• Future Leaders Programme

    In-person and online
    March- June 2027

2027 Programme: nominations open soon

Designed to prepare future leaders for the C-suite, the Future Leaders Programme builds the connections, capabilities and perspectives needed to navigate a fast-changing consumer goods and retail industry. It combines industry expertise from Bain & Company, leadership insights from Egon Zehnder and first-hand experience from CEOs at the forefront of change. Alongside the sessions, participants build lasting relationships with peers from across the industry.

  • 8-10 March 2027

    In Mexico City, participants will:

    - Visit Grupo Bimbo headquarters

    - Meet the management team

    - Join a store tour

    - Take part in workshops led by Bain & Company and Egon Zehnder

    - Enjoy networking throughout

  • March-May 2027

    In virtual sessions, participants will:

    - Hear CEOs reflect on what makes good leadership and how their own careers have developed

    - Explore a CEO’s SWOT analysis of their organisation or the wider industry, told through a business story that broadens their perspective

  • 7-8 June 2027

    In San Francisco, participants will:

    - Take part in workshops led by Bain & Company and Egon Zehnder

    - Experience the future of retail first-hand on a full-day store tour in the Bay Area

    Optional: join the CGF's flagship event, the Global Summit, 9–11 June 2027, at a preferential rate.

Have any questions?

The issues shaping our industry

A forward-looking curriculum covering the strategic and leadership challenges facing consumer goods and retail, including:

- The future of retail and consumer products
- Tomorrow’s consumers and emerging markets
- Growth and business transformation
- Leadership and high-performing teams
- Culture, inclusion and organisational change
- Strategic thinking and complex business challenges
Innovation and a changing competitive landscape

The issues shaping our industry

Tomorrow’s industry leaders

Participants form a carefully selected group of around 60 high-potential executives from retailers and consumer goods manufacturers:

  • All from CGF member companies
  • Senior talent, typically three levels below CEO, with around 15 years of professional experience
  • A diverse mix of functional backgrounds and expertise
  • International representation across Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and other markets
  • Drawn from established global companies and leading regional players

CEOs who shaped the 2026 programme

Past participants learned from and connected directly with leaders such as these, a reflection of the calibre of CEOs involved each year.

Anke Ehlers / Managing Director, Corporate Responsibility International, Aldi South Group

I thoroughly enjoyed taking this course. What I liked most was the combination of consumer insights and leadership skills. The fireside chats with CEOs were inspiring and practical.

Anke Ehlers

Managing Director, Corporate Responsibility International, Aldi South Group

Sheila Muniz Ebanks / Head of Large Store, North America Operating Unit, The Coca-Cola Company

This programme’s focus on the rapid pace of technology and shifting consumer behaviour helped me reimagine my role.

Sheila Muniz Ebanks

Head of Large Store, North America Operating Unit, The Coca-Cola Company

Lynne Van Gessel / CEO Etos, Ahold Delhaize

I especially valued the outside-in perspective, connecting market trends with what they mean for us as leaders and organisations. The mix of inspiration, reflection and a community of like-minded peers made it both energising and meaningful.

Lynne Van Gessel

CEO Etos, Ahold Delhaize