RISC 2026 Report: People at the Heart of Tomorrow’s Supply Chain

The International Supply Chain Conference highlights leadership, resilience, and talent engagement

Paris, June 3, 2026 – On June 2, RISC (Rencontres Internationales de la Supply Chain) brought together 200 decision-makers representing 125 French and international companies at the Metropolitan in Châteauform’ (17th arrondissement, Paris). Together, they discussed the major human and technological challenges facing the supply chain, logistics, operations, human resources, and CSR at the 4th edition of the event, organized by France Supply Chain by Aslog. With a focus on people, this 2026 edition highlighted the need to rethink management styles, skills, and organizational structures in the face of technological transformations, employee expectations, and the increasing frequency of crises.

Against a backdrop marked by the rapid advancement of generative and agent-based AI, geopolitical tensions, and growing customer demands, the executives in attendance shared a common conviction: technology alone will not suffice without human leadership and empathy.

Chaired by Stéphane Navarra —who was unable to attend at the last minute for personal reasons—and co-chaired by Yann de Feraudy, the RISC 2026 conference deliberately adopted a more intimate, invitation-only format, fostering high-level discussions, in-depth presentations, and genuine collective reflection among business leaders.

“This edition of RISC was designed to be a time for reflection and collective thought. In a world where technology is accelerating everything, we wanted to put people back at the center: the men and women who make decisions, manage crises, innovate, and drive the supply chain forward every day.” Stéphane Navarra, President of France Supply Chain by Aslog

“The supply chain is undergoing a profound transformation. The technological challenges are significant, but our ability to collaborate, share knowledge, engage teams, and develop human skills will be crucial to building more resilient and high-performing organizations.” Yann de Feraudy, Co-President

The conference also paid tribute to Jean-Michel Guarneri, a leading figure at France Supply Chain by Aslog who passed away nine months ago, whose dedication had a profound impact on the industry. The association announced the creation of an award in his name to recognize an innovative initiative in the circular economy.

Leadership, Resilience, and Crisis Management: Key Challenges in Supply Chain Management

The discussion focused largely on the soft skills that are now essential for leading organizations under pressure: stress management, the ability to make quick decisions, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and intercultural management.

“In a crisis, you need to clearly identify who does what and how, and which people have the technical expertise to support you in your decision-making. Obviously, you must never isolate yourself, and then you must stand by the decision that is made. And you can only do that when you have a great deal of trust in your teams and a particularly strong collective. It is that collective that will ultimately lead you to make the decision,” explains Tatiana Brillant, a negotiator with RAID for 13 years.

In an environment marked by a succession of crises and increasing complexity, the speakers emphasized the importance of skills that have become essential: resilience, communication, active listening, and the ability to bring together diverse groups.

The Augmented Human: When Technology Enhances Collective Performance

Another highlight of the conference was the discussion on “augmented humans” and the role of technology in supply chain professions. Automation, artificial intelligence, robotics, and digitalization were addressed not as ends in themselves, but as tools to support employees, decision-making, and operational performance.

Speakers include:

• Pierre Chaffardon, General Manager for EMEA North and APAC and member of Generix’s Executive Committee;
• Christophe Vandrome, Managing Director of Contract Logistics France at Kuehne+Nagel;
• Christophe Plouseau, CIO of Louis Vuitton Malletier;
• Vanessa Clémendot, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Supply Chain at Sanofi.

The discussions highlighted several strong convictions, in particular:

• Technology should support employees, not replace human expertise;
• AI is transforming jobs by shifting the focus toward data analysis and management;
• Cultural acceptability and the emotional experience remain key factors in the adoption of innovations;
• Empathy and human connection remain irreplaceable, especially in service-oriented and on-site logistics roles.

“How can we help our people excel [through technology]? It’s not about responding to a customer during a product shortage—I don’t believe in that. In the relationships we build in our warehouses, we’ll always need that empathy, not just something that’s processed and factual. We don’t have a one-size-fits-all model to deploy every time. It’s through human interaction that we deliver the best service,” says Christophe Vandrome.

Attracting, engaging, and retaining talent: the new expectations of today’s workforce

The conference also featured a presentation by France Supply Chain’s Youth LAB, represented by Rodrigue Branchet Fauvet (Renault), who presented the results of a survey conducted among master’s students specializing in supply chain and logistics.

“We want to better equip our on-site Supply Chain managers during their recruitment processes. This is crucial for performance and diversity, so we need to be able to set high standards even when time is tight, and surround ourselves with the best possible team. Because at Alstom, we have no fewer than 10 different job roles, and they can’t possibly master all of them. They need to be able to rely on their front-line staff. So equipping them as best as possible to build their teams is crucial,” says Sophie Rocquemont.

A more human, collaborative, and resilient supply chain

This 2026 edition of RISC reaffirms a belief shared by all participants: while technology is profoundly transforming organizations, the sustainable performance of the supply chain depends above all on the men and women who keep it running day in and day out.

In the face of economic, environmental, and social challenges, industry leaders are calling for the development of more collaborative, inclusive, and resilient models that can combine technological innovation with human intelligence.

The 5 Key Takeaways from RISC 2026

• People Reaffirmed as a Strategic Priority for the Supply Chain
• A pragmatic view of AI and automation
• Management Facing Increasing Complexity
• The importance of coming together around a shared goal
• A supply chain of the future that is both technological and deeply human

The insights gained from RISC 2026 will inform France Supply Chain’s future initiatives aimed at creating a more resilient, sustainable, and people-centered supply chain.

RISC 2026 by the Numbers

• 200 participants gathered to discuss key supply chain issues
• 4th Annual International Supply Chain Conference
• A day of lectures, panel discussions, and exchanges between French and international leaders
• Speakers from the industrial, luxury, healthcare, logistics, and technology sectors
• Event partner: Generix, a global provider of SaaS solutions for supply chain, finance, and commerce

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About France Supply Chain by Aslog