Nicola Grillo

About

From engineering to leadership, without losing technical curiosity.

I lead Data, AI & CRM Systems functions on an international scale. I've built organizations from the ground up, today 90+ professionals, defining AI operating models, Data Governance frameworks and central AI teams.

My path — from engineer and researcher, to solution architect and program manager at Avanade and Reply, to leading a strategic Group function — combines deep technology expertise with business vision.

I'm passionate about technology and continuous innovation: I believe in growing people, building high-performing teams and turning AI from experimentation into measurable value.

Skills Show details

A mix of leadership, data and deep technology.

Strong focus on generative AI and machine learning applied at enterprise scale — from strategy to delivery.

01

AI & Data

From GenAI to Machine Learning, through cloud Data Lakehouse architectures: I design and lead artificial intelligence initiatives applied at enterprise scale.

Generative AIMachine LearningRPA OpenAIData LakehouseAWSDatabricks Advanced AnalyticsOracle DWH & BIQlik

02

Leadership & Strategy

I define operating models, governance frameworks and IT strategies, building and leading high-performing teams at international scale.

AI StrategyAI Operating ModelData Governance Digital TransformationIT StrategyBudgeting & Planning Vendor ManagementTeam Building (90+ FTE)

03

CRM & Operations

Throughout my career I've designed and run several CRM, contact center and field service projects, always putting customer data at the center of business processes.

Microsoft Dynamics 365Customer Data MgmtSales Force Automation Contact CenterField ServiceBPMSAP / ERP

04

Methodologies

Program management, solution architecture and change management: the method that holds strategy and delivery together.

Program & Project MgmtSolution ArchitectureBusiness Analysis AgilePre-salesChange Management

Experience Show full path

A path built one step at a time.

From academic research to leading a strategic Group function at one of Europe's leading gaming operators.

Group-level governance of Data, AI and CRM systems across all local and international business units.
Built the Data, AI & CRM Systems organization from scratch: today ~90 professionals (20% external) in cross-functional teams.
Defined the AI operating model and Data Governance framework; established and lead the Group's central AI team.
Delivered 100+ initiatives across GenAI, Machine Learning, RPA, CRM and data platforms, achieving cost optimizations in the millions of euros.
End-to-end ownership of enterprise-wide projects, budgets, capacity planning and forecasting at Group level.
Scope: Customer Data Management, Contact Center, Sales Force Automation, Field Service, GenAI/ML/RPA, DWH & BI (Oracle, Qlik), cloud Data Lakehouse architectures (AWS, Databricks).

Corporate owner of HR, CRM & Operations, SAP and DWH/Reporting applications for all Group countries.
Led digital transformation programs and the cloud migration of the Group's management systems.
Coordinated a team of 100+ professionals (40% external) and 10+ suppliers.

Corporate owner of CRM & Operations applications: communication channels (Chat, CTI), Document Management, digital signature, BPM.
Coordinated a team of 10+ professionals (40% external) and 5+ suppliers; program management and budget ownership.

Reale Mutua Assicurazioni — Program Manager for the multichannel CRM serving the agency network (Dynamics CRM, .NET).
RINA, SilverSea, Qui!Group — Solution Architect for IT assessments and transformation roadmaps.
Alès Groupe — Project Manager for Sales Force Automation; CNH Industrial (North America) — Technical PM for the Customer Database.
Cross-engagement pre-sales, business analysis and budget management.

Fincantieri — Delivery Lead for the Inspection Call program (mobility, Resco.net, Dynamics CRM).
Amplifon — Solution Architect for Campaign Management; CRIF — Team Leader for Ticketing Management.
EPSON — Sales Force Automation development (Dynamics CRM, SQL Server, SSIS, Reporting Services).

Research on an innovative method for managing security roles in DBMS, with results published internationally (Springer, ACM).

Research & Publications

From academic research to the enterprise.

Before entering the enterprise world, I spent a year researching at Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, in collaboration with Oracle.

An innovative method for managing security roles in DBMS

Research Collaborator · Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 × Oracle · 2009–2010 · 2 international scientific publications (Springer, ACM) on data security and management.

Google Scholar ↗ ACM Digital Library ↗

Over the course of my professional career, I've also published 100+ technical articles on Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Scribe and SQL Server.

Projects

Two ideas I'm building in my spare time.

Side projects born out of my passion for technology, currently in development.

In progress

NotoWiki

Smart notes for the Boox Note Air 5C

An app for the Boox Note Air 5C e-ink tablet dedicated to managing handwritten notes, with a personal wiki that automatically classifies and links notes by topic.

Boox Note Air 5CE-inkWikiAuto-classification

In progress

Pizzami

Your assistant for the perfect pizza

An app that guides you step by step through making homemade pizza the professional way: dough, proofing, toppings and baking.

RecipesProofingStep-by-step guideMobile app

News

What's happening in Tech & AI.

A selection that updates automatically from the outlets I follow most closely, to stay on top of artificial intelligence and technology.

Sources: TechCrunch (AI) · MIT Technology Review · Ars Technica — refreshed automatically on each visit (1-hour cache).

Contact

Looking for a Data & AI strategy for your organization?

Rho (MI), Italy — open to conversations, advisory and opportunities in the Data & AI space.

LinkedIn ↗

From data to decisions.From AI to real value.