TIME has published its first-ever list of "Executives of the Year: Tech & Data," honoring 50 leaders who are instrumental in shaping the future of technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital innovation across various industries. The selection aims to highlight individuals navigating a rapidly evolving technological landscape and anticipating what comes next.
Among those recognized are Bartley Richardson, CrowdStrike's chief AI and autonomous systems officer, who is developing autonomous cybersecurity systems. Reddit's chief technology officer, Amit Puntambekar, is leading the adoption of AI on the platform. At Eli Lilly & Co., Diogo Rau oversaw the creation of LillyPod, a supercomputer designed for biological process modeling. Vijaye Raji, CTO of applications at OpenAI, is responsible for the engineering of ChatGPT and the coding tool Codex.
The TIME editors and reporters who compiled the list evaluated leaders based on the scale of their responsibilities, the significance of their investments and initiatives, and their demonstrated impact on their organizations. The honorees include executives modernizing legacy systems and digital infrastructure, such as Monica Caldas, Liberty Mutual's global chief information officer, and Ogi Redzic, SVP and chief digital officer at Caterpillar Inc., who has focused on rebuilding the company around data to address customer needs.
The list also features leaders in newly created or expanded roles. Kathleen Grace, appointed as Lionsgate's first chief AI officer, is the first in Hollywood to hold such a title. Delta Air Lines has named Amala Duggirala as EVP and chief digital and technology officer, a new position overseeing combined digital and technology organizations.
Innovation is also being driven by executives globally. Suthen Thomas Paradatheth, CTO of Singapore-based Grab, has guided the company's expansion into a superapp. Felix Ike, co-founder and CTO of Nigerian fintech company Moniepoint, has been key in establishing it as a leading financial platform in Africa. Dawn Baker, CTO of Back Market, a marketplace for refurbished electronics based in Paris, emphasizes the importance of using computing power, including AI, smartly and efficiently to address environmental concerns.
These executives and their peers are recognized as catalysts for significant transformations within modern enterprises, translating technological innovation into tangible impact.