The Customer Success Café Newsletter

The Customer Success Café Newsletter

NEWS

Kion Appoints Brian Wilson CEO: Why CS Should Care

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The Customer Success Café
Oct 09, 2025
∙ Paid
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TL;DR: On October 7, 2025, Kion named Brian Wilson as CEO. Founder Brian Price moves to CPO to focus on product. (Source: Kion)

Why it matters: Wilson’s path (CCO → COO → CEO) shows the Customer Success-to-CEO pipeline is real. It rewards leaders who turn customer value into a P&L story.

Expect Kion to push FinOps+—one view of spend, policy, and outcomes—not just “cloud cost.”


The Why

  • Boards want proof of value

    FinOps+ links what customers use, what it costs, and what it’s worth—so the renewal story is simple and credible.

  • AI speeds both value and waste

    Strong guardrails cut risk while automation removes manual work.

  • Customer Success sits in the middle

    We see usage, blockers, and goals. Tie those to cost and outcomes, and you lead the room.


What To Watch Next

  • A tighter link between governance and customer outcomes in QBRs.

  • Cleaner billing and fewer surprises—which helps renewals.

  • CS leaders using tools like the NRR Calculator to show dollar impact in minutes.

Want a fast win right now?

Turn customer “wins” into renewal proof with the Peak-Moment OS. It gives you triggers, templates, and a 7-day rollout.

If AI is on your roadmap, this simple plan shows how to add copilots and prove revenue impact in 30 days. AI Is Rewriting Customer Success—Here’s Your Plan.


Time to put this into action. Below is the premium implementation plan: step-by-step plays, slides, scripts, and metrics you can ship this week.

🔐Your FinOps+ CS Playbook (Copy-Paste Ready)

0. The One-Slide Story (use in every QBR)

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