JS
JS Future Capital GmbH Berlin · 2026

MACHINE ROOM FOR GROWTH.

We help brands regain their capacity to act in the AI era. Not with more analyses and slide decks — but with real execution. Strategy that works. An organisation that moves.

Jochen Sengpiehl — Founder & CEO
JOCHEN SENGPIEHL
Founder & CEO · Berlin
25+ Years of C-level leadership across global transformation markets.
Forbes Global Top-50 CMO. Operational credibility instead of advisory theatre.
4 global automotive groups — from Dieselgate to China's EV transformation.
Core These Those who use AI only for efficiency will lose the market to those who understand AI as the operating system of growth.
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Global CMO · Volkswagen AG
Forbes · 2× Global Top-50 CMO
Cannes Lions · Advertiser of the Year
Effie · Gold
ADC · 10× Gold
Founder · “Das Auto.”
China Expert · Automotive · Tech · Consumer Insights
Mandate · idealo · Kittl.com · Axel Springer · WPP
Strategic Partnership · Future Marketing / Serviceplan
Venture Capital · Brand & AI
AI-native · Commercial OS
Berlin · 2026

The rules of brand leadership
are being rewritten right now.

Most companies already know what is coming for them. They simply don't know where to begin. We take the first step — together.

  1. 01
    Define brand identity as a long-term asset — clear, bold, differentiated.
  2. 02
    Anchor marketing back in the boardroomno mandate, no impact.
  3. 03
    Treat technology as a partner, not a tool — a co-pilot across creative, analytical and operational work.
  4. 04
    Radically reduce complexity — fewer projects, more impact.
  5. 05
    Reinvent agency partnerships — away from vendors, towards strategic sparring partners.
Not a consultant.
An Operator.

My strength and my added value lie in the strategic repositioning and realignment of brands — and translating that into operational execution. Together with teams, agencies and partners. Fast, consistent and pragmatic.

Brands, agencies and media are at an inflection point: AI is turning established structures, business models and communication logics inside out. Whoever hesitates now loses not only pace — they lose control. What is required: a new mindset, decisive action and the ability to deliver operationally.

01 Global CMO · Volkswagen AG — brand and communications worldwide, direct report to the CEO.
02 2× Forbes Global Top-50 CMO — global impact rather than buzzwords.
03 4 global automotive groups — VW, Hyundai, DaimlerChrysler, Seat.
04 Advisory: Future Marketing / Serviceplan · Motor AI · Idealo · Axel Springer · WPP · CVC Capital · Kittl and more.
05 China Expert: automotive, tech innovation, consumer insights.
Jochen Sengpiehl
JOCHEN SENGPIEHL Founder & CEO · JS Future Capital GmbH

Brand visibility:
the decisive success factor
in the AI era.

When I had to reset the Volkswagen brand after Dieselgate, the decisive question was not awareness — it was clarity.

68%
KI-Recherche
of consumers use AI assistants for product and brand research. (Gartner, 2025)
↓38%
Sichtbarkeitsverlust
in organic brand visibility across AI-native search environments by 2027. (McKinsey)
12%
AI-Ready
of established brands are algorithmically optimised for AI recommendation engines. (Bain, 2025)
Conversion
higher conversion for AI-recommended brands vs. classically discovered ones. (HBR, 2024)

Brand visibility · the new survival problem

Classical brand leadership convinced people. The AI era demands something else: algorithmic legibility. Only brands that AI systems can clearly place get recommended. All others simply disappear — no warning signal, no second chance.

  • Semantic clarity: can AI describe and categorise the brand precisely in a handful of tokens?
  • Contextual relevance: does the brand appear in the right contexts and intent spaces?
  • Structural consistency: are all digital signals of the brand coherent and free of contradiction?
  • Conversational presence: is the brand actively recommended, referenced and cited in AI conversations?
The AI visibility paradox · who controls tomorrow's purchase decision?
2020 2022 2024 2026 2028E Klassische Reichweite KI-gesteuerter Zugang KIPPPUNKT 2024

Source: JS Future Capital analysis, drawing on Gartner, Bain & Company and the McKinsey Global Institute, 2024–2025.

Strong brands don't lose loudly. They vanish quietly — from feeds, from recommendations, from the attention of the next generation. That is precisely why I founded JS Future Capital.

