Commercial models that ensure real business impact
Date: Tuesday, 24 November 2026Time: 12:30 PM - 5:00 PM GMTVenue: The Dorchester, London
Hosted by HFS Research in collaboration with Ascendion
The Conversation
AI ambition is everywhere. Proof of payoff is harder to find.
Leaders are making real bets on the future of work, often without clear proof points showing where AI is paying off for the business. It is easy to get lost in the failures or the hype.
What HFS has learned is that success depends on commercial models built around business impact. This invitation-only lunch brings together 15+ senior UK&I executives with HFS Research analysts and frontline leaders from Ascendion, drawing on real-world execution across hundreds of global enterprises.
Held under the Chatham House Rule with no sales pitch, the most useful sentence in the room will start with: "We tried that, and here's what happened." Findings will be shared in an openly published briefing note, with no individual quotes.
Key Discussion Themes
What we will explore
What's working, and what's not
Which AI agreements from the past year you would sign again, which you would rethink, and where outcome promises turned into buyer's remorse.
What enterprises pay for
When it makes sense to price a measurable output, such as a claim processed, an incident resolved or a release shipped.
Linking fees to outcomes
The baselines, measures and evidence both sides need to agree before tying payment to a business result.
Sharing the risk
Safeguards that encourage business impact without holding either party responsible for results it cannot control.
Accountability for AI agents
Governing quality, cost and decisions, and what meaningful human oversight looks like in practice.
Featured Participants
Who you will hear from
HFS Research
David Cushman
Executive Research Leader, Roundtable Lead
HFS Research
Dana Daher
Executive Research Leader
HFS Research
Steve Dunkerley
HFS OneCouncil Leader
HFS Research
Agenda
The afternoon
12:30 PM
Arrival and Networking Lunch
Welcome and informal introductions with fellow senior leaders.
1:30 PM
Welcome and Opening Remarks
HFS Research and Ascendion set the scene for the afternoon.
1:45 PM
Opening Perspective
HFS Research shares what its latest research is showing.
2:15 PM
Roundtable Discussion, Part One
What's working, what isn't, and what enterprises are really paying for.
3:15 PM
Break
3:30 PM
Roundtable Discussion, Part Two
Sharing risk, linking fees to outcomes and staying accountable for AI agents.
4:15 PM
Closing Reflections
Key takeaways on the commercial models that make AI pay off.
4:30 PM
Networking Reception
Continue the conversation before close at 5:00 PM.
Indicative agenda, subject to change.
Who Attends
Senior UK&I enterprise leaders
C-suite executives
CIOs, CTOs, COOs, CFOs, Chief AI Officers and Chief Transformation Officers.
Technology and transformation leaders
Senior leaders responsible for AI programmes, IT services and enterprise transformation.
Procurement and sourcing leaders
Executives who shape the commercial models behind technology, services and AI investments.
Attendance is by invitation and subject to approval, with places reserved for senior executives from enterprise organisations.
Venue
The Dorchester
53 Park Lane, Mayfair, London W1K 1QA
One of London's most celebrated five-star hotels, overlooking Hyde Park on Park Lane in the heart of Mayfair.
