Leading the next era: My new role as Chief AI Officer at NTT DATA

Today marks an inflection point — for NTT DATA and for me as a leader.

Alongside my role as CEO, I’m stepping into a new position: Chief AI Officer (CAIO). My ambition is clear: to build the leading AI-native services company of the future. 

We are in the midst of the most transformative technological revolution in a century. Each era — from mainframe to PC, internet to cloud, and now mobile to AI — has forced organizations to adapt or fall behind. But AI isn’t just another wave. It is reshaping industries, redefining value chains and changing the very nature of work. Its impact on our clients, our business and society is nothing short of profound.

The organizations that will continue to lead will do so by constantly reinventing themselves.

This is why I have taken on the additional role of CAIO: to accelerate adoption, fuel reinvention and send a clear message to our people, our clients and the market that AI is not a side initiative. It is the core of our identity and the engine of our future.

This is not a symbolic role. It reflects a conviction I hold deeply: AI is the defining strategic imperative of our time. Every CEO should see themselves as a CAIO. My hope is that this step creates a halo effect across NTT DATA, inspiring teams, focusing our priorities and making it clear to the world that we are committed to leading in AI — responsibly and at scale.

Why the CEO as CAIO matters

1. AI strategy is business strategy

AI is no longer just a technology initiative. It’s redefining what work gets done, who does it and how value itself is created. Entire business models, offerings and value chains are being reshaped in real time.

By taking on this new role, I want to make one thing unmistakably clear: AI is not on the sidelines of our strategy — it is our strategy. It is never siloed, never secondary, but always embedded in every strategic decision that drives our growth and transformation. If a CEO isn’t personally driving the reinvention of their company in the AI era, I don’t know what else they should be doing.

Yes, AI brings extraordinary opportunities. But it also carries real risks, including the potential to disrupt or even cannibalize parts of the existing business. Balancing these trade-offs while doubling down on new AI-driven opportunities requires CEO-level leadership to future-proof the business.

And because AI evolves at lightning speed, leadership from the top is essential. It ensures we capture value today, anticipate the breakthroughs of tomorrow, position NTT DATA as an innovator and remain competitive in the long term.

2. Client confidence

Our clients and partners want proof that AI delivers lasting business value. By leading AI personally, I signal both seriousness and accountability. This sets us apart from competitors where AI remains buried in technical functions several layers deep in the organization. Most importantly, it shows our clients they are getting the very best of NTT DATA’s expertise, guided directly from the top.

3. Adoption at scale and accelerating innovation

AI touches every function — from offerings and sales to delivery, operations, finance, people and culture. Only the CEO’s vantage point provides a view across all aspects of the organization to ensure AI adoption is unified, consistent and scaled. This prevents fragmentation and embeds AI into the organization’s DNA.

Too many organizations stall at pilots and proofs of concept. With the CEO as CAIO, pilots can turn quickly into scaled offerings for real and sustainable business impact. Scale requires clear direction, urgency and top-down leadership. There is no stronger signal than the CEO leading from the front.

4. Driving culture and talent transformation

AI transformation is also about people. It requires a cultural shift — upskilling, new ways of working and an AI-first mindset. Employees take their cues from leadership. By owning the AI agenda, I intend to set the tone, build trust and attract and nurture world-class AI professionals in a talent-scarce environment.

5. Ensuring responsibility

AI comes with immense opportunity – and equally immense responsibility. Questions of bias, privacy, compliance and societal impact cannot be delegated. By leading AI at the CEO level, we demonstrate that governance and responsibility sit at the very top. Clients, regulators and employees will know: Our approach to AI is not just ambitious but also responsible, ethical and sustainable.

• ALSO READ → The AI responsibility crisis: Why executive leadership must act now

Our vision for AI at NTT DATA

Our vision is for NTT DATA to deliver lasting impact for businesses and society — responsibly. As such, we’re focusing on:

• Building new AI-native businesses
• Reimagining our existing offerings
• Transforming our internal operations
• Championing responsible AI, with transparency, fairness and accountability guiding every initiative and action

This is about building sustainable, human-centered innovation, aligned with our mission to deliver long-term value.

Our stance as “AI-first” does not mean “human-last.” While AI will transform the way we work, our people remain at the heart of our success, and our most critical asset.  Creativity, empathy and expertise are irreplaceable. At NTT DATA, AI is here to empower our teams, freeing us to focus on higher-value work and deliver even greater impact for our clients.

• ALSO READ → Smart agents, smarter business: Experience the power of agentic AI

An invitation to co-create the future

To our more than 150,000 colleagues: Bring your bold ideas, your curiosity and your client-first mindset into this journey. To our clients and partners: Join us in reimagining what’s possible — let’s make it real together.

I won’t claim to have all the answers today, but I do commit to seeking them relentlessly. Guided by human insight, powered by AI and built by trust, we will shape the next era of transformation. 

With AI as a cornerstone of our strategy, NTT DATA is ready to define what true leadership in the AI age really means. I’m excited for the journey ahead, and I know we will shape it together. This is indeed OUR TIME.