Smart Communications names Heidi Johnson AI leader

Smart Communications has appointed Heidi Johnson as Chief Product & Technology Officer, consolidating product and technology leadership under a single executive. The move reflects the company's focus on governance and auditability in AI deployments for regulated markets.

Johnson joins Smart Communications from roles at Bloomberg, Komodo Health, and Carta. She succeeds Simon Tindal, the long-serving Chief Technology Officer, who will remain involved as a full-time adviser during the transition.

The company provides software for organisations operating in highly regulated industries, specialising in customer communications and digital interactions with a strong emphasis on security and compliance.

Leadership and Role Expansion

In her new role, Johnson will lead innovation strategy and oversee the product and technology organisation, aligning product direction with engineering execution. She brings more than 20 years of experience building and scaling enterprise SaaS platforms across product, cloud, data, and AI.

Tindal, who has been with the company for over two decades, will support the handover to ensure continuity, leveraging his deep knowledge of the company's legacy systems, customer requirements, and internal processes.

AI and Compliance Focus

The appointment comes as regulated sectors increasingly scrutinise AI systems in production environments. Beyond data security, organisations now expect vendors to provide governance and audit trails for AI models and to handle sensitive customer data transparently across cloud environments.

Johnson's leadership is expected to accelerate the company's product and AI roadmap, while maintaining its focus on security, compliance, and operational resilience, and delivering innovation in regulated markets.