Each week, CDO Magazine curates a high-level overview of executive appointments and leadership transitions shaping the global data, AI, and analytics ecosystem. This roundup offers a quick-read snapshot of how leadership talent is transitioning across organizations as they evolve data and AI strategies to support digital transformation, data management, enterprise innovation, security, and AI-driven decision-making.

This briefing tracks leadership movements involving Chief Data Officers, Chief Artificial Intelligence Officers, Chief Data and Analytics Officers, Chief Information Officers, Chief Information Security Officers, and senior executives responsible for data, analytics, security, and digital strategy across industries.

For the week of July 13, highlighted in this edition, we feature key leadership updates at Meta, the Department of the Air Force, and Orange, alongside several other notable appointments recently spotlighted on CDO Magazine.

This week’s featured moves:

Parexel: Boris Braylyan, Chief Data & Digital Officer

Global clinical research organization Parexel has elevated Boris Braylyan to Chief Data & Digital Officer. Braylyan previously served as the company’s Senior Vice President of Data & Technology. With more than two decades of life sciences experience, including 20 years at Pfizer in IT and regulatory information leadership, he will spearhead Parexel’s unified enterprise data strategy and digital transformation initiatives to optimize clinical research.

Meta: Alex Schultz, Chief Data Officer

Meta has named Alex Schultz as its first Chief Data Officer to lead the company’s transition into AI-driven analytics. Schultz, who has been with Meta since 2007, previously served as Chief Marketing Officer and VP of Analytics, where he helped construct the firm’s foundational data science and engineering teams. In his new capacity, he will focus on building next-generation data foundations and scaling internal AI agents like Analytics Agent.

Orange: Usman Javaid, Group Chief AI Officer

Global telecommunications operator Orange has appointed Dr. Usman Javaid as Group Chief AI Officer, effective September 1. Javaid transitions from Orange Business, where he was Chief Product and Marketing Officer. He will lead the telecom major’s strategy to expand and embed autonomous, agentic AI frameworks directly into its global networks, customer experience workflows, and enterprise business services.

CDO Magazine: Wendy Batchelder, Global Board Member

CDO Magazine is pleased to welcome award-winning technology executive and author Wendy Batchelder to our Global Board. Batchelder is a three-time CDAO across the healthcare, financial, and tech sectors, having held executive leadership roles at Centene Corporation, Salesforce, VMware, and Wells Fargo. She is widely recognized for her “trust-by-design” methodology that mitigates algorithmic bias and eliminates complex data silos.

Department of the Air Force: Ashley Devoto, Chief Information Officer

The Department of the Air Force has appointed Ashley Devoto as Chief Information Officer. Devoto, a 17-year veteran of the Air Force cyber community and former CISO at Discount Tire, will manage the department’s portfolio across enterprise IT, cybersecurity, data, and AI. She will guide roughly $17 billion in global technology investments supporting over 800,000 military personnel, civilians, and contractors.