CDO Magazine is excited to present the 2026 class of the Top 25 Atlanta Data & AI Leaders, celebrating executives driving measurable data and AI impact across Atlanta’s most influential organizations.

As enterprises move from experimentation to execution, data and AI leadership has become central to competitive advantage. The leaders recognized in 2026 reflect this shift. They are responsible for aligning data strategy with business priorities, building trust through governance, and turning AI and advanced analytics into sustained, enterprise-wide outcomes.

A snapshot of Atlanta’s data and AI leadership

The 2026 honorees represent the depth and diversity of Atlanta’s enterprise landscape. They span industries from retail, transportation, and logistics to telecommunications and media; from manufacturing, materials, and packaging to energy and utilities; and from financial services, payments, and insurance to healthcare, hospitality, and public-sector technology.

They hold senior leadership roles including Chief Data, AI, Digital, and Information Officers, alongside Managing Directors, Vice Presidents, and Global Heads responsible for enterprise data, analytics, data science, machine learning, and AI.

“Atlanta continues to stand out for the depth and maturity of its data and AI leadership,” says Corey Maxner, CDO Magazine Sr. Director, Community & Operations. “The leaders recognized this year are focused on execution. They are building trusted data foundations, scaling AI responsibly, and aligning their work directly to measurable business impact.”

Celebrating leaders at the Atlanta Leadership Summit

To honor the 2026 Top 25 Atlanta Data & AI Leaders, CDO Magazine will host an exclusive Awards Presentation and Reception during the Atlanta Leadership Summit taking place on March 19, 2026, at The Westin Atlanta Perimeter North.

The Summit will bring together senior data, analytics and AI executives for peer-level networking and forward-looking conversations on the future of enterprise data leadership.