The Consulting Report is pleased to announce The Top 25 Artificial Intelligence Consultants and Leaders of 2024. As AI continues to drive unprecedented changes across industries, these leaders are at the helm, guiding organizations through complex transformations. The US market for corporate AI consulting alone is valued at USD 37.8 billion, reflecting the critical role these professionals play in harnessing AI’s potential to optimize operations, innovate products, and create competitive advantages. Whether it’s enhancing data analytics, leading digital transformations, or pioneering new AI applications, their work is shaping the future of business.
With over 50% of large enterprises already leveraging AI consulting services, the demand for these experts has surged as organizations seek to reduce costs, improve customer experiences, and increase efficiency. By strategically applying AI in these areas, these consultants enable companies to achieve measurable gains in productivity and growth, transforming AI's potential into real business value.
Among this year’s awardees, Karthik Narain, Group Chief Executive of Technology at Accenture, is recognized for his leadership in driving cloud, data, and AI innovations, particularly through Accenture’s Generative AI Center of Excellence. Naveen Sharma, Senior Vice President at Cognizant, is noted for his strategic vision in advancing AI and analytics across various sectors, integrating cloud and legacy systems to enhance customer experiences. John Thompson, Global Head of Artificial Intelligence at EY, stands out for his extensive contributions to AI, including authoring several influential books on the subject and leading groundbreaking AI initiatives at EY.
Amid a competitive field of nominees, these leaders distinguish themselves with their exceptional ability to harness AI technologies and deliver substantial business transformations across diverse industries. Please join us in recognizing the achievements of The Top 25 Artificial Intelligence Consultants and Leaders of 2024.
1. John Collins
Firm: Deep Vertical AI
Title: Founder
John Collins is the Founder of Deep Vertical AI, a company that combines customization and deep industry expertise with advanced AI products, focusing on customized, multi-model, and multi-modal solutions. Deep Vertical AI emphasizes the power of AI when it integrates reasoning across text, vision, and audio.
Collins brings 24 years of experience to his current role. Before founding Deep Vertical AI, he was a Head of AI practice in Asia at FTI Consulting and before that an Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics Laboratory Director at HSBC. Earlier in his career he worked with Citi in OTC derivatives and OTC services. Collins graduated from EDHEC Business School with a PhD in finance.
2. Pepe Cafferata
Firm: McKinsey and Company
Title: Senior Partner
Pepe Cafferata is a Senior Partner at McKinsey and Company, a global management consulting firm that provides advisory services to leading businesses, governments, and institutions. Cafferata is the firm’s regional leader for QuantumBlack, McKinsey’s unified artificial intelligence branch, in Latin America. In this role, he helps clients enhance business value and performance through AI and advanced analytics transformations across various industries, including banking, agriculture, energy, and consumer goods. Additionally, he advises major financial institutions on a wide range of transformation topics.
Pepe also brings industry knowledge from working at a global financial services corporation for over a decade, where he held executive committee positions in Latin America in areas such as strategy, CRM and data, digital, marketing, and customer experience. Previously, Cafferata was a Head of Strategy and Planning at HSBC Latin America. Earlier in his career he worked with Citibank as a Management Associate. Cafferata holds an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.
3. Partha Gopalakrishnan
Firm: Brane Group
Title: President and Partner
Partha Gopalakrishnan is President and Partner at Brane Group, where he leads business development and business transformation consulting. With over 25 years of experience, he is an expert in business transformation, directing global teams to drive digital growth. With expertise in AI, Web3 and digital transformation and a focus on sustainability, Gopalakrishnan leads new technology practices and implements IT systems which combine business insights with advanced cognitive technologies to create integrated business platforms and services.
Gopalakrishnan’s company, PG Advisors, offers board advisory and non-executive director services for prominent analysts and PE firms. With a strong focus on value creation, digital risk management, ESG and responsible AI, PG Advisors uses its extensive network to strategically guide growth agendas. Gopalakrishnan has served in executive leadership positions at multiple technology and consulting global system integrators, including 17 years with Infosys followed by a tenure at Tech Mahindra. He holds a MBA from Pondicherry University and a bachelor’s degree in electronics and communications engineering from the University of Madras. He has also completed executive education programs at Stanford University Graduate School of Business and The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
4. Susheel Sethumadhavan
Firm: Kearney
Title: Partner
Susheel Sethumadhavan is a Partner in Kearney’s Digital and Analytics practice. Since joining the firm in 2008, Sethumadhavan has grown prominence as a leader in analytics and AI consulting for the firm. He is dedicated to guiding his clients through analytics and AI transformation and serves as a trusted long-term strategic advisor. With a global perspective, Sethumadhavan has led client data and AI transformations for Kearney in the Americas and the Middle East, while continuing to support clients across various markets.
