European ABM Forum 2025 – Amsterdam Debut Ignites ABM & AI Insights

Key Themes and Takeaways

• Scaling ABM Programs: A major focus was how to scale ABM from pilot projects to broad programs. Experts stressed building “scalable personalization frameworks” for one-to-one, one-to-few, and one-to-many ABM tiers without losing the personal touch​ Data and intent signals emerged as critical for expanding ABM impact and proving ROI at scale​. Defining clear ICPs (Ideal Customer Profiles) and tiered strategies for each segment was a recurring topic in scaling discussions​

• Marketing-Sales Alignment: Nearly every session reinforced that ABM success hinges on tight sales-marketing alignment. Speakers likened ABM to a “team sport” where marketing and sales must “function as a cohesive unit to win target accounts”​. Best practices shared included setting shared KPIs, coordinating on account plans, and even extending alignment to customer success and RevOps teams. A human-centric, collaborative strategy – with trust and transparency – was presented as the glue for ABM programs. In one workshop, attendees learned tips to “align marketing and sales teams for shared success”​

• AI’s Growing Role in ABM: Artificial intelligence was a hot topic throughout the forum. While AI is “revolutionizing Account-Based Marketing…enhancing targeting, personalization, and efficiency”, experts cautioned against the hype​. Discussions centered on practical use cases (e.g. intent data analysis, predictive account scoring, content personalization) versus pitfalls. One panel dissected where AI truly adds value and where it “can derail your strategy if misapplied”, urging marketers to focus on proven tactics​. The consensus: AI can help “do more with less” in ABM​ - from automating research to scaling outreach – but only when paired with quality data, alignment, and human insight

• From ABM to ABX (Account-Based Experiences): A paradigm shift toward ABX emerged as a key theme. Instead of treating ABM as purely a marketing tactic, several sessions advocated a more holistic account-based experience strategy that puts the customer at the center of all touchpoints (marketing, sales, customer success, etc.). Henkel’s team shared how they are “moving away from traditional ABM practices to ABX…which keeps the customer at the core of our strategy”​. This means focusing on customer journey experiences and value, not just lead funnels. Attendees were urged to consider how every interaction with target accounts (online and offline) can be orchestrated for a seamless, personalized experience (with AI as an enabler) – evolving ABM into a company-wide mindset rather than a standalone program

• Human-Centric Strategy: Despite all the tech talk, a refreshing thread was the emphasis on the human element in ABM. Speakers reminded that B2B buying is ultimately H2H (human to human) – relationships and trust matter. A stellar 1:1 ABM case study showed how “genuine human relationships” formed through memorable, personalized experiences can turn clients into long-term partners​. Behavioral science and psychology also featured: the importance of understanding buyer behavior and motivating teams. From leveraging insights on how buyers make decisions, to fostering a culture of empathy and teamwork in ABM teams, the forum underscored that successful ABM blends high-tech with high-touch. One keynote drew parallels to sports, noting that mindset and trust between teammates (marketing and sales) are as crucial as data and tools in an ABM playbook​

Standout Sessions and Speakers

• Data-Driven ABM Playbook - Scaling with Precision (Fireside Chat) – Claire Maybank (TomTom) and Mark Norbruis (o9 Solutions), moderated by Leanne Chescoe (Demandbase), explored how to build a scalable ABM engine using data. They shared real-world lessons on moving from a pilot to an enterprise-wide ABM framework, leveraging intent data to prioritize the right accounts, and aligning with sales on insights for pipeline impact. A key insight was the importance of data in breaking down silos: by sharing account intelligence and success metrics, marketing and sales stay on the same page, driving higher ROI from ABM​

• Panel – AI Meets ABM: A Game-Changer for B2B – A panel of ABM innovators including Robert Norum (Propolis) Shimon Ben Ayoun (SPOTONVISION), Ingrid Archer (SPOTONVISION), Avishai Sharon (Trendemon), and Reena Jagtap (Henkel) tackled the promise and reality of AI in ABM. This lively discussion cut through the buzzwords to identify practical applications of AI today. Panelists discussed how AI-driven insights help identify high-value accounts and personalize outreach at scale, while also acknowledging challenges like data quality and privacy​. One takeaway: AI is powerful for scaling personalization (e.g. automating research or content recommendations), but success still requires human oversight and strong marketing-sales coordination to interpret AI outputs and act on them. The audience appreciated candid stories of AI wins and failures, reminding everyone that a balance of automation and human touch is key.

• Case Study – From ABM to ABX: Elevating Customer Experiences – Reena Jagtap (Henkel) shared how her team evolved their ABM program into full ABX. Reena described moving beyond the traditional marketing funnel to map customer experiences across the entire lifecycle – from tailored content in marketing to personalized engagement by sales and even customer success follow-through. By “shifting focus from traditional lead funnels to diving deeper into customer touchpoints” (like engagement scores, pipeline influence, etc.), Henkel created more holistic account strategies​. She also highlighted how they integrate AI at various stages – for in-depth industry research, persona insights, and content personalization – all aimed at improving ROX (Return on Experience). The session’s big message: ABM’s future is about orchestrating end-to-end account experiences (ABX) that drive value and trust, not just one-off campaigns.

