NiCE Cognigy’s Philipp Heltewig Honored by Rheinische Post for Advancing Düsseldorf’s AI Leadership

Rheinische Post has recognized Philipp Heltewig, General Manager of NiCE Cognigy and Chief AI Officer at NiCE and a leading architect of Germany’s AI innovation landscape, as the 2025 honoree and Dusseldorfer of the Year in the Business category of its annual awards. Now in its 17th year, the award celebrates individuals whose work significantly shapes and advances the city of Düsseldorf.

Heltewig was selected for his pivotal role in transforming Cognigy from a Düsseldorf‑based startup into one of the world’s most influential enterprise AI platforms. Under his leadership, the company helped define modern conversational and agentic AI, serving global brands and powering mission‑critical customer experience automation across industries.

“I am honored to receive this recognition from Rheinische Post. Düsseldorf has been home to Cognigy from day one, and its vibrant digital ecosystem played a vital role in our growth. My special thanks go to my co-founders Sascha Poggemann and Benjamin Mayr, in addition to the whole Cognigy.AI team, without whom this achievement wouldn’t have been possible. This award reflects the dedication of our entire team, whose innovation and commitment helped transform a local startup into a global AI leader. I’m excited to continue building technology that empowers people, businesses, and communities here in Düsseldorf and around the world,” said Heltewig.

Today, as General Manager of NiCE Cognigy and Chief AI Officer at NiCE, Heltewig continues to shape the future of enterprise AI. His work exemplifies technological innovation, responsible leadership, and sustained contributions to strengthening Düsseldorf’s digital economy.

Delivering real results for 1,250+ brands worldwide, learn more about NiCE Cognigy agentic AI here.