Sethumadhavanl’s work focuses on topline and strategic transformations leveraging data and AI. As a pioneer of Kearney’s GenAI program, he advises clients on efficient AI use cases and investment decisions. His guidance is rooted in a philosophy of human-centered and guided artificial intelligence, ensuring that AI strategies are aligned with the needs and goals of his clients.
In addition to his client work, Sethumadhavan is instrumental in orchestrating Kearney’s AI capabilities. A serial innovator within the firm, he builds assets and teams and encourages his teams to exceed conventional client service standards. He also spearheads Kearney’s AI Lab, the firm’s AI R&D and innovation capability, and leads efforts to broaden Kearney’s AI partnership ecosystem with high-impact startups and scaleups.
5. Bharath Thota
Firm: Kearney
Title: Partner and Chief Solutions Officer of Analytics
Bharath Thota is a Partner of Kearney in the firm's Digital and Analytics practice. Since joining Kearney in early 2006, Bharath has been pivotal in scaling its analytics practice, and has since grown to be a leader in the digital and analytics domain. He is passionate about the potential of AI and data science to solve complex and challenging problems for clients across various industries and functions.
His work involves applying AI and cutting-edge technologies to help clients’ enhance their business performance, streamline operations, and foster an insights-driven culture. He is also a frequent speaker on the intersection of AI and business, often illustrating the transformative power of AI through tangible examples.
Besides his client work, Bharath spearheads Kearney’s AI program, aimed at nurturing an environment of AI innovation and integration across the firm. He is also the founder of Kearney's Data Science Center of Excellence, a global team of AI scientists that develops bespoke solutions for clients, and the Solutions Factory, a pioneering platform within Kearney for the innovation and incubation of digital assets, cementing his status as a trailblazer in the field of AI and digital transformation.
6. Bob Ghafouri
Firm: Alvarez and Marsal
Title: Managing Director
Bob Ghafouri is a Managing Director with A&MPLIFY, Alvarez and Marsal's AI-powered digital agency in Washington, DC. As the North American leader of A&MPLIFY, he guides clients in developing and launching new digital businesses, platforms, and products from inception to market entry. Ghafouri specializes in growing new digital businesses, generating value for clients with digital growth strategies and technology driven digital transformation, and advising technology startups. With nearly 25 years of experience, he helps clients leverage existing assets to create new growth opportunities, accelerate existing digital programs, foster innovation, and deliver customized experiences.
Prior to joining A&M, Ghafouri served as Chief Commercial Officer with Red Ventures, a digital media holding. Previously, Ghafouri worked with Accenture as a Senior Managing Director, a member of the global leadership committee, and a founding member of Accenture Interactive. He was also Co-Founder and former head of Accenture’s global digital transformation strategy practice, Bloom. In addition, Ghafouri founded, launched and scaled three digital businesses in the government, retail, and real estate industries. Ghafouri earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and quantitative business analysis from Pennsylvania State University.
7. Jennifer Meyers
Firm: Alvarez and Marsal
Title: Managing Director
Jennifer Meyers is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of A&MPLIFY, Alvarez and Marsal's AI-powered digital growth agency. She collaborates with clients to accelerate growth by creating new products, services, and value propositions at the intersection of strategy, design, and technology. With over 20 years of experience as a growth strategist, innovator, and change-maker, Meyers leverages AI and analytics to help clients ignite and accelerate strategic value capture. She serves as a trusted advisor and operator throughout the entire strategic activation process, even taking on interim executive roles to drive client success.
Meyers has a proven track record of addressing the most complex business challenges faced by Fortune 500 companies, delivering accelerated business outcomes. Her work spans multiple industries, including retail, healthcare, beauty, consumer goods, and hospitality, where she helps clients design, build, and scale new digital businesses, products, services, and platforms for sustainable growth.
