and climate-aligned operational transformation.

Yurii Bezhentsev is a Senior Software Engineer and Frontend / Tech Lead with 8+ years of experience building and leading complex web applications in enterprise environments. His expertise spans TypeScript, React, software architecture, testing, performance, and accessibility, with deep experience delivering secure, data-intensive user interfaces for SaaS, e-commerce, finance, and healthcare. As a Velto judge, he brings strong technical depth and cross-functional product-team experience to the evaluation of digital transformation submissions, particularly those built around mission-critical, regulated, and user-facing systems.

Sven Tichy is a senior information security architect with deep specialization in Zero Trust architecture, secure IT/OT integration, and AI security across complex and highly regulated environments. As a Velto judge, he brings extensive experience delivering enterprise security programs — including secure architecture for regulated infrastructures, critical-infrastructure protection, email and data-transfer security, endpoint compliance, and AI-access control under Zero Trust models. Having worked with Controlware, ProSoft, and the German Federal Ministry of Defence, his perspective is highly relevant for evaluating AI-driven automation, security engineering, and digital transformation initiatives across large-scale enterprise systems.

Viktor Sobolevsky is an expert and entrepreneur in the field of furniture production and design with a unique path from blue-collar jobs to the founder of a successful startup "mebelshik.pro" (2020-2023), specializing in high-quality custom-made furniture. With experience in quality and production management in furniture companies and a technical education and specialized courses (Blum), Viktor actively shares his expertise through the popular YouTube channel "Life of a Furniture Maker" (almost 50 thousand subscribers, 12+ million views), teaching and consulting on furniture business and business. He currently applies his leadership skills in the position of Crew Leader at the American company Ucon.

Valeria Quaranta is an R&D manager and cosmetic formulation chemist with deep specialization in personal-care formulation, photoprotection, and technical-regulatory affairs for cosmetics. As a Velto judge, she brings extensive experience delivering complex product-development programs — including ingredient characterization, white-label cosmetic line development, formulation for professional and medical-adjacent beauty channels, and regulatory alignment for personal-care products. Having worked with Res Novare and its international partner network in the Italian cosmetics sector, her perspective is highly relevant for evaluating formulation innovation, product quality, and beauty-industry transformation across European markets.

Kostiantyn Shurupov, a recognized expert in digital marketing and affiliate business development with over 10 years of experience, served as a jury member of the Velto European Awards 2025. Leveraging his extensive background in partner management, user acquisition strategies, campaign optimization, and communications, he provided valuable evaluation and feedback on projects in the fields of digital marketing and business development. His participation contributed to ensuring the high standards and impartiality of the competition.

Angie Cremonesi is a principal formulation technologist with deep specialization in cosmetic formulation science, packaging innovation, and product technology for global beauty and wellness brands. As a Velto judge, she brings extensive experience delivering complex R&D programs — including skincare and personal-care formulation, packaging innovation, and long-cycle product development for international consumer markets. Having worked with Oriflame, COSi, and Budelpack, her perspective is highly relevant for evaluating product innovation, formulation excellence, and wellness-driven brand development across European beauty businesses.

Aakansha Mathur is a Machine Learning Engineer working on large-scale AI systems and recommendation technologies. Her experience includes applied machine learning, predictive modeling, and user-facing digital systems. As a Velto judge, she brings strong technical expertise and a practical understanding of AI implementation at scale. Her perspective supports rigorous evaluation of digital transformation and AI-led submissions.

Naveen Kumar Chandu is a senior business leader working across strategy, innovation, and transformation initiatives in the financial services sector. His background combines enterprise thinking with operational execution and customer-focused growth. As a Velto judge, he brings a structured perspective on strategic development and business performance. His experience supports thoughtful evaluation of growth-oriented submissions.

Rakshith Aralimatti is a security engineering professional with expertise in enterprise protection, digital systems, and technology risk. His work reflects the realities of building resilient digital environments in complex organizations. As a Velto judge, he contributes a valuable perspective on how advanced technology should be assessed not only for innovation, but also for robustness and relevance. His expertise is highly aligned with AI and digital transformation categories.

