Benjamin Nickel

CIO-level advisor for Digital Workplace & GenAI – building AI-native and sovereign workplaces of tomorrow

Greater Munich Metropolitan Area

About

I’m a Director at Capgemini Invent and Head of the Digital Workplace & GenAI practice in DACH, working out of Munich and Zurich. I partner with CIOs and business leaders to rethink how work gets done across people, space and technology. Day to day, I act as a workplace architect and subject-matter expert for Microsoft 365 (incl. Copilot, Teams, Entra ID) and Google Workspace & Gemini, as well as emerging agentic AI platforms focused on the workplace of tomorrow. I design cross-cutting Digital Workplace concepts and strategies – from vision and operating model to architecture, security, governance and implementation. My current focus is on AI-native and sovereign workplaces. I lead programmes around M365, Copilot, Google Gemini, GenAI hubs and agentic AI patterns, helping organisations move from today’s app-centric desktop to an AI-orchestrated way of working. I believe we are at the beginning of a new workplace revolution – comparable to the shift from punch cards to screens and from screens to apps. In the future, applications will move into the background, AI agents will talk to the systems, and humans will increasingly act as orchestrators and validators of agents’ work, rather than clicking through every application themselves. What matters most to me are people and community. I founded and built a 17+ person Digital Workplace team, develop talents from working students to managers, and help grow our AI-Native Workplace and Digital Workplace communities across Germany and Switzerland. I regularly share our learnings as a speaker at events like Hannover Messe and the Microsoft AI Tour. Outside of work, I recharge in and around Munich, Zurich and the Alps – ideally with good food, good wine and great conversations. If you are working on the Future of Work, AI@Work or sovereign digital workplaces, I’m always happy to connect and exchange ideas.

Experience

  • Director - Head of Digital Workplace at Capgemini Invent
    Nov 2016 - Present · 9 yrs 9 mos

    Director at Capgemini Invent and Head of the Digital Workplace & GenAI practice in DACH, advising CIOs and business leaders on AI-native and sovereign workplace transformations. - Leading the Digital Workplace & GenAI practice in DACH (strategy, P&L and offer portfolio) - Acting as subject-matter expert and workplace architect for Microsoft 365 (incl. Copilot, Teams, Entra ID) and Google Workspace & Gemini – translating architecture, security and licensing into pragmatic CIO decisions and Agentic AI use cases - Advising CIOs, CDOs and Heads of Workplace on Future of Work, AI-native Workplace and Sovereign Workplace strategies, operating models and governance - Acting as Delivery & Engagement Lead for large-scale programmes around M365, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, agentic AI patterns / GenAI hubs and modern workplace platforms - Driving a strong One Capgemini partner play across Invent, CIS and industry units together with partners such as Microsoft, Google and European sovereignty providers - Building and developing a team of 17+ Digital Workplace consultants and shaping the future of work together with them - Industry focus: Pharma / Life Sciences, Manufacturing and Public Sector

  • Co-Founder at 3D Elements GmbH
    Oct 2014 - Sep 2015 · 1 yr

    3D Elements GmbH is an Austrian Start-up founded in October 2014. The company is developing and selling 3D solutions for the B2C and B2B market. As part of the founding team, I was responsible for building up the IT infrastructure, evaluating different ERP systems, developing partnerships and recruiting new employees.

  • Assistant to the CEO at P8 HOFHERR
    Feb 2014 - Jul 2014 · 6 mos

    P8 GmbH is one of the leading marketing and communication agencies in Austria. In my role as assistant to the CEO, I supported in acquiring new clients and developing marketing campaigns.

  • IT Consultant at Atelier AR18 - Architekt Gernot Benko ZT-GmbH
    Oct 2011 - Sep 2013 · 2 yrs

    Atelier AR18 is an architectural firm specialized in designing buildings for medical institutes. In my role as IT consultant, I was responsible for the administration of the current IT infrastructure and for innovations and improvements in this area.