Key Takeaways from Riga Board Room Lunch
September 2026
For the 22nd year, Pedersen & Partners, in cooperation with Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, brought together a selected group of more than 40 senior executives and top managers for the Riga Board Room Lunch.
Designed as a Board-level forum, the event brings together senior decision-makers from leading regional organisations, clients, cooperation partners and members of the Pedersen & Partners Baltics network for focused discussion and relationship-building.
The event was opened by Gary Williams, Equity Partner and CEO of Pedersen & Partners, together with Kata Fredheim, Vice President Partnerships and Strategy at Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, and moderated by Evita Lune, Equity Partner and Global Head of the FinTech Practice Group at Pedersen & Partners.
This year’s theme focused on outstanding business success stories from Latvia and the Baltics and the strategic and leadership decisions behind them.
Three case studies of outstanding success were presented.
Jānis Vība, CEO and Chairman of the Management Board at VIRŠI, shared how diversification, expansion across the value chain, strong leadership and the company’s IPO supported its transformation from a fuel retailer into a broader energy and mobility business.
Modestas Sudnius, CEO of Eleving Group, presented a slightly different growth path. Eleving has expanded its consumer finance model across 18 markets and three continents. Global ambition, determination, its IPO and active work with debt investors have all supported its international growth and access to more competitive funding.
Inga Adamaite, CEO and Board Member of IKEA Latvia, shared how IKEA Baltics has become recognised within the organisation as a strong example of operational performance. Under her leadership, efficiency, processes, quality and profitability have improved significantly, driven by a highly effective regional team.
The three stories showed that there is no single formula for success.
For Virši, it has been diversification and expansion of the value chain. For Eleving, international ambition, capital markets and replication of a proven business model. For IKEA Baltics, operational excellence, leadership and a strong focus on efficiency and quality.
Different paths, but the same underlying lesson: ambition delivers results when it is matched by strong leadership and disciplined execution.
We would like to thank our speakers and senior leaders who joined us for this year’s Riga Board Room Lunch, as well as our local team: Eva Alberte, Inga Ezera and Andzelika Berga.