Harsh Verma is an enterprise technology and business optimization specialist working across transformation, operational structure, and growth-related initiatives. His background includes helping organizations improve performance through technology-enabled strategic planning. As a Velto judge, he brings strong insight into how businesses scale, adapt, and execute. His perspective is well suited to evaluating strategy-driven nominations.

Gleb Sinani is a digital engineering leader with 10+ years of experience architecting high-load, scalable, cloud-native systems across enterprise and startup environments. As a Velto judge, he brings deep expertise in delivering 50+ projects end-to-end and leading cross-functional teams of up to 40 people. At LivePerson he architected mission-critical integrations at 99.999% uptime and became the sole agency-based recipient of the company's Global Recognition award. An early practitioner of applied AI before the ChatGPT 3.5 era, his perspective is highly relevant for evaluating digital transformation across enterprise and mission-critical systems.

Jay Shah is a senior advisory professional with experience in business strategy, financial performance, and organizational development. His work spans growth planning, efficiency improvement, and market-facing strategic decisions. As a Velto judge, he brings analytical rigor and a practical understanding of business execution. His expertise supports balanced evaluation of high-level business submissions.

Sankalp Shrivastava is a consultant working across AI, cloud, and enterprise transformation. His professional background bridges technical architecture with business-facing strategic implementation. As a Velto judge, he brings a broad and relevant perspective on digital modernization in real organizational settings. His expertise helps assess AI and transformation initiatives with both technical and strategic depth.

Nidhi Sharma is a business and operations professional with experience in program management, digital transformation, and organizational growth. Her background reflects hands-on work in performance-focused, technology-enabled environments. As a Velto judge, she brings practical insight into what sustainable business growth looks like in execution. Her perspective is especially relevant for submissions focused on operational and strategic development.

Abhijith Vijayakumar Binsu is a business and fintech professional with expertise in digital payments, enterprise systems, and strategic business performance. His experience provides broad visibility into scale, commercial infrastructure, and market development. As a Velto judge, he brings a strong understanding of growth in globally connected business environments. His profile supports informed evaluation of strategy-led submissions.

Sai Santhosh Polagani is a technology and operations leader working across enterprise SaaS, automation, and AI-enabled customer systems. His work focuses on helping organizations improve performance through digital tools and scalable platform thinking. As a Velto judge, he brings relevant expertise in transformation through applied technology. His perspective is well aligned with modern AI and digital business submissions.

Karthik Ramamurthy is a senior manager working in financial products, analytics, and business growth strategy. His background combines commercial thinking with measurable execution in competitive market environments. As a Velto judge, he brings a results-oriented perspective on strategic clarity, scalability, and performance. His expertise supports strong evaluation of growth-focused nominations.

As a Velto judge, Thomas Dohmke brings deep expertise in developer platforms, AI-native workflows, and product-led technology transformation. His perspective is highly relevant for evaluating digital products and business models built around real technical adoption.

As a Velto judge, Clara Shih brings strong leadership experience across enterprise AI, digital platforms, and business-facing technology strategy. Her background supports high-level evaluation of transformation initiatives with both commercial and technical relevance.

As a Velto judge, Ryan Roslansky brings extensive experience in product growth, platform strategy, and international business scale. His background supports informed evaluation of businesses that combine strong user relevance with durable strategic expansion.

As a Velto judge, Reid Hoffman brings deep expertise in entrepreneurship, scaling network businesses, and long-term technology strategy. His perspective is highly relevant for evaluating submissions built around market creation, growth logic, and strategic ambition.

As a Velto judge, Satya Nadella brings global leadership experience across cloud, AI, enterprise platforms, and digital transformation at scale. His profile supports rigorous evaluation of submissions where innovation must be matched by operational depth and broad business impact.

As a Velto judge, Aaron Levie brings strong expertise in enterprise software, AI-first product strategy, and modern digital operations. His perspective is well suited to evaluating organizations translating AI into practical business infrastructure.

As a Velto judge, Bret Taylor brings experience across conversational AI, SaaS, and large-scale product leadership. His background supports strong evaluation of technology submissions where user experience, platform design, and strategic clarity intersect.

As a Velto judge, Susan Bear Sabet brings senior leadership in industrial technology, engineering systems, and operational modernization. Her perspective is particularly relevant for evaluating sustainability and transformation initiatives tied to real industrial performance.

