AI creates new boardroom roles

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AI, transformation and sustainability is fuelling the rise of new C-suite roles in the boardroom, according to the latest research from international recruitment firm, Robert Half.

The findings from Robert Half’s study, “Towards the C-Suite 2035”, shows 83% of businesses expect the role of the Chief AI Officer and a further 78% of C-suite leaders expect the role of the Chief Technology Transformation Officer to become more important and grow in value over the next ten years as companies look for the best approach to tackling artificial intelligence.  As ESG pressures intensify, 73% of firms are predicting that the role of Chief Sustainability Officer will become ever more important.

With the study revealing that traditional leadership roles will simultaneously gain importance, specifically Chief HR Officers, which will be vital to deliver workforce transformation and succession planning, Chief Communications Officers to manage strategic messaging and Chief Operations Officers to ensure stability during these periods of change.  Despite the recognition of these emerging roles, 59% of those surveyed expressed concerns around finding suitable leaders for their company.  

“Given the significant transformation that we’re seeing in the corporate world due to the risks driven by emerging technologies, global market fluctuations and geopolitical tensions, it’s no surprise to see a range of emerging leadership positions developing within the boardroom,” says Charlie Grubb, Senior Managing Director, Robert Half Executive Search.  

“These roles will continue to evolve over the next decade, and while organizations may be concerned about finding the right talent today, the reality is that many of these capabilities are still emerging.  However, the good news is that they can be developed.  The attributes required for these positions already exist across the workforce, and the skills can – and should – be cultivated in all leaders.”

“Take the example of the Chief AI Officer,” continues Grubb.  “Yes, this role will demand targeted career pathways and training in artificial intelligence, but that should be a strategic priority for the entire business, not just its leaders. Indeed, many of the competencies required, such as regulatory awareness, data governance, critical thinking, communication, agility and resilience, are already present in today’s talent pool.”

“And while these softer skills are already being embedded into succession plans, the technical capabilities will require more structured support.  That’s where businesses have a real opportunity: to proactively shape the leaders of tomorrow by investing in the right learning & development strategies today,” continues Grubb.

“Ultimately, we are gaining a clearer understanding of how future leadership priorities are transforming.  To succeed, boards will need to stay ahead of these emerging business and workforce trends – from digital transformation and AI integration, workforce evolution and talent strategy to trust, transparency and stakeholder communication.”

Additionally, the study identifies a range of skills that all leaders will need: resilience (75%) and critical thinking (74%) were cited as important, followed by creativity (68%), innovative capacity (67%) and emotional intelligence (65%), which also ranked highly – all skills necessary to create the workforce transformation experience that will be essential for the next generation of executives.