Celonis hires former Deutsche Bank CEO as new chief customer officer

Celonis has appointed former Deutsche Bank executive, Dilipkumar Khandelwal, as its new chief customer officer and chairman of the India Advisory Board.

Celonis said the move signals it’s deep commitment to ensuring customers achieve measurable value from artificial intelligence (AI) using process intelligence and solidifying its strategic investment in India as a global hub for innovation and talent.

Khandelwal served as Deutsche Bank India CEO for four years and spent almost 19 years at SAP in different roles. He is also the founding member of Plaksha University, a partner and advisor to venture funds and an active angel investor in more than 70+ companies to support the next generation of entrepreneurs.

At Celonis, he will focus on leading global customer success and spearheading growth in India.

Celonis supports customers with AI-enhanced processes

As enterprises rush to adopt AI, the ability to deliver tangible business outcomes has become the single most important success factor. Khandelwal’s appointment underscores Celonis’ focus on customer ROI and empowering companies to drive tangible value from their processes and from their AI deployments, according to a press release.

“In this economic climate, delivering quantifiable value is the only thing that matters,” said Carsten Thoma, president and board director at Celonis. “Our customers are looking for a true partner to help them make AI work for their business Dilip has built and scaled global teams that serve the world’s most demanding clients. He has lived in the world of our customers, understands their challenges intimately and knows how to connect technology to the top, bottom, and green line. He is the ideal leader to guarantee our customers’ success.”

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Celonis continues its expansion in India

Celonis also hopes that Khandelwal’s appointment to its India Advisory Board will enable the firm to benefit from the region’s strong market for both innovation and talent. This follows significant recent investments, including the launch of the Celonis Garage innovation hub in Bengaluru. 

“I am excited to work with our customers and partners to harness the power of process intelligence and AI to move the needle on their most critical business goals and unlock billions in value,” said Khandelwal. “When I saw how the process intelligence platform provides AI the operational context it needs to be relevant and effective for the enterprise, I knew it had the potential to completely reinvent operations. I’m here to make that a reality for our customers.” 

Image credit: Celonis

How process intelligence transforms manufacturing & supply chains: 2025 industry report

This industry report examines how and why organizations are investing in process intelligence to enhance manufacturing and supply chain management. “Global manufacturing and supply chains face enormous volatility in 2025,” says Michael Ochi, director at QAD. “Individual organizations feel tremendous pressure but also have new opportunities to grow. Any combination of protective and expansive business strategies requires constant speed and awareness.” 

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