• Case Study – “Rookie to Rocking”: 1:1 ABM in Enterprise IT – Sascha Steiner (T-Systems) recounted his journey from ABM novice to a strategic 1:1 ABM program owner at a global enterprise. Starting from scratch, Sascha built an ABM practice targeting a few top-tier accounts with highly customized campaigns. He shared candid lessons from early mistakes and how he won internal buy-in to expand the program. Crucially, this session demonstrated the human-centric side of ABM: Sascha attributed much of his success to creating memorable, personalized experiences for clients, which led to “genuine human relationships” and stronger sales relationships​. For example, bespoke workshops and executive briefings for one key account not only influenced pipeline but also forged trust between account teams and the client. The takeaway: even as ABM scales, the 1:1 approach grounded in empathy and deep account knowledge can deliver outsized results in enterprise deals.

• Case Study – From Metrics to Mindset: Sales and Marketing Together in Deal-Based Marketing – Tim Navis-Vonsée (Salesforce) presented a compelling guide to deal-based marketing, illustrating how focusing ABM efforts on specific high-value deals brings teams together. Tim explained that aligning on a “shared scoreboard” of deal-centric KPIs (pipeline progress, deal size, engagement depth) was instrumental in uniting Salesforce’s sales reps and marketers around common goals​. He outlined how they established joint accountability for top-tier “must-win” accounts, often pairing a marketer with an account exec to co-own strategy. This approach, with marketing and sales literally planning and working deals side by side, led to faster deal cycles and larger wins. The session drove home the point that ABM isn’t just about marketing at accounts, but truly marketing with sales-especially when pursuing specific strategic deals.

• Keynote – The Renaissance We Need in B2B Starts with Aligning to the Buyer – Kerry Cunningham (6sense, formerly of Forrester) delivered a research-backed talk on buyer-centric marketing. He challenged traditional funnel thinking by revealing how today’s B2B buyers actually behave: “Your buyers do not follow your nurture campaigns, and they don’t need to be educated”, Kerry noted, emphasizing that buyers self-educate and progress on their own terms​. He shared data on buyer journeys to show that the best ABM strategies mirror this behavior – essentially “a true buyer-first strategy” that meets buyers where they are, rather than trying to force them into a seller-designed journey​. Key insights included the importance of identifying buying group signals (not just individual leads) and enabling buyers with content when they seek it. Marketers were urged to align closely with sales to respond to buying signals in real time. Kerry’s session left a strong impression: effective ABM means letting the buyer lead, with marketing and sales as supportive guides aligned to the buyer’s process.

• Case Study – Transforming ABM: Fujitsu’s Journey (2014–Today) – Andrea Clatworthy (Fujitsu) took the audience on a 10-year journey of ABM evolution at Fujitsu. Starting from the earliest pilots in 2014, Andrea highlighted how Fujitsu scaled its ABM efforts across Europe, adjusting strategy along the way. Through three mini case studies (from the UK and Finland), she demonstrated how they defined target account criteria, secured leadership buy-in, and structured her team for growth. One highlight was Fujitsu’s emphasis on reusing and repurposing content – “asset reuse and using customer language” were pivotal in efficiently expanding ABM programs​. Andrea also didn’t shy away from challenges: she noted areas where “modern tools could have enhanced our journey”​, including better data integration and analytics (a nod to AI and intent data that weren’t available in 2014). Finally, partnering with external experts (like Luxid Group’s Marjut Herranen, who joined the stage) brought fresh creative approaches to keep ABM campaigns from going stale. This session provided a rich, long-term perspective: ABM is a journey of continuous improvement, requiring adaptability, internal advocacy, and a relentless focus on the customer.

• Case Study – The AI-Infused ABM Playbook – Adam Woozeer (Quantexa) wowed the crowd with a very modern ABM case study leveraging cutting-edge AI. He revealed how Quantexa’s marketing team employs AI, including custom-trained GPT models, at every stage of their ABM process​. From automating deep account research (using AI to scan vast data and provide “hyper-relevant insights in seconds”) to generating personalized messaging for each decision-maker, Quantexa’s approach exemplified doing ABM at scale without losing relevance​. Adam shared tangible tactics: for example, using GPT-based tools to create tailored battlecards and industry-specific talking points for sales teams in real time. The result has been faster pipeline velocity and higher conversion rates. His blueprint for future-proofing ABM with AI resonated with attendees: invest in AI to eliminate mundane tasks, so your team can focus on strategy and creative human touches. This forward-looking session underscored that the next wave of ABM will heavily feature AI co-pilots alongside marketers.

