Quadrants 2026: A view from our CEO

Quadrants 2026: A view from Our CEO

Malcolm Youngson, CEO of Veridian

Quadrants 2026 in Copenhagen was a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when more than 1,600 leaders from across the Volaris portfolio come together with a shared purpose: to learn and grow alongside one another. It is a truly unique event, unlike anything I have experienced which is a reflection on the diversity of people, topics, and session formats. From keynote sessions delivered at scale to roundtable discussions with a small group of peers, it is a compelling mix that is part of what makes Quadrants (and being part of Volaris) so impactful to the Veridian business.

Events like Quadrants are a critical enabler of how we grow as businesses. The opportunity to exchange ideas, share best practices, and learn from organisations operating at scale across diverse industries is invaluable. It reinforces the strength of the Volaris ecosystem and the advantage we have as part of it.

I had the privilege of contributing to the keynote panel on Customer Obsession, a topic that sits at the heart of Veridian and how we operate. In the cruise industry, complexity is the norm, and our customers operate some of the most demanding environments anywhere in the world. That is why we prioritise deep, long-term partnerships, working side by side with our customers to understand the realities of their operations and deliver solutions that perform where it matters most.

Our approach is built on proximity, trust, and accountability. We stay close to our customers, we listen carefully, and we take responsibility for outcomes. This is what enables us to consistently deliver value and support cruise organisations in running safe, efficient, and high-performing fleets. The discussion on stage reinforced a clear truth. Businesses that embed themselves in their customers’ world are the ones that create lasting value.

A major theme throughout the week was the role of AI. What stood out was the clear message that AI is not confined to R&D or technical teams (although they are doing some really amazing things). It is an opportunity for every function, every role, and every individual. The question is no longer whether to adopt AI, but how to use it effectively to drive exponential outcomes. At Veridian, this means embedding AI into how we think, operate, and deliver, unlocking the potential to achieve tenfold improvements through smarter and faster decision making.

The second half of the week focused on our Omegro portfolio, where discussions moved deeper into the Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) space. It was impressive to see the breadth and diversity of EAM businesses across multiple verticals, which highlights the depth of expertise within the portfolio and reinforces the strong position we are in. Being part of this network gives us a valuable opportunity to learn from organisations leading in their markets, and to continuously strengthen our own approach to asset management for cruise fleets.

Finally, events like Quadrants are, above all, about people: the teams who do the hard work of designing and delivering the programme, the attendees who bring energy and ideas, and the time it creates to be face to face with the Veridian leadership team. Aligning on our priorities and direction is essential, especially when fresh perspectives are in abundance. But the real value of Quadrants lies in what happens next: how we use the learnings to drive meaningful and positive change in our business, which in the end needs to do the same for our customers.

Quadrants 2026 has set a strong foundation for the year ahead. Our focus now turns to execution.