8. Kevin Carl
Firm: Alvarez and Marsal
Title: Managing Director
Kevin Carl is a Managing Director with A&MPLIFY, Alvarez and Marsal’s AI-powered digital agency. Carl’s focus is on business and digital transformation leveraging technology. Prior to joining A&M, Carl served as General Manager and SVP of Product and Engineering at tech unicorn Copado, the market leading DevOps platform for Salesforce. He also served as Group Vice President of global hospitality consulting at Oracle.
Carl also served as EVP and Global CIO for Radisson Hotel Group, where he led a broad transformation of the company’s technology platforms and culminated his 18 years at Accenture as the firm’s global lead for digital travel. Carl graduated from Washington and Lee University and holds a certification in AI and machine learning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
9. Conrad Heider
Firm: Simon-Kucher
Title: Partner and Global Head of Simon-Kucher Elevate
Conrad Heider is a Partner at Simon-Kucher where he leads the firm's digital team, Simon-Kucher Elevate. Elevate is a digital consulting team that combines data, AI, and machine learning with commercial consulting expertise to deliver solutions such as dynamic pricing, next-best-action algorithms, predictive customer models, and generative AI-based sales and marketing tools. In this role, Heider drives digital transformation and delivers measurable results for his clients.
Heider specializes in transforming data and AI into practical, business-enhancing solutions. His expertise includes optimizing pricing, sales, and marketing strategies, enhancing customer experiences, and driving commercial growth through data, AI, and machine learning. He delivers fast and hands-on impact on growth by piloting projects, developing MVPs, and creating proof of concepts, helping businesses understand and capitalize on AI opportunities, leading to significant improvements and increased profitability.
Before joining Simon-Kucher, Heider was a Principal at Kearney, where he helped clients achieve commercial and operational excellence. He also served as Director of Strategy and Intelligence at Freeletics, Germany's leading B2C fitness app scale-up. Heider holds a master’s degree in public administration from the London School of Economics, a master’s degree in public policy from the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin, and a bachelor’s degree in European studies from Maastricht University.
10. Joe Knight
Firm: FTI Consulting
Title: Senior Managing Director
Joe Knight is a Senior Managing Director in FTI Consulting’s data and analytics practice. In this role, he provides technical consulting services in electronic discovery, advanced data analytics leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning, AI and algorithmic bias testing, litigation and investigation support, data visualization, and the implementation of business intelligence solutions. Additionally, Knight has worked as an internal and external auditor identifying and evaluating financial reporting compliance and operational risks in IT-intensive business processes.
11. Sparky Zivin
Firm: Teneo
Title: Senior Managing Director
Sparky Zivin is a Senior Managing Director and the Global Head of Teneo Research, a global CEO advisory firm. In this role, he leads a team that utilizes a range of methods, from traditional stakeholder research to advanced AI-driven analytics, to shape critical strategies for the firm’s clients.
12. Alejandro Zarate Santovena
Firm: Marsh
Title: Managing Director, Global Head of Data Strategy
Alejandro Zarate Santovena is a Managing Director and Global Head of Data Strategy at Marsh, a leading insurance broker and risk advisor with over 45,000 professionals operating in 130 countries to serve commercial and individual clients with data-driven risk solutions and advisory services. Santovena has more than 25 years of global experience in technology, consulting, and marketing in Europe, Latin America and the US. Santovena’s expertise spans business intelligence, product development, artificial intelligence, and team leadership.
13. Rob Wellen
Firm: BDO USA
Title: Managing Director, Data and AI
Rob Wellen is the Managing Director of Data and AI at BDO USA, a professional services firm that offers assurance, tax, and advisory services for a diverse range of clients across the US and in over 160 countries through its global organization. Wellen brings 25 years of experience to his current role.
14. Yoni Malchi
Firm: World Wide Technology
Title: Managing Director
Yoni Malchi is a Managing Director in consulting services at World Wide Technology (WWT) focused on AI and cloud strategy. Founded in 1990, WWT is a global technology solutions provider focused on delivering digital transformation for large public and private organizations worldwide. Malchi leads AI engagements with key customers, bridging the gap between business and technology teams. He also oversees AI R&D efforts, researching advanced AI techniques, tools, and platforms to provide tailored recommendations to clients.
15. Christine Livingston
Firm: Protiviti
Title: Managing Director
Christine Livingston is a Managing Director at Protiviti, where she leads the artificial intelligence and IoT practices and oversees technology innovation initiatives. In her role, Livingston focuses on identifying emerging technology opportunities, developing innovation strategies, overseeing technology innovation, and incorporating emerging technology capabilities into enterprise solutions across various industries.
