DeepL Expands Leadership Team with New COO and CRO to Enhance Global Growth

DeepL's Ambitious Leadership Expansion

DeepL, a prominent global player in the AI products and research sector, recently made significant changes in its leadership team. The appointments of Gavin Mee as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Detlef Krause as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) are set to play a crucial role in the company's plans for international growth and redefining AI solutions for businesses.

Leadership Enhancements

According to Jarek Kutylowski, Founder and CEO of DeepL, the addition of Gavin and Detlef positioned the company well as it approaches 2026. Kutylowski noted that their expertise will be vital in scaling operations, driving customer-centric innovations, and solidifying DeepL's standing as a leader in AI products and research.

Detlef Krause comes to DeepL with over 25 years of experience in enterprise sales, having held significant roles at major corporations such as Microsoft, Salesforce, SAP, and ServiceNow. His track record includes successfully building and expanding global teams, particularly enhancing ServiceNow’s presence in Germany and the broader EMEA and APAC regions. Under his leadership, ServiceNow doubled its EMEA-Central team, while also significantly increasing its workforce in Germany.

Krause expressed enthusiasm upon joining DeepL, stating, “From my very first conversations, I realized the opportunity I had to be part of one of Europe's most innovative AI companies — in a team unlike any I’ve ever experienced. It feels like the beginning of something truly special.” In his role as CRO, he will replace David Parry-Jones, who is retiring after a notable career in the tech industry.

According to Kutylowski, “David has been instrumental in the success of DeepL, and we are grateful for his contributions. I’m confident that Detlef will build on this strong foundation and further drive our growth in the coming years.”

Krause has set a primary goal for his new role: to reinforce DeepL's leadership position in the AI solutions market for enterprises. He indicated the firm’s ambition to scale its AI technology and integrate its solutions into businesses worldwide.

Meet the New COO

In his new role, Gavin Mee will bring a wealth of experience in establishing and scaling global go-to-market organizations. His background includes significant positions at tech giants like Salesforce, Oracle, Adobe, UiPath, and Palo Alto Networks. As COO, Mee's focus will be on operational excellence, aligning teams, and unlocking the maximum potential of the organization.

“I am thrilled to be joining DeepL at such an exciting time,” said Mee. “The company offers an exceptional product, a passionate team, and an ambitious vision for the future. My objective is to enhance our operations and methodologies, striving to deliver maximum value for our clients, investors, and partners. Together, we will build an organization that continues to set new standards in AI-driven communication.”

Looking Ahead

The recent appointments come after DeepL's most successful year to date in 2025, marked by major product expansions like the launch of the innovative DeepL Agent and the introduction of the Customization Hub. Building upon this momentum, 2026 is expected to be a pivotal year for DeepL as the company scales its AI solutions across Europe and beyond. The goal remains to deliver groundbreaking innovations that fundamentally alter how people and businesses communicate and operate through AI.

About DeepL

Founded in 2017 by Jarek Kutylowski, DeepL is committed to developing secure and intelligent solutions for complex business applications. The company has gained the trust of over 200,000 business customers and millions of individual users across 228 markets. It is well-known for its AI-based language technology, allowing for natural-sounding translations, text optimization, and real-time language translations. Beyond language solutions, DeepL is expanding its offerings, including the introduction of DeepL Agent — an autonomous AI assistant aimed at transforming processes in businesses and knowledge work. With a dedicated team of over 1,000 employees, DeepL prides itself on its long-standing expertise in innovation, quality, and security, supported by esteemed investors like Benchmark, IVP, and Index Ventures. For more information, visit DeepL.