Digitization on Boards 7th Edition
The rise of AI is fundamentally remaking corporate strategy. More than a tool, AI is a strategic imperative - a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine industries and outpace competitors. As AI-driven transformation accelerates, corporate leaders must navigate its implications for the workforce. To lead in this AI-powered era, organizations must champion innovation, empower their workforce, and boldly embrace the future. This includes integrating generative AI capabilities, re-skilling employees, and embracing the democratization of technology.
In our latest report, Amrop’s Global Digital Practice examines the leadership competencies essential for successfully integrating AI into organizations, as well as strategies for developing these skills.
The New Digital Competencies
This analysis references Amrop’s Digital Competency Model and delves into the profile of the Chief AI Officer (CAIO) in the chapter The Role of the CAIO – Chief AI Officer. It also explores other AI leadership roles, drawing on concepts developed by Job Voorhoeve (Amrop Netherlands) and Oscar Garcia-Velasco (Amrop Spain). Additionally, the study offers business insights into how AI is reshaping leadership responsibilities for CEOs, Chief Revenue Officers (CROs), and Chief Technology Officers (CTOs).
We interviewed CEOs/GMs from midsize, PE-backed, family-owned and other companies, inviting them to share their real experience in leveraging AI strategies for their organization and customers. We analyzed and compared the interviewees’ insights in four areas:
- AI tools introduced or used for both internal operations and customer solutions. Criteria for selecting specific tools, current outcomes (such as problems addressed, competitive advantages gained, increased efficiency, and business results), and the status of internal adjustments (including responsibilities, decision-making processes, and how choices are made regarding these tools).
- The impact of AI on leadership skills, asking what competencies are needed or lacking, and what changes are necessary within the team. Responses were reviewed using Amrop’s Chief AI Officer profile and Digital Competency Model, focusing on leadership challenges, skill requirements, hiring practices, expectations, support areas, and approaches to AI and digital leadership. Are the companies planning to hire a dedicated member of the leadership team for AI-related business strategies, or will current CIO/CTO/CDOs be upskilled to meet AI needs? Additionally, will leadership services be sought (and for what services in particular) to evaluate and train management teams?
- How are their organizations experiencing AI’s disruptive effects, and what are their expectations? Are they themselves becoming catalysts for disruption with innovative AI-driven products and services? What are the broader implications for the workforce, product offerings, and organizational strategies?
- The future of AI tools in their organizations and their industries: general perspective and potential disruptive impacts by (new) competitors on their organization and market.
Our Participants
Recruiting the Leaders for What’s Next
As organizations globally embrace the transformative potential of AI, the demand for skilled leadership in this arena has surged. The role of the CAIO and related digital leadership positions is crucial in guiding businesses through the journey from experimentation to deployment, ensuring that AI initiatives translate into tangible operational advantages. As Executive Search and Leadership Advisory experts, Amrop’s Global Digital Practice can help organizations effectively recruit top talent for these roles and build a cohesive team around them.
Searching for a CAIO
“When seeking a Chief AI Officer, organizations must focus on candidates who blend technical expertise with strategic vision,” states Job Voorhoeve, the leader of Amrop's Global Digital Practice. “Ideal candidates should have both understanding of various aspects of AI - from generative models to classical AI – which ensures they can navigate the complexities of both emerging and foundational technologies, as well as business acumen in order to be able to articulate how AI can drive operational efficiencies and value creation. Selecting team members under the CAIO should similarly emphasize a mix of technical capabilities and strategic insight, including data scientists, machine learning engineers, and business analysts who can work collaboratively to implement AI solutions.”
Beyond technical skills, assessing a candidate’s leadership abilities and fit within the company culture is essential. “The effectiveness of a CAIO lies in their capacity to influence and navigate organizational change,” Voorhoeve continues. “The ability to convey complex AI concepts to stakeholders across the organization is a must, as well as navigating potential resistance to AI integration, ensuring that initiatives are broadly supported within the business.”
Do all organizations need an AI officer?
“Not all organizations require a CAIO, as the necessity for such a role largely depends on the organization's stage in its AI journey,” emphasizes Voorhoeve. “For companies in the early stages of AI adoption, where awareness exists but little action is taken, bringing on a CAIO may be premature, leading to integration challenges and duplication of efforts.”
As organizations begin experimenting with AI initiatives, a CAIO's primary function will be to map and gain visibility over these disparate efforts, rather than to drive strategy.
It is only when an organization reaches more advanced stages - transitioning from fragmented projects to cohesive implementation - that the CAIO can truly add value by preparing for widespread AI integration and managing change. “It can also be that once AI becomes an integral part of the organizational fabric, the role of the CAIO may diminish,” Voorhoeve mentions. “This could likely be a temporary position aimed at building necessary capabilities within the business.”
Finding a trustworthy search partner
To secure top talent for the Chief AI Officer and digital leadership positions, a strategic recruitment process is essential. “We work closely with clients to define precise role specifications that capture the unique requirements of their organizations, including key responsibilities, expectations, and success metrics,” Voorhoeve explains. “We utilize advanced assessment tools and methodologies to evaluate candidates’ problem-solving abilities, cultural fit, and strategic thinking. By implementing this strategic recruitment process, we can effectively identify and secure exceptional talent for key digital leadership roles while demonstrating our expertise as a trusted advisor in the field.”
Our full report "Digitization on Boards 7th Edition" is available for download here.
Contact Amrop's Global Digital Practice team for further information and support.