16. Karthik Narain
Firm: Accenture
Title: Group Chief Executive, Technology
Karthik Narain is the Group Chief Executive of Technology at Accenture, where he oversees cloud, data and AI, enterprise and industry technologies and security, and technology ecosystem partnerships and its Advanced Technology Centers. As a member of the Global Management Committee and Chair of the Board of Avanade, Accenture’s joint venture with Microsoft, Narain plays a key role in steering the company’s technological direction.
Before assuming his current role, Narain led Accenture Cloud First and its data and AI business, where he helped clients move, shape and operate their businesses in the cloud. Under his leadership, cloud-certified talent has tripled in the past three years. He has extended the company’s leadership with ecosystem partners and driven substantial investments in solutions, acquisitions, and talent to keep Accenture at the forefront of the industry.
Most recently, Narain helped define Accenture’s approach to generative AI through investments in its Generative AI Center of Excellence. With 24 years of experience across various industry sectors, including financial services, high tech, and software and platforms, he has driven many strategic and innovative programs. Narain previously led Accenture Technology in North America, helping guide Global 2000 brands in using the cloud and other technologies to transform their businesses.
17. John Thompson
Firm: EY
Title: Global Head, Artificial Intelligence
John Thompson is the Global Head of Artificial Intelligence at EY, where he leads the design, development, implementation, and use of AI solutions, including generative AI, traditional AI, and causal AI, across all of EY service lines and for its clients. His team at EY has launched several groundbreaking initiatives, such as the world’s largest secure private large language model chat service, a synthetic data generation service, and an enterprise prompt engineering and management service, all of which have set new benchmarks for the firm.
Before joining EY, Thompson led the AI and advanced analytics team at CSL Behring, a biopharmaceutical company where he helped develop and deploy over 25 analytical applications. He also served as an Executive Partner at Gartner, where he advised leading companies on digital transformation, data monetization, and advanced analytics. Before Gartner, Thompson was responsible for the advanced analytics business unit of the Dell Software Group.
Thompson brings over 37 years of experience to his current role. His expertise spans all aspects of advanced analytics and information management, including descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics, AI, deep learning, cognitive computing, big data, simulation, optimization, synthetic data, and high-performance computing. Throughout his career, Thompson has built startups and reengineered Fortune 500 business units, managing areas such as sales, marketing, and product development with a focus on strategy, innovation, and growth. He has also shared his knowledge through several books on AI and data. Thompson holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Ferris State University and an MBA in marketing from DePaul University.
18. Senthil Ramani
Firm: Accenture
Title: Global Lead, Data and AI
Senthil Ramani is the Data and AI Lead for Accenture, where he oversees data and AI strategy, services, and investments, building market-leading capabilities focused on client value. He has decades of experience helping companies transform through technology through developing strategies, identifying use cases, building a strong digital core, and developing talent for the future. Most recently, he has helped enterprises become AI-first organizations. Senthil is also a member of the Global Management Committee.
Prior to his current role, Senthil was Accenture’s lead for data and AI in growth markets. Over his 24-year career, Senthil has held a diverse set of leadership roles in Accenture’s SAP digital, IoT, AI and sustainability practices. Notably, he served as Chief Digital Officer of the resources industry practice, helping mining, metals, forest products and building materials companies drive digital transformation and build high-performing teams.
Senthil has authored a book on AI business transformation and is focused on using AI to help solve real-world problems, including applying computer vision to monitor coral reef health and using data science to help clinicians improve precision medicine. Senthil holds a master’s degree in operations research from Arizona State University and an advanced management program degree from Harvard Business School.
19. John Simmons
Firm: PwC
Title: Principal
John Simmons is the Principal at PwC, a network of firms across 151 countries with over 360,000 professionals committed to delivering assurance, advisory, and tax services. Simmons focuses on improving commercial products, services, and operations to enhance access to critical resources like energy, food, work, and education. With over 30 years of experience, he has worked across various industries, including technology and SaaS software, telecommunications, finance, manufacturing, and aerospace and defense, leveraging data and technology to drive change.
