Avanade, a leading Microsoft solutions provider, has appointed Ben Beath as Chief AI Officer to lead the company’s artificial intelligence strategy and accelerate the practical application of AI across its business and client organisations. In this role, Beath will focus on helping enterprises move beyond initial AI adoption to embed intelligent technologies into their operations, decision-making processes and customer experiences.
As organisations increase investments in AI, the emphasis is shifting from deploying individual tools to rethinking how work is performed and how business value is created. Beath will help Avanade strengthen its AI capabilities, promote AI fluency across its workforce and expand the use of intelligent tools and agentic systems throughout its teams and service delivery.
Ben Beath, Chief AI Officer at Avanade, said organisations are increasingly focused on realising measurable returns from their AI investments. He noted that businesses achieving meaningful differentiation are using AI to transform workflows, improve decisions and enhance customer service rather than simply adding new technology to existing processes. He added that Avanade would draw on its own AI implementation experience to help clients navigate their transformation journeys.
Chris Howarth, Chief Executive Officer of Avanade, said Beath’s entrepreneurial background, understanding of AI and experience in digital transformation would support the company’s ambition to accelerate AI adoption. He emphasised that realising AI’s potential requires more than technology, with responsible implementation, organisational readiness and the ability to scale solutions being equally important.
Mr Beath joined Avanade in 2018 following the company’s acquisition of Loud&Clear, the digital agency he co-founded in 2009. Under his leadership, Loud&Clear grew into Australia’s largest independent digital agency. The acquisition also led to the establishment of Avanade’s first Digital Innovation Studio in Asia Pacific, which MrBeath subsequently expanded across Singapore, Japan and Brazil.
In 2022, Mr Beath relocated to New York to lead Avanade’s Digital Experiences business across the Northeast before taking on AI-focused leadership responsibilities. Most recently, he served as AI Acceleration Lead and co-lead of Avanade’s AI Transformation Office, working with enterprise clients to identify opportunities where AI could significantly change business operations. Beyond Loud&Clear, Mr Beath has co-founded five startups, including PlayHQ, a major community sports platform in Australia, and FanHub, which was acquired by Genius Sports in 2021.
Founded in 2000 by Accenture and Microsoft, Avanade operates across 26 countries with more than 60,000 professionals worldwide. Beath’s appointment reinforces the company’s focus on helping organisations adopt AI at scale and translate technological innovation into business outcomes.
