We are entering unprecedented territory.

AI is no longer something companies trial in pockets of the organisation. It is becoming embedded everywhere across people, finance, operations, customer experience, product and technology.

It is reshaping workflows.
It is accelerating decision making.
It is forcing companies to rethink how every department connects.

And the shift is showing up in leadership hires.

In Q4, we have tracked a 25 percent increase in senior transformation appointments in the UK. More than 400 new transformation leaders have stepped into roles designed to modernise entire organisations ahead of 2026.

Transformation is not a buzzword. It is becoming the operating model.

Why This Matters for 2026

Next year will likely be the first where almost every organisation deploys AI at scale.

Not experiments.
Not pilots.
Real adoption.

That means workflow redesign, cross departmental integration, new data architecture, upskilling, AI governance, automation strategy and a completely new approach to tooling.

Transformation leaders are the ones shaping these plans.
And the moves this quarter show where the market is heading.

Examples of New Transformation Hires

• Zurich Insurance
  Katie Morton-Alvarez, HR Change and Transformation Lead
  Joined from NEC to lead full HR transformation.
• Roche
  Gosia D’Cruz, Transformation Lead
  Returned to lead transformation across the business.
• Centrica
  Andy Corcoran, Marketing Transformation Lead
  Moved from the Cabinet Office to drive marketing transformation with a focus on AI.
• Saffron Building Society
  Qasir Aslam, Chief Transformation Officer
  Joined after delivering a major digital programme at Mansfield Building Society.
• L&Q
  Alison Handley, Director of Transformation
  Rejoined to lead operations, digital and customer transformation.

Promotions Into Transformation Roles

Many companies are promoting internally because those leaders already understand the systems and culture.

• Greene King
  Janneke Skilling, Transformation and Change Director
  Promoted from an HR role into a business wide transformation remit.
• Bupa
  Amit Chauhan, Finance Transformation Lead
  Stepped up from programme leadership into finance transformation.
• Whitbread
  Jennifer Edwards, Operational Excellence and Strategic Transformation Director
  Promoted from commercial leadership.
• Deutsche Bank
  Rakesh Lalwani, AI Product Transformation Lead
  Now leading AI adoption across key banking functions.
• Thredd
  Mark Davidson, Chief Transformation Officer
  Elevated to lead organisation wide transformation.

Do Not Get Left Behind in 2026

The business world is moving at break neck speed. AI, automation, data and cross functional design will define how organisations operate next year.

Transformation leaders are being hired and promoted now to rebuild how companies work.

If you want to influence their plans, you need to know who they are and when they move. We are tracking every senior transformation appointment in real time.

The companies that win in 2026 will be the ones preparing for change today.