Almost half (48%) of the UK FTSE 100 companies have now introduced a dedicated artificial intelligence (AI) leadership role, according to a new report.
The report, from AI-specialist executive search firm pltfrm, shows that 48 percent of the country’s largest firms have appointed a chief AI officer (CAIO) or equivalent position, with 42 percent of those hires taking place in the last 12 months.
With 65 percent of current AI leadership roles created in the last two years, UK firms are focusing on building executive teams capable of navigating the challenges and opportunities brought by AI adoption.
The demand for AI-savvy executives are part of the broader growth in AI investment and the push for businesses to integrate emerging technologies into operations, decision-making and governance. FTSE 100 companies are reshaping their leadership structures to include roles that can deliver both innovation and oversight.
Technical expertise leading the path to AI leadership
The research identifies three main career pathways leading to AI-focused leadership roles. The majority of chief AI officers (50%) come from data science backgrounds, providing a strong technical foundation for the role.
A further 21 percent transitioned from strategic consulting, highlighting the value of strategic and commercial insight in implementing AI at scale. Another 17 percent moved into the role from engineering and broader technology leadership. Only 4 percent of CAIOs have come from academic research, suggesting that practical implementation and the ability to drive commercial outcomes are being prioritised over theoretical expertise.
The report notes that FTSE 100 firms are increasingly looking for candidates who can combine deep understanding of AI systems with the ability to align their deployment to wider organisational goals. Technical capability alone is no longer sufficient at this level.
AI leadership models in response to organisational needs
Two dominant leadership models are emerging within the FTSE 100’s AI landscape. The first is the technically focused ‘Savant’ – an expert who leads on innovation, developing advanced AI capabilities to maintain a competitive edge. The second is the governance-oriented ‘Shepherd’ – responsible for managing AI risk, ensuring compliance and embedding AI ethically across the business.
Pltfrm suggests that the most effective CAIOs will be those who can adopt both approaches, combining the ambition to drive innovation with the discipline to manage risk.
The report anticipates the addition of roles such as Chief Automation Officers, tasked with transforming operations and managing workforce shifts caused by automation, and Chief Ethics Officers, focused on ethical compliance, data privacy and public trust.
Will Lahaise, Co-Founder at pltfrm, said, “The most effective Chief AI Officers operate like elite athletes. They are the linchpins between technical potential and business results. They need to translate between engineers and executives, between what’s technologically possible and what’s commercially viable.”
He added that the ideal AI leader must be able to set bold strategic goals while ensuring the frameworks are in place to deliver them responsibly.
