AI Strategist | Fractional CAIO | Founder
Mohammed Cherifi
17+ years of software engineering, product leadership, and management at companies where software meets the physical world. At Cisco, I shipped network and video software to 100M+ users — including AI-based recommendation engines, the first smartphone remote for set-top boxes, and Android ports on open-source hardware. At Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, I led the software-defined mobility platform powering NissanConnect across 39 countries — 4M+ connected users — the same platform that hosts AI agents today. At ABB E-mobility, I drove go-to-market for EV charging infrastructure. Then I built Auralink: 1.7M lines of code co-developed with AI, ~20 autonomous agents, 78% incident resolution — peer-reviewed on arXiv. Most AI consulting stops at strategy decks. I ship production systems that control physical infrastructure. I created the Physical AI Stack because no framework existed to help organizations move from cloud AI to systems that control real-world assets.
The Physical AI Career
17+ years of software engineering, product, and leadership at Cisco, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, and ABB — building the systems where AI meets the physical world.
Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi
General Manager — Head of Product Management
€250M program | 150+ people | 39 countries
- Physical AI Layer: CONNECT + REASON — software-defined mobility platform, AI-powered connected services
- Shipped the world's first Google-built-in head unit (OpenR Link) — NissanConnect serving 4M+ users across 39 countries
- €50M+ revenue impact from connected vehicle services. 4 vehicle launches: Megane E-Tech, Austral, Rafale, Scenic
- Promoted 4 times. Led cross-functional teams across France, India, and Japan
NDS / Cisco Systems
Senior Program Manager
100M+ users | 1,300+ engineers | 3 continents
- Physical AI Layer: COMPUTE + ORCHESTRATE — network & video infrastructure platforms, software-defined systems
- 100M+ users impacted via set-top boxes across Europe, North America, and Asia
- Shipped the world's first Android TV integration for pay-TV operators. Linux kernel contributions
- 9 years from intern to Senior Program Manager. Code in production, not just in presentations
ABB E-mobility
Product Marketing Team Lead
- Physical AI Layer: ACT + ORCHESTRATE — EV charging infrastructure, software-defined charging networks
- Product lead for the A400 charger: 400kW ultra-fast EV charging. Full go-to-market for the Terra Series
- Marketing lead for OS Charging software — the platform powering ABB's global charger network
Credentials That Select, Not Accept
UC Berkeley, MIT, Kellogg. These institutions vet. Each credential backs a specific capability I bring to your engagement.
Certificate of Business Excellence
UC Berkeley Haas School of Business
AI, Platform Strategy, Systems Engineering, IoT, Cybersecurity
MIT Professional Education
Product Management Certification
Kellogg Executive Education, Northwestern University
Certified Scrum Product Owner & Agile Leader
Scrum Alliance
MSc Networks & Telecommunications
Paris-Saclay University
Engineering Degree in Computer Science (AI & Data Science)
University of Oran
Recognition & Appointments
Industry recognition and leadership appointments
arXiv Research Paper — 'Autonomous Edge-Deployed AI Agents for Physical Infrastructure' (arxiv.org/abs/2603.08736) — peer-reviewed Physical AI researchForbes Technology Council Member Leader (since 2021) — vetted and appointed, 3% acceptance rate
Creator of the Physical AI Stack and Hyperion Lifecycle — frameworks for AI-native physical infrastructure
Senior Executive AI ThinkTank Member (since 2025) — invitation-only leadership network
Berkeley SkyDeck Key Advisor (since 2022) — selected to advise UC Berkeley's top acceleratorBoard Member, La French Tech Athens — representing French tech ecosystem in GreeceAI Ambassador for French Government 'Osez l'IA' Initiative (2025) — appointed by the government to accelerate SME AI adoptionPublished Forbes.com Contributor (100K+ readers) — not a guest post, a permanent contributor platformFranceNum Activateur — Referenced Digital Transformation Expert (2025)In Conversation
Selected appointments and exchanges with policymakers, ministers, and AI leaders shaping the European AI agenda.
Emmanuel Macron · Kyriakos Mitsotakis
President of France · Prime Minister of Greece
France–Greece state visit, on AI sovereignty and the European real economy.
Emmanuel Macron · Kyriakos Mitsotakis
President of France · Prime Minister of Greece
Tech and innovation delegation, France–Greece bilateral programme.
Emmanuel Macron
President of France
Industrial AI and the productive sovereignty agenda.
France–Greece Summit
Heads of state, ministers, and tech delegation
Bilateral programme on AI, industry, and digital infrastructure.
Benjamin Haddad
French Minister for Europe
European tech sovereignty and industrial-AI policy.
Anne Le Hénanff
French Minister for AI and Digital Affairs
Osez l'IA programme — accelerating SME AI adoption across France.
Roland Lescure
French Minister for the Economy
Industrial AI, reindustrialisation, and the European real economy.
Clara Chappaz
AI Ambassador for France (former Minister for AI and Digital Affairs)
Ambassadeurs IA programme — French AI capability for SMEs and public sector.
Laurence Auer
Ambassador of France to Greece
France–Greece tech and AI ecosystem cooperation.
Luc Julia
AI scientist · co-creator of Siri
On-device AI, model efficiency, and the limits of generative systems.
Ambassadeurs IA
French Government AI Ambassador appointment
Appointment ceremony for the Ambassadeurs IA programme.
La French Tech
French and European tech ecosystem
La French Tech Athens — bridging French and Greek tech ecosystems.
Paris | Randstad | Athens
Why I Do This
After 15 years in corporate roles at Cisco, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, and ABB, I could have joined another Fortune 500. Instead, I chose a harder path: helping European companies ship AI that actually works. I believe European businesses deserve better than what the consulting industry gives them. Better than Strategy Theater. Better than Permanent Pilots. Better than Consultant Dependency. I operate across France, Greece, and the Netherlands. I speak French, English, Arabic, and Greek. I believe in European AI sovereignty--not as a slogan, but as production systems built and operated in Europe. The best part of this work? Watching the moment it clicks. When an organization moves from AI confusion to AI confidence. From endless pilots to production systems. From vendor dependency to internal capability. European industry deserves AI architects who've actually shipped, not consultants who advise from the sidelines. That transformation is why I chose this.
Ready to Ship Your AI?
30 minutes. No pitch, no pressure. An honest conversation about your challenge and whether I can help. If I'm not the right fit, I'll tell you and point you somewhere better.