• Case Study – More Than Just Metrics: Why the Best ABM KPIs Focus on Trust – Christian Weiss (Autodesk) addressed the often tricky topic of measuring ABM success. Christian argued that traditional demand-gen metrics don’t fully capture ABM’s impact, which is as much about quality of relationships as quantity of leads. “Measuring the success of ABM programs can be a challenge as ABM is more than revenue – it drives relationships and reputation”, he noted​. He advocated for trust-based KPIs – metrics that gauge client trust and engagement (such as executive-level relationship growth, account NPS, advocacy instances), not just closed revenue. Why? The right metrics will “drive behavior in marketing teams” that encourages long-term thinking and better alignment with sales and customer success​. In essence, if you measure what truly matters (customer success, trust, strategic pipeline), you incentivize teams to work in ways that deepen client bonds. This more nuanced, behavioral science-informed approach to metrics gave the audience food for thought: ABM leaders should revisit their dashboards and ensure they’re measuring the things that foster lasting account growth, not just short-term wins.

• Closing Keynote – ABM as a Team Sport: Winning Together – The day capped off with an inspiring keynote by Jamil Qureshi, a performance psychologist and coach. Jamil drew analogies between high-performance sports teams and ABM teams, emphasizing mindset and culture. In high-performing teams, “alignment, collaboration, and shared purpose drive exceptional outcomes”, and so it is with ABM​. He stressed that marketing and sales should trust each other like teammates on a playing field – openly communicate, play to each other’s strengths, and celebrate wins together. One memorable moment was when Jamil recounted a story of a sports team overcoming odds by breaking down internal silos – a clear call-to-action for B2B organizations to eliminate the marketing vs. sales mentality. The keynote left everyone energized about the human side of ABM: success isn’t just about data or tech, but about building a high-performance team mindset where everyone rallies around the account. Attendees left with the mantra that “ABM is a team sport” – and when done right, both the customer and your internal team win.

Memorable Quotes from the Forum

• “This forum reflects our DNA and our commitment to the B2B community: shifting from ad-hoc tactics to building long-term relationships. Together, we’re elevating B2B in Europe to the next level.” – Shimon Ben Ayoun, Co-Founder at SPOTONVISION​. (During the welcome address, on the significance of launching the European ABM Forum)

• “Your buyers do not follow your nurture campaigns, and they don’t need to be educated… It’s on us as marketers to support the self-directed buying journey rather than forcing buyers into an outdated funnel.” – Kerry Cunningham, Head of Research & Thought Leadership at 6sense​. (Highlighting the importance of aligning to modern buyer behavior)

• “We’re moving away from traditional ABM to ABX – Account-Based Experiences – which keeps the customer at the core of our strategy.” – Reena Jagtap, Digital Marketing Lead at Henkel​. (On evolving an ABM program to be more customer-centric across all touchpoints)

Community Spirit and Future Outlook

• Peer-to-Peer Learning: A palpable sense of community defined the forum. Attendees weren’t just there to listen – they actively swapped war stories and tactics throughout the day. In the interactive closing session, the moderators turned the spotlight on the audience, inviting practitioners to share their own biggest insights and lingering challenges​. This peer-to-peer dialogue underscored the forum’s ethos: ABMers learn best from each other. From roundtables over coffee to spontaneous hallway discussions, the event fostered new connections among Europe’s ABM professionals. “ABM is a journey we’re all on together” seemed to be the prevailing sentiment, as folks exchanged LinkedIn contacts to continue the conversations post-event.

• First of Many (ABM in Europe): The success of this inaugural European ABM Forum bodes well for the future of ABM in the region. There was a shared excitement that Europe now has a dedicated ABM gathering on its home turf (after years of mostly UK and US-based events). Many attendees remarked that the content felt by Europeans, for Europeans – tackling issues like GDPR, diverse markets, and multicultural buying committees that are uniquely felt here​. Matt Conway, for instance, a senior ABM leader who attended, noted how refreshing it was to discuss ABM strategies in a continental European context. The forum’s blend of global best practices with European nuances has the community eager for more. (Organizers even announced plans for the forum to return in 2026, signaling a growing ABM movement in Europe.)

• The Road Ahead – ABM to ABX: Coming out of the event, one thing is clear: ABM in Europe is evolving into a more expansive, customer-centric practice. Collaboration will continue to be a defining factor – not only between marketing and sales, but across all customer-facing teams. Technology (AI, intent data, orchestration tools) will play a huge role in scaling efforts, yet the human element – creativity, empathy, insight – remains the differentiator. As one attendee put it, the future of ABM is about “being high-tech and high-touch at the same time.” There’s also growing interest in applying behavioral science to ABM: understanding psychology to better engage buyers and to drive organizational change internally. Overall, the forum’s participants left with new ideas, new connections, and a shared vision that the next era of ABM (or rather ABX) will deliver more personalized, insight-driven, and human experiences for B2B buyers. Europe’s ABM community is fired up to lead the way, armed with the playbooks and inspiration gained in Amsterdam.

Did I miss anything :)