How AI is rewiring every function.

AI is already reshaping every function today — from strategy to sales. This is not a future scenario.

Area & Functions
AI Tools (Examples)
What they deliver
01
Brand StrategyPositioning · market intelligence · brand OS
ClaudeChatGPTPerplexityAlphaSense
Positioning in minutesBrand strategy as a dynamic OS
02
Media Strategy & PlanningMedia planning · audience targeting · attribution
Google Performance MaxMeta Advantage+Trade Desk AI
Automated budget allocationHigh-intent audiences in real time
03
Corporate Design & IdentityVisual identity · layout · brand consistency
KittlMidjourneyDALL·EAdobe Firefly
Generate brand worlds instantlyScale design production
04
Campaign & CreativeIdeation · copywriting · testing
ChatGPTClaudeJasperMeta AITikTok Creative AI
Test thousands of creative variants in real time
05
Video & Asset ProductionVideo · Image Assets · Post-Production
RunwaySoraPikaMidjourneyDescript
Produce cinematic video instantlyAutomate editing
06
Web & ExperienceWebsite · UX/UI · Conversion Opt.
Claude + StitchFramer AIWebflow AIFigma AI
Websites from promptsReal-time personalisation
07
CRM & GrowthCRM automation · messaging · lifecycle
Salesforce EinsteinHubSpot AIBraze AI
1:1 personalisation at scaleMaximise CLV
JS Marketing Team
Team paper · A concise briefing

The JS marketing team.

How a modern, AI-native marketing team should be built — roles, skills, setup. For CMOs building anew right now.

Download the marketing team paper

Purpose. Mission. Stance.

My strength and my added value lie in the strategic repositioning and realignment of brands — and translating that into operational execution. Together with teams, agencies and partners. Fast, consistent and pragmatic.

Brand OS & Marketing OS —
two sides of the same coin.

Brand and marketing operating systems are inseparable. They must be conceived and delivered as an integrated, end-to-end system — not as separate disciplines. That is the foundational architecture of our work.

BRAND OPERATING SYSTEM MARKETING OPERATING SYSTEM The PLANNING Loop Insights-based Creative & Media Brief Media Planning Need Identification The CREATIVE Loop Creative Route Creative Testing The DELIVERY Loop Asset Production Media Activation Insights shared back Analytics & Opt. ⟵⟶ ⟵⟶

Brand OS (top) and Marketing OS (bottom) form a continuous, closed loop across planning, creative and delivery.

Kein Consulting-Theater.
Echter Track Record.

25 years. Four global automotive groups. From Dieselgate to China's electric-mobility transformation. No advisory theatre — lived experience.

Jochen Sengpiehl — Founder & CEO
Founder & CEO

JOCHEN SENGPIEHL

Ex Global CMO Volkswagen AG · Ex CMO Volkswagen China · 2× Forbes Global Top-50 CMO · strategic operator for AI Commercial Architecture.

25+Years of international leadership in brand and transformation roles.
4global automotive groups transformed in highly complex markets.
Forbes Global Top-50 CMO worldwide.
Operational Credibility
Client & mandate logos · selection
Volkswagen Mercedes-Benz Daimler Hyundai SEAT Xpeng Axel Springer WPP BBDO Bain & Company Kittl idealo
  • JS
    2025 — Present
    Founder & CEO · JS Future Capital GmbH, Berlin

    Investment and advisory platform for AI-driven brand, marketing & sales transformation.

  • VW
    2022 — 2025
    Chief Marketing Officer China · Volkswagen Group China, Beijing
    • Defined and delivered Brand Target 2030 — a holistic transformation plan for VW China.
    • Responsibility for brand, product and innovation strategy, plus joint-venture governance.
    • Developed and launched ID. UNYX — Volkswagen's new electric sub-brand in China.
    • New emotionally charged design DNA and show-car strategy including ID. CODE (Beijing Motor Show 2024).
    • Stabilised core brand KPIs despite the toughest competitive pressure.
  • VW
    2017 — 2022
    Global CMO · Volkswagen AG, Wolfsburg (direct report to the CEO)
    • Architect of “New Volkswagen 360” — the global transformation programme after Dieselgate.
    • Global brand repositioning: new purpose, brand identity, logo and design language.
    • Launch of the ID. electric family and the ID.BUZZ, including the iconic Star Wars partnership.
    • Built the global digital ecosystem OneHub — over 1.1 billion visits per year.
    • Sustainable recovery of brand equity and international reputation · 2× Forbes Top-50 CMO.
  • HY
    2014 — 2017
    EVP / CMO Europe · Hyundai Motor Europe, Offenbach

    Full accountability for brand, marketing, digital and FIFA / UEFA sponsorships. Leadership across 34 European markets.

