Avanade has appointed Ben Beath as chief AI officer, tasking him with leading the company’s AI strategy and supporting customers in adopting AI in their operations.
In the newly created role, Beath will focus on helping organisations embed AI technology into business processes and develop “AI fluency and capability” inside Avanade, including expanding the use of intelligent tools and agentic systems across teams and service delivery.
Ben Beath, Chief AI Officer, Avanade, said: “The AI conversation continues to shift incredibly quickly and has moved past debate of whether or not to invest. Today’s topic centers around how organizations can realize the full value of that investment. Key differentiation is being delivered by those that are moving past tools and rethinking how work gets done, how decisions are made, and how they serve their customers.
“At Avanade, we need to lead through our own use of AI. My focus is on learning what delivers results in our business and bringing that experience to clients as they navigate their own transformation. That’s how we can help turn AI investment into measurable business value.”
Chris Howarth, Chief Executive Officer, Avanade, said: “Ben has spent his career helping organisations embrace new technologies and translate innovation into business outcomes. His combination of entrepreneurial experience, deep understanding of AI and track record of leading transformation will be invaluable as we accelerate our own use of AI and help clients navigate this next phase of change.
“AI presents an enormous opportunity for organisations, but realising that potential requires more than technology alone. Ben will play an important role in helping Avanade and our clients adopt AI at scale, responsibly and with confidence.”
Beath has been with Avanade since 2018, most recently serving as AI Acceleration Lead and co-lead of its AI Transformation Office, where he worked with enterprise clients on AI adoption and operational change.
He joined Avanade following its acquisition of Loud&Clear, a digital agency he co-founded in 2009. Avanade said the acquisition established its first Digital Innovation Studio in Asia Pacific, which Beath subsequently expanded across Singapore, Japan and Brazil. In 2022, he relocated to New York to lead Avanade’s Digital Experiences business across the Northeast before moving into AI-focused leadership roles.
Alongside Loud&Clear, Beath has co-founded five startups, including PlayHQ, which Avanade described as one of Australia’s largest community sports platforms.
Avanade said Beath will help lead its AI direction as the company continues to deepen its role in the Microsoft ecosystem. Avanade was founded in 2000 by Accenture and Microsoft, and operates across 26 countries with more than 60,000 professionals worldwide.
