In an interview with Poslovni dnevnik, Charles Calestroupat, Microsoft’s Vice President for Southern Europe, discusses how the rapid adoption of generative AI is reshaping organisations and why the next phase must focus on measurable outcomes, resilient cloud foundations and skills development.
From adoption speed to measurable outcomes
One message runs throughout the interview: AI delivers the greatest value when organisations apply it where results are visible. In the private sector, this means measurable business impact. In the public sector, it translates into better services for citizens.
At the same time, two factors continue to shape AI progress in Southern Europe. Organisations must balance local infrastructure with cloud adoption, while also addressing a widening skills gap. With up to 70 percent of required skills expected to change over the next five years, building a sustained learning mindset has become a strategic priority.
Cloud performance without market‑size limits
Calestroupat stresses that market size should not limit access to innovation. A distributed network of cloud regions and data centres allows organisations in Croatia to reach the same levels of performance and security as those in larger European markets.
Across the region, practical use cases show how AI translates into real outcomes. These range from digital services that support citizens and visitors to productivity gains in enterprise environments. In Croatia, the Infobip–Microsoft partnership stands out as an example of AI‑enabled innovation delivering tangible business results in digital customer engagement.
Scaling AI beyond pilots
Successful AI adoption requires more than technology. Enterprise‑wide leadership support, clear KPIs, and strong governance frameworks—covering security, privacy, ethics, and change management—help organisations move from experimentation to lasting capability.
Croatia’s opportunity
Looking specifically at Croatia, Calestroupat expresses strong confidence. The country, he says, has everything it needs to move quickly. The priority now is to accelerate skills development and expand AI adoption among small and medium‑sized businesses, supported by the right programs, tools, and partner ecosystem.
Read the full interview in Poslovni dnevnik.
Top image: Charles Calestroupat is Microsoft’s Vice President for Southern Europe (Europe South), leading operations across 17 countries. In his first interview since taking on the role, he outlines why AI should be applied where it produces tangible outcomes and why Croatia’s opportunity lies in skills development and SME adoption. Image courtesy of Poslovni dnevnik. Photographer: Neva Žganec/PIXSELL.