MitchelLake partnered with leading enterprise software company, MYOB, to deliver a global executive search for AI product leadership. The business was on a mission to embed artificial intelligence into its SaaS platform at scale, and sought to appoint a Head of AI Products. This newly created executive role was designed to lead the end-to-end delivery of AI-driven customer experiences while building the internal capability to move from early experiments to enterprise-grade adoption.
The mandate was highly strategic. AI has shifted from a buzzword to a competitive necessity, and the client needed an executive who could balance innovation, commercialisation, and governance. The placement was not just about technical expertise but about finding a leader who could influence the organisation, align with customer needs, and embed responsible AI practices across their ecosystem.
The Opportunity
The executive team defined a unique set of requirements:
- AI Product Strategy & Execution – experience delivering data-driven features into SaaS products and services.
- Commercialisation Expertise – proven ability to scale AI from R&D into globally distributed products with measurable business impact.
- Governance & Responsible AI – understanding of risk, safety, and compliance frameworks to guide ethical adoption.
- Leadership at Scale – capability to inspire and manage multidisciplinary teams across science, engineering, design, and product functions.
This role demanded a rare hybrid leader — someone who could bridge the worlds of applied AI research, enterprise SaaS product management, and commercial strategy.
The Appointment
MitchelLake conducted a global executive search across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, mapping talent from leading SaaS companies, fintech innovators, and emerging AI ventures. Candidates were assessed not only for their technical depth but also for their ability to commercialise responsibly and lead diverse, high-performance teams.
The successful appointment brought deep experience in SaaS product strategy, commercial scaling of AI features, and building high-functioning teams. Under their leadership, the company accelerated its ability to transform AI prototypes into enterprise-grade, customer-facing solutions. This not only improved customer outcomes but positioned the company as a pioneer in its sector for responsible AI adoption.
Why AI Product Leadership Matters
According to McKinsey, businesses with strong AI leadership are far more likely to realise measurable value from AI adoption. As more companies race to embed AI across their platforms, roles such as Head of AI Products, Chief AI Officer, and Chief Product Officer for AI have become mission-critical. These leaders ensure organisations capture innovation opportunities while managing risks around ethics, compliance, and customer trust.
Executive Search for AI Product
MitchelLake has extensive experience delivering executive search for AI product leadership across SaaS, fintech, data, and frontier technology ventures. From Heads of AI and CPOs to CTOs and board-level appointments, we connect global organisations with the leaders they need to innovate, scale, and commercialise AI responsibly.
For another example of our work in the AI and frontier technology domain, see our Executive Search for AI and IoT leadership in spacetech at Myriota.
👉 Contact us to explore how we can support your next AI executive search mandate.
The market for this leadership
Live MitchelLake intelligence across this sector and Oceania.
Latest signals — MYOB
Partnership · Oceania
MYOB →MYOB confirms five-year partnership deal with Microsoft to leverage AI capabilities in accounting software
Partnership · Oceania
MYOB →MYOB announced five-year partnership with Microsoft to embed AI tools into their platform for Australian small businesses
Product Launch · Oceania
MYOB →MYOB released analysis showing AI-powered SMEs growing 2.8x faster, highlighting their position in AI-enabled accounting solutions
Strategic Hiring · Oceania
MYOB →MYOB CEO Paul Robson highlights business succession planning challenges for baby boomer business owners (48% of ages 62-80 plan exit within 1-5 years). Indicates strategic focus on business succession and advisory services that will require specialized talent.
Adjacent signals across Oceania
Strategic Hiring · Oceania
Hello →Hello hired Caroline Berdayes, a WPP production executive, as CFO & COO
Product Launch · Oceania
Shopfully →Shopfully (retail media platform) commissioned research revealing strong Australian consumer demand for local products, with visibility and access identified as primary barriers. The insight suggests opportunity to enhance platform capabilities to connect local producers with mainstream grocery shoppers.
Layoffs · Oceania
Stuff →Stuff, a New Zealand media company, has proposed job cuts as the local media industry continues to face structural challenges.
Product Launch · Oceania
Substack →Substack launched a new tool that allows readers to estimate how much of a newsletter was written by AI, signaling a shift toward transparency around AI-assisted content.
Product Launch · Oceania
Vevo →Vevo has launched a new nostalgia-based advertising targeting capability within its Vevo Evolve platform, enabling advertisers to purchase ad placements against culturally significant music video moments based on research showing emotional resonance drives performance.
Product Launch · Oceania
La Trobe University →La Trobe University launched the AI Business Studio, a pilot program designed to help 1000+ SMEs adopt AI in business operations. The program pairs university students with partner organisations on 10-week AI adoption projects, with an initial pilot of 21 students across three partner organisations including Insurgence.