Giovanni Piccirilli GP
Technology, Digital & AI Executive

Technology and AI leadership that turns bold strategy into growth.

For close to thirty years I have created value where technology, business and culture meet: leading digital and AI transformation at scale, driving M&A and integration, and helping turn a traditional broadcaster into the leading digital media business in the Netherlands.

I bring most value in CEO / CTO / CDO mandates, advisory work and supervisory board (RvC) roles.
Strategy & transformation
Digital & AI at scale
M&A & integration
Winning culture & teams
Profile

An executive at ease in the engine room and in the boardroom.

I create value where technology, business and culture meet. Across close to thirty years in media, telecommunications and consulting I have led digital and AI transformation at scale, driven M&A and integration, and built the high-performing teams and winning culture that make change last.

As an executive board member and Chief Technology Officer I most recently led technology, data and AI at RTL Nederland. Before that I held CTO and executive board responsibility at UPC and Ziggo, and led engineering as a Vice President at Liberty Global. Between those operating roles I spent two years as an independent advisor, including a senior advisor and managing director engagement with Accenture.

I bring a multicultural background, having worked across the Middle East, Africa, Italy and the Netherlands, and I lead comfortably across cultures and in five languages.

Today I run my own advisory company, Pepper Technology, and focus on C-suite mandates and board work in business transformation, technology, data and AI.

How I help

Three ways companies and boards put my experience to work.

Executive

As your CEO, CTO or CDO

Take a senior leadership seat to set technology and AI direction, lead transformation and build the organisation around it. I have carried that responsibility on executive boards in media and connectivity, and I bring the same operating experience to your leadership team.

Good fit whenyou are scaling, transforming or integrating after a deal and want a steady, senior hand.
Advisory & interim

Alongside your team, or in the seat

Work with your executives on strategy, transformation and value creation, or hold the CTO role on an interim basis while you search for a permanent hire. Close enough to be useful, independent enough to be honest.

Good fit whenyou need senior judgement quickly, without a permanent commitment.
Board & non-executive

Independent judgement in the room

Bring technology, data and AI strategy, along with governance and risk, into sharper focus at board level, as a non-executive director or supervisory board (RvC) member, and act as a critical strategic sparring partner.

Good fit whenyour board wants credible, current technology expertise contributing to the big calls.
Expertise

Where I add the most value.

01

Technology, data & AI strategy

Setting a direction a business and its board can commit to, then carrying it through to delivery.

02

Digital media, streaming & connectivity

Deep sector knowledge across broadcast, streaming and connectivity, from consumer experience to core platforms.

03

M&A, integration & alliances

Leading technology M&A, post-deal integration and the partnerships that turn a strategy into reality.

04

Executive & board leadership

Operating at executive board level, translating technology into board decisions and embedding governance, risk and ESG.

05

Applied & agentic AI transformation

Hands-on with modern and agentic AI, and clear about where it reshapes the operating model, not only the tooling.

06

Winning culture & high-performing teams

Building the culture and teams that make transformation stick well after the strategy is signed off.

Track record

The roles matter less than what came out of them.

A few of the results I am most proud of, across three decades of building and transforming.

10×
Videoland growth over 8.5 years

Helped grow RTL's Videoland into the number one local streaming service in the Netherlands, part of record results five years running.

#1
Digital transformation, three years running

Led the AI and digital transformation that ranked RTL Nederland first in Dutch media (DX300, 2023 to 2025).

+40
NPS points gained in one year

Put the customer first at UPC and Ziggo, cutting incidents, support calls and field visits along the way.

Boards & governance

Contributing beyond the executive line.

Advisory Board

CIONET Netherlands

Advisory board member of the peer community for senior technology leaders in the Netherlands.

Mentor

RISE & Studiezalen

Mentoring through RISE, focused on gender diversity in media, and developing a mentorship programme with Stichting Studiezalen.

Governance

Erasmus Governance Institute

Completed the Supervisory Board Programme (Commissarissen en Toezichthouders). Open to RvC and non-executive appointments.


Media & writing

In conversation, and in my own words.

I speak at industry conferences and on podcasts, convene senior technology leaders on the questions that matter now, and write on AI adoption and transformation at scale. A selection is below, with more talks and appearances to follow.

Writing
Article · AG Connect · 2026

AI draait om adoptie: ontwerp je eigen routekaart

Why so many AI initiatives stall as isolated pilots, and how to build your own coherent AI roadmap that makes learning and scaling structural rather than accidental. Published in AG Connect, issue 1, 2026 (IT-studies).

Read the article on AG Connect
Watch
BM Media Lounge, interviewed by René Delwel on RTL's AI strategy, December 2025.
Listen
Languages
ITItaliano
ENEnglish
FRFrançais
ARالعربية
NLNederlands

Excellent in Italian, English, French and Arabic. Fluent in Dutch.

Contact

Get in touch.

Send a message below and it will come straight to me. I read every note and reply personally.

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