Speakers

Dean Forbes is one of Europe’s most accomplished technology leaders, with a career spanning software, private equity, venture capital, entrepreneurship and philanthropy. He has transformed several technology businesses, delivering more than €2 billion in exit transactions and creating substantial long-term value for investors, customers and employees.

Dean is Chief Executive Officer of Forterro, a leading European software provider serving the industrial mid-market. Under his leadership, Forterro has tripled in size, establishing the company as a major European software platform through strategic acquisitions, operational excellence and long-term investment.

Alongside his role at Forterro, Dean is a Partner at Corten Capital, where he supports business and leadership teams on growth strategy, operational performance and long-term value creation. He is also a board member at Cornerstone VC, a people-first venture capital fund investing in UK technology businesses at pre-seed and seed stage.

Dean’s entrepreneurial portfolio includes Severan Wines, a premium wine brand he acquired to build on its focus on quality, heritage and distinctive experiences.

A passionate advocate for social mobility, Dean founded Forbes Family Group, a social impact organisation. Its initiatives focus on access, opportunity and investment, alongside charitable endeavours to help people achieve their potential.

He also serves on the board of ACLT, supporting its work to raise awareness of the severe shortage of donors of Black heritage in the United Kingdom on stem cell, blood and organ donor registers.

Dean was ranked No. 1 on the J.P. Morgan Powerlist 2025 after three consecutive years in the top three. His accolades also include PwC’s Tech CEO of the Year and recognition among the UK’s 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders by Lloyds Banking Group and The Daily Telegraph.

He regularly shares perspectives on technology, growth, leadership and social mobility across major broadcast, print and podcast platforms, including Bloomberg, BBC TV, Sky News, ITV London, BBC Radio, Times Radio, The Guardian and The Times.

Following an interview with The Times, journalist Sathnam Sanghera described Dean as “the most impressive human being I’ve met in more than two decades of business journalism”. This recognition reflects the breadth of his contribution across technology leadership, entrepreneurship and social impact.

https://www.forterro.com/
https://forbesfamilygroup.com/
https://www.cortencapital.com
https://www.cornerstonevc.co.uk/
www.severan.co.uk
https://aclt.org/