As a Velto judge, Aditya Jayanta Undirwadkar brings hands-on experience in product engineering, scalable logistics systems, and growth-focused digital execution. His profile is well aligned with evaluating businesses where technical delivery directly supports strategic expansion.

As a Velto judge, Uday Anand brings senior experience across digital platforms, pricing systems, and high-scale product infrastructure. His background supports evaluation of submissions where technical complexity, real-time systems, and business value are tightly linked.

As a Velto judge, Ekram Alam brings founder-level perspective on frontier AI interfaces, deep-tech commercialization, and product strategy. His profile is well suited to evaluating ambitious technology submissions with real future-facing potential.

As a Velto judge, Rajat Jain brings deep expertise in payments, financial systems, and enterprise transaction architecture. He is well suited to assess business strategy and growth submissions where operational complexity and execution quality are central.

As a Velto judge, Sriram Ramanujam brings leadership experience across SaaS operations, cybersecurity environments, and AI-driven support systems. His perspective is strong for evaluating technology programs where operational intelligence and platform maturity are key.

As a Velto judge, Melanie Perkins brings expertise in product-led growth, design technology, and global software adoption. Her background is highly relevant for evaluating digital innovation that succeeds through usability, scale, and clear market fit.

As a Velto judge, Sid Sijbrandij brings strong experience in open software platforms, remote-first scale, and developer-centered business building. His perspective supports rigorous evaluation of digital transformation driven by product depth and operational clarity.

As a Velto judge, Parker Harris brings long-range experience in enterprise platforms, cloud software, and AI-enabled workplace systems. His background supports high-level evaluation of technology products where platform architecture and business usability matter.

As a Velto judge, Nikesh Arora brings a strong perspective on cybersecurity, platformization, and large-scale enterprise technology leadership. His expertise is highly relevant for evaluating advanced digital transformation work in security-sensitive environments.

Henriette Grunwald, a recognized expert in SME sustainability management, responsible procurement, and circular packaging, served as a jury member of the Velto European Awards 2024. Leveraging her extensive background in ISO 26000 systems, SDG-aligned reporting, climate accounting, and employee sustainability programmes, she provided valuable evaluation and feedback on projects in the fields of practical climate action and sustainable mid-market leadership. Her participation contributed to ensuring the high standards and impartiality of the competition.

Carlotta Liedmann, a recognized expert in corporate sustainability, climate protection, and sustainable mobility, served as a jury member of the Velto European Awards 2024. Leveraging her extensive background in sustainability strategy, VSME reporting, fleet electrification, and energy and climate-protection processes, she provided valuable evaluation and feedback on projects in the fields of sustainable transport and climate-aligned public operations. Her participation contributed to ensuring the high standards and impartiality of the competition.

Michelle Maier, a recognized expert in environmental management, energy systems, and industrial sustainability reporting, served as a jury member of the Velto European Awards 2024. Leveraging her extensive background in ISO 14001, EMAS, energy audits, Scope 3 assessment, and anti-greenwash climate communication, she provided valuable evaluation and feedback on projects in the fields of environmental integrity and sustainable industrial practice. Her participation contributed to ensuring the high standards and impartiality of the competition.

Manon Nienhues, a recognized expert in operational sustainability, circular materials, and sustainable event production, served as a jury member of the Velto European Awards 2024. Leveraging her extensive background in ISO 20121 systems, FSC and recycled-material programmes, energy measures, and low-emission fleet development, she provided valuable evaluation and feedback on projects in the fields of practical sustainability leadership and circular operations. Her participation contributed to ensuring the high standards and impartiality of the competition.

Sebastian Härder, a recognized expert in circular economy, sustainable design management, and SME transformation, served as a jury member of the Velto European Awards 2024. Leveraging his extensive background in circular business models, e-recycling systems, digital product passports, and sustainable product strategy, he provided valuable evaluation and feedback on projects in the fields of circular innovation and future-oriented environmental leadership. His participation contributed to ensuring the high standards and impartiality of the competition.

