Avanade, a technology services company specialising in the Microsoft ecosystem, has appointed Ben Beath as Chief AI Officer to lead its artificial intelligence strategy and accelerate AI adoption across its internal operations and client engagements.
In his new role, Beath will focus on integrating AI into business processes, strengthening organisational capabilities and supporting enterprises in translating AI investments into measurable outcomes.
His responsibilities will also include expanding the use of intelligent tools and agentic AI systems across Avanade's teams and service delivery functions. The company said the appointment is intended to support organisations as they move from experimenting with AI tools to implementing the technology across business operations.
Commenting on his appointment, Beath said the conversation around artificial intelligence had shifted from whether organisations should invest in the technology to how they could realise its value.
He emphasised the importance of reconsidering existing workflows, decision-making processes and customer interactions rather than treating AI adoption solely as a technology implementation exercise.
Beath also indicated that Avanade would draw on its internal AI deployments to identify practical applications and share those experiences with enterprise clients.
Chris Howarth, Chief Executive Officer, Avanade, said Beath's experience in digital transformation and emerging technologies would support the company's efforts to expand AI adoption.
Howarth also highlighted the need for organisations to combine technology investments with operational changes to achieve business outcomes.
Beath has been associated with Avanade since 2018, most recently serving as AI Acceleration Lead and co-lead of the company's AI Transformation Office. In these positions, he worked with enterprise clients to identify opportunities for integrating artificial intelligence into business functions.
He joined Avanade following its acquisition of Loud&Clear, an Australian digital agency he co-founded in 2009.
The acquisition led to the establishment of Avanade's first Digital Innovation Studio in Asia Pacific, which Beath subsequently expanded into Singapore, Japan and Brazil.
In 2022, Beath relocated to New York to lead Avanade's Digital Experiences business across the northeastern United States before moving into AI-focused leadership responsibilities.
Beyond Loud&Clear, he has co-founded five startups, including Australian community sports platform PlayHQ and FanHub, which was acquired by Genius Sports in 2021.
His appointment comes as Avanade continues to develop its AI services and strengthen its position within the Microsoft technology ecosystem.
Founded in 2000 by Accenture and Microsoft, Avanade operates across 26 countries and has more than 60,000 professionals worldwide, according to the company.
The new role will bring together Avanade's internal AI initiatives and client-facing transformation services, with an emphasis on deploying AI systems at scale and evaluating their contribution to business performance.
Disclaimer: This article may include information derived from interviews, press releases, public statements, research, company communications and other publicly available or third-party sources. Such material may be summarised, paraphrased or contextualised for journalistic and editorial purposes. All rights in third-party content remain with their respective owners.
Related Articles
