IRIS names first Chief Data & AI Officer Surya Sagi
Wed, 8th Jul 2026 (Today)
IRIS has appointed Surya Sagi as its first Chief Data and AI Officer, marking a shift in how the software group structures its work on data and artificial intelligence.
Sagi takes up the role immediately and will oversee IRIS's global enterprise data and AI strategy. His remit includes data governance, the company's responsible AI framework, and work across products, managed services transformation, growth, and retention.
The appointment creates a senior role dedicated to data and AI at a company that serves more than 100,000 customers in 135 countries. IRIS sells software and services to accountancy, payroll, HR, and education customers, giving the post scope across several business lines.
Sagi will also join IRIS's AI Steering Committee and Business Systems Architecture Review Board, placing him within the internal groups that shape how AI is applied across the organisation.
He brings more than three decades of experience in data, AI, and software platforms. His background includes cloud-based software businesses, mergers and acquisitions, and platform integration across small business, large corporate, and regulated markets.
Before joining IRIS, Sagi founded ARKA AI and ARKA Advisors, where he worked with enterprises on moving from AI experimentation to broader implementation with governance in place. Earlier in his career, he served as Chief Technology Officer at Pitney Bowes.
The hire is tied to IRIS's next phase of product development and international expansion. It also comes as software suppliers face pressure from customers to show that AI tools can deliver practical gains while meeting governance and compliance requirements.
Against that backdrop, IRIS is placing responsibility for data policy and AI direction under one executive. The move suggests the company wants tighter oversight of how AI is used in its products and internal systems while linking those efforts to measurable business results.
Jason Dies, Chief Executive Officer of IRIS, set out the rationale for the appointment.
"AI only matters if it makes a real difference to the people who rely on us. Our customers trust IRIS with the work that must work, and that's what this is about," Dies said.
He added: "Surya has spent his career building data and AI platforms that make that work faster, smarter, and more reliable. His technical depth and proven track record will be instrumental as we accelerate our AI ambitions and continue to turn innovation into real outcomes for customers. His appointment as our first Chief Data and AI Officer marks a defining moment in how we build and deliver for the businesses that count on us."
Wider push
Sagi will build on IRIS's existing AI work rather than start from scratch. His focus will include scaling tools the company already considers proven, strengthening responsible practices, and identifying the highest-impact opportunities across the business.
That reflects a wider shift in the software sector. Many vendors have moved beyond launching AI features and are now trying to embed oversight, controls, and clearer accountability into how those tools are developed and sold.
For customers in payroll, HR, accountancy, and education, the issue can carry extra weight because these systems often handle sensitive employee, financial, or student data. A senior executive dedicated to both data and AI can therefore serve not only as a product leader but also as a governance figure.
Sagi said IRIS's customer base and current stage of development made the role attractive.
"IRIS is a trusted partner for businesses worldwide, and I am honored to join the team at such a pivotal moment of growth," said Surya Sagi, Chief Data and AI Officer of IRIS.
He added: "AI is creating unprecedented opportunities to improve productivity, strengthen decision-making, and accelerate growth. Success will depend on deploying these capabilities responsibly, governing them effectively, and focusing on measurable business outcomes. I look forward to helping IRIS customers realize that value at scale."
Founded in 1978, IRIS has grown into a sizeable supplier of software used in operational and compliance-heavy functions. Its cloud-hosted services are used by organisations ranging from accountancy firms to employers and educational bodies.
The creation of the Chief Data and AI Officer role signals more clearly how IRIS wants to organise the next stage of its business. It places strategic responsibility for AI, data governance, and internal oversight with one executive as the company tries to turn AI investment into practical use across its customer base.