  • JS
    2012 — 2014
    Founder & CEO · JS Global Brand Consulting

    Strategic advisory work for BMW, Lexus, Hyundai/Genesis and Ford Motor Co. — brand repositioning, premium go-to-market strategies and market-entry concepts.

  • VW
    2006 — 2009
    Senior Vice President / CMO Global · Volkswagen AG, Wolfsburg
    • Global turnaround after the quality crisis — brand leadership across 150+ markets.
    • Launch of the Tiguan and of the worldwide brand claim “Das Auto.”
    • Creator of one of the most successful automotive advertising campaigns worldwide.
    • Advertiser of the Year Cannes · Effie Gold · ADC 10× Gold.
  • DC
    Earlier
    DaimlerChrysler · Mercedes-Benz · WPP Inc. · Bain & Company

    Building international marketing capability in the premium automotive segment. Strategic advisory experience with WPP Inc. and Bain & Company.

Three pillars.
Two audiences.
One system.

JS Future Capital operates at the intersection of strategic thinking, operational excellence and network access — bundled into three complementary business units.

01

Advisory & Consulting

Senior advisor and strategic partner for corporates, agencies and investors. Focus on AI Commercial Architecture, brand transformation and marketing operating model.

Boardroom
02

AI Investments

Strategic investments in AI-native start-ups and scale-ups. Access to exclusive deal-flow via a global C-level network. Focus on brand-tech, marketing-AI and commerce.

Capital
03

Network & Ecosystem

Curated connections across corporates, agencies, start-ups and investors. Thought leadership through keynotes, publications and whitepapers.

Leverage

Engagement Models

Strategic Retainer

Ongoing advisory partnership with guaranteed availability — for corporates and agencies that need a senior partner as an equal.

Project Mandate

Defined transformation projects: brand strategy sprints, AI readiness audits, operating model design, market-entry strategy.

Board & Investment Advisory

Board seats and investment advisory for start-ups pursuing global expansion and brand transformation.

Strategic Partnerships & Staffing

Project quality is my top priority. For my engagements I draw on a close network of experienced C-level operators across all functions — plus a strategic alliance with the leading consulting company for holistic brand leadership and AI transformation: FUTURE MARKETING GmbH / Serviceplan.

Target Sectors

Cross-sector core expertise — focused on markets with high AI disruption potential:

Automotive & Mobility
Media, Publishing & Platforms
Consumer & Retail
FinTech & InsurTech
AI & Deep-Tech Start-ups
Private Equity & Venture Capital

Five questions
for every board.

If you cannot answer even one of these questions with a clear yes, let's talk.

01 Are marketing, sales and communications in your organisation truly integrated — or merely organised side by side?
02 Does your AI strategy go beyond efficiency — all the way into the architecture?
03 Is your brand built for the AI transition, or is it becoming invisible?
04 Can your commercial systems scale without you having to scale headcount alongside them?
05 Do you have an operator in the room — or another consultant?

The six documents boards must read in 2026.

Six documents · 60+ pages of diagnosis · 5 studies + 1 tool paper · data from McKinsey, Bain, EMARKETER and Interbrand. For boards that need to act within the next 90 days — not in three years.

All documents are free. No lead-capture form, no tracking. Just the essentials — yours to take.

Press

Interviews, press and podcast appearances.

Selected press features and podcast conversations with Jochen Sengpiehl — on brand visibility, AI Commercial Architecture and the future of marketing.

CONTACT

Ready for the
mindshift?

Anyone who senses that current structures are no longer enough — and is ready to tackle the transformation in earnest — should have the conversation now. Not about tools. About the architecture behind them.

Destroy what you love.
Not because it isn't working. But because clinging to what works is the most dangerous thing we can do. — Jochen Sengpiehl