Manuel Huthmacher, a recognized expert in life-cycle assessment, circular economy, and chemical environmental management, served as a jury member of the Velto European Awards 2024. Leveraging his extensive background in product LCA, circular chemistry, REACH compliance, and ISO 14001 environmental systems, he provided valuable evaluation and feedback on projects in the fields of industrial circularity and sustainable product development. His participation contributed to ensuring the high standards and impartiality of the competition.

Ferdinand van Taack-Trakranen, a recognized expert in ESG analysis, climate-risk assessment, and sustainability scoring for institutional investors, served as a jury member of the Velto European Awards 2024. Leveraging his extensive background in extra-financial research, carbon-intensity metrics, fund-level climate exposure, and independent ESG quality review, he provided valuable evaluation and feedback on projects in the fields of sustainable finance and climate-aligned business leadership. His participation contributed to ensuring the high standards and impartiality of the competition.

Ferdinand Stvarnik, a recognized expert in ESG reporting, carbon accounting, and sustainable management with a focused professional background in industrial sustainability, served as a jury member of the Velto European Awards 2024. Leveraging his extensive background in CSRD/ESRS processes, Scope 1–3 analysis, EcoVadis assessment, and supply-chain due diligence, he provided valuable evaluation and feedback on projects in the fields of climate accountability and operational sustainability. His participation contributed to ensuring the high standards and impartiality of the competition.

Thomas Keßeler, a recognized expert in corporate sustainability, ESG management, and responsible business operations with more than 15 years of professional experience, served as a jury member of the Velto European Awards 2024. Leveraging his extensive background in sustainability certification, CSRD reporting, climate disclosure, and industrial ESG systems, he provided valuable evaluation and feedback on projects in the fields of sustainable operations and long-term environmental leadership. His participation contributed to ensuring the high standards and impartiality of the competition.

Stephan Zirkler is a corporate strategy and corporate-development leader with deep specialization in multi-year strategy, sustainability roadmaps, and transformation programmes in regulated utility markets. As a Velto judge, he brings extensive experience turning board-level direction into operating plans — including DEW21’s Strategy 2030, the company’s first decarbonization “Nordstern,” a group sustainability strategy, and a two-partner transformation programme on competitiveness and financial performance. Having led Strategie & Unternehmensentwicklung at Dortmunder Energie- und Wasserversorgung GmbH since 2019, after corporate-development and business-development roles at RGM Holding, his perspective is highly relevant for evaluating strategic execution, organisational change, and long-horizon growth in European mid-market companies.

Thomas Hipp is a mid-market CFO and managing director with deep specialization in finance leadership, audit grounding, and scaling family-owned industrial structures. As a Velto judge, he brings extensive experience in financial strategy, investment discipline, and operational modernisation at KLS Martin Group in Tuttlingen, where he has served as CFO since April 2018 and as Geschäftsführer of group entities. Having previously been Head of Finance at Döhler Group and a manager at Ernst & Young / Arthur Andersen, with a background as tax adviser and auditor, his perspective is highly relevant for evaluating growth plans that depend on capital control, reporting quality, and execution that survives the first year of ambition.

Leonie Früh is a corporate-development and M&A manager with deep specialization in healthcare buy-and-build, due diligence, and post-merger integration. As a Velto judge, she brings hands-on experience in target screening, transaction work, and PMI inside Triton-backed healthcare platforms — first as Projektmanagerin Corporate Development at MED:ON MVZ, then as Managerin Corporate Development & M&A at KINIOS GmbH in Frankfurt from August 2025. A Certified M&A Professional of the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, her perspective is highly relevant for evaluating growth through acquisition, integration quality, and whether a strategy is actually closeable rather than only presented.

Marcus Dörfler is a commercial managing director with deep specialization in cross-border business development, regulated market entry, and multi-country sales systems. As a Velto judge, he brings extensive experience building GTM and partner expansion — as Geschäftsführer at KURANT for DACH and Spain, and previously as Head of Business Development and member of the Executive Committee at Kraftanlagen Energies & Services, where he owned group BD/sales strategy, Salesforce as product owner, and M&A/restructuring support. Having earlier built Continental Europe business development at Bilfinger and run key-account work across ten countries, his perspective is highly relevant for evaluating international expansion, commercial operating systems, and growth in regulated markets.