Prologis Hosts GROUNDBREAKERS 2024: A Thought Leadership Forum in London

Prologis Hosts GROUNDBREAKERS 2024

Prologis, Inc. (NYSE: PLD), a global leader in logistics real estate, hosted its fourth annual GROUNDBREAKERS thought leadership forum in London today. The event brought together trailblazers from various industries, including FedEx Chairman Fred Smith, former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, and survival expert Bear Grylls, to discuss the future of logistics, technology, and innovation.

Opening Keynote: Industry Leaders Share Insights on AI and Innovation

Prologis Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO Hamid R. Moghadam, alongside FedEx Founder and Executive Chairman Fred Smith, delivered the forum’s opening keynote. The two industry leaders shared insights into how artificial intelligence (AI) is influencing geo-economic trends and impacting their companies' operations.

“Manufacturing of basic items is not going to be reintroduced into the West unless robotics changes the game,” said Smith. Moghadam emphasized the importance of digitizing data: “If you do not have data, no amount of AI can help you.”

Both leaders highlighted the significance of fostering a culture of innovation, noting that a strong company culture is key to attracting talent and meeting customer expectations. Moghadam stated, “Culture is the only form of sustainable competitive advantage.”

Panel Discussions: Delivery, Fashion, and Healthcare

The Next Normal: The Future of Delivery

Prologis President Dan Letter moderated a discussion on the future of delivery, featuring insights from Rhenus Group’s Dr. Stephen Peters, McKinsey’s Patrick Hertzke, and Airspace’s Alex Coates. The panel explored how AI and data analytics are driving improvements in delivery infrastructure.

Fashion Forward: Everyone is Unique

Vogue Business Editor Kirsty McGregor led a conversation with Prada’s Paolo Zannoni and Trove’s Andy Ruben about how evolving consumer expectations are shaping the fashion industry. Zannoni remarked, “We are facing the change from the way traditional customers shopped for luxury.”

Better Health Through Innovation and Design

Healthcare leaders discussed how supply chain innovations are improving patient outcomes. Moderated by Naomi Grimley from the Oxford Ellison Institute of Technology, panelists addressed the growing need for automation in healthcare processes.

Energy Forward: Electrification and Sustainability

Prologis Chief Energy and Sustainability Officer Susan Uthayakumar led a discussion on the future of energy with Schneider Electric’s Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Granular Energy’s Toby Ferenczi, and Eurasia Group’s Amund Vik. The panel emphasized the need for balancing progress with sustainability, highlighting the challenges of decarbonization while meeting growing energy demands.

Watch GROUNDBREAKERS 2024 On-Demand

With hundreds of attendees in-person and thousands joining virtually, the forum was a success. Sessions from GROUNDBREAKERS 2024 are available to stream on-demand, and the next forum is scheduled for Oct. 2, 2025, in Los Angeles.

About Prologis

Prologis, Inc. is the global leader in logistics real estate, with investments across approximately 1.2 billion square feet in 19 countries. The company serves around 6,700 customers in both business-to-business and retail/online fulfillment sectors.