Previously, Simmons was an SVP in application development at First Marblehead Corporation and before that a Principal at PRTM. Earlier in his career he worked with PRTM Management Consultants as a Manager. Simmons holds an MBA in operations, product development, and information technology from the MIT Sloan School of Management and an undergraduate degree in electrical technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
20. Anne Laure Thibaud
Firm: Capgemini
Title: Executive Vice President, Data and AI Group Offer Leader
Anne Laure Thibaud is the Executive Vice President and Data and AI Group Offer Leader at Capgemini, a global consulting and technology services firm that helps organizations accelerate their digital and sustainable transitions, creating tangible impacts for businesses and society. With 21 years of experience in large-scale big data analytics and artificial intelligence, Thibaud understands how data and intelligence have become central to business success or failure, and how a strong organizational culture around data is crucial in this process.
21. Naveen Sharma
Firm: Cognizant
Title: Senior Vice President
Naveen Sharma is Senior Vice President of Cognizant’s AI and analytics business. Cognizant is a multinational technology company that provides IT services including digital, technology, consulting, and operations services. Sharma combines strategic vision with tactical execution, focusing on driving growth through thought leadership, innovation, pre-sales, offering development, and portfolio management.
22. Saurin Shah
Firm: Booz Allen Hamilton
Title: Senior Vice President
Saurin Shah is the Senior Vice President of Booz Allen Hamilton, a firm focusing on advancing critical civil, defense, and national security priorities through innovation and leadership in complex missions. Shah is an artificial intelligence leader in Booz Allen’s national security business, where he develops data science and AI capabilities and services across the intelligence community. He and his team deliver operational systems that transform enterprise workflows and decision-making processes for the federal government.
23. Lou DiLorenzo Jr.
Organization: Deloitte
Title: Principal
Lou DiLorenzo Jr. is a Principal at Deloitte Consulting LLP. Deloitte provides audit and assurance, tax and legal, consulting, financial advisory, and risk advisory services to nearly 90% of the Fortune Global 500 and thousands of private companies. DiLorenzo leads Monitor Deloitte’s AI and data strategy practice, serves as National Leader for Deloitte’s CIO program, and leads the US generative AI advisory practice and the US Gen AI market incubator within Deloitte Consulting LLP. With over 20 years of experience across various sectors, DiLorenzo excels in bringing key stakeholders together to drive change, develop new capabilities, and achieve positive financial results for both large corporations and startups.
Prior to returning to Deloitte as a Principal in 2019, DiLorenzo served as COO of Bright Health. Previously, DiLorenzo was an appointed officer of Cargill and senior IT executive for Cargill's global food ingredients and systems division. DiLorenzo also led Cargill’s corporate enterprise process, data, and technology governance committee, working for the corporate CFO to drive alignment between dozens of business units and Cargill’s strategic technology project portfolio. DiLorenzo holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Colgate University.
24. Shawn Gilronan
Firm: CohnReznick
Title: Principal, Digital Consulting Leader
Shawn Gilronan is a Principal and leader of CohnReznick’s Digital Consulting practice. Since joining CohnReznick in 2023, Shawn has been pivotal in creating the Data and AI practice and revitalizing the Digital Consulting practice at the firm. His leadership has also led to the formation of strategic alliances with Microsoft, Prevedere, DOMO, Alteryx, Tipalti, and Zone and Co.
Shawn is a growth-focused leader with success in implementing strategic roadmaps and designing innovative technology solutions to help clients achieve their goals. He has extensive knowledge of digital transformation, business intelligence and data analytics, risk assessment and mitigation, and data migration and integration. He focuses on developing strategic business relationships with clients that create sustainable, leading technological operating models and bottom-line improvements.
Before joining CohnReznick in 2023, Shawn was a Partner and National Consulting Leader of Data and Analytics for a major audit, tax, and consulting firm. In this role, he was responsible for designing and implementing industry-centric and solution-based delivery models to create value for mid- and upper-market clients. This included developing strategies and services such as data warehousing, AI and ML, IoT, and ERP offerings involving platforms such as Microsoft Dynamics F&SC, BC, CRM, and Oracle NetSuite. Shawn holds a bachelor’s degree in computer and information sciences, finance, and accounting from Miami University in Ohio and an MBA in strategic management from Baldwin Wallace College.
25. Ajay Mangilal Jain
Firm: Wipro
Title: Vice President, Data Analytics and AI Solutions
Ajay Mangilal Jain is a Vice President of Data Analytics and AI Solutions at Wipro Limited, a leading technology services and consulting company focused on building innovative solutions that address clients’ digital transformation needs. The company offers a range of services in consulting, design, engineering, and operations, helping clients achieve their goals and build sustainable businesses.
