2024 Global Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence Executive Organization and Compensation Survey

Welcome to our fourth annual 2024 Global Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence Executive Organization and Compensation Survey. This report explores organizational structure and compensation for executive roles related to artificial intelligence and/or data analytics.

For this report, Heidrick & Struggles compiled data from a survey conducted in the summer 2024, featuring responses from 412 executives across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. 

We hope you find the survey insights valuable. As always, we welcome your feedback and encourage you to contact us or your Heidrick & Struggles representative with any questions or comments.

Introduction

As organizations across all sectors grapple with rapid technological advancements such as generative AI and multimodal language models, the role of leadership has become more crucial than ever. While companies are at different stages of AI adoption, the impact is universally transformative, reshaping decision making, streamlining operations, and creating new business models. Organizations are not just implementing AI but also focusing on aligning those technologies with their core business goals, managing cultural shifts, and driving change. 

Over the past 12 months, we have witnessed a shift in focus from merely adopting new AI tools to emphasizing return on investment. The enthusiasm for AI remains strong, but leaders and organizations are now approaching it with greater strategic intent. Our survey results highlight this trend: 82% of this year’s respondents reported that their function is directly included in business strategy, a notable increase from 76% in 2023.

Additionally, the proportion of respondents reporting to the CEO nearly doubled, from 17% in 2023 to 31% in 2024. Of those who report to the CEO, more than two-thirds are members of the executive leadership team, underscoring the ongoing maturation of these roles and the function. Yet even the front-runners are only beginning to unlock AI’s full potential.

Successful AI implementation demands strategic leadership and cross-functional collaboration. Without C-suite ownership, there is a risk of duplicative efforts. Centralizing and streamlining initiatives can mitigate this risk and ensure more effective AI integration. 

Key findings: Evolving reporting lines, the relationship with the board, and a look ahead 

• Respondents are generally confident their organizations are ready to embrace change, digital transformation, and the challenges of AI.
• Continuing the trend of recent years, 2024 saw a maturation in tenure of AI executives, with 31% of respondents in their role for five or more years, while only 16% have been in their roles for less than a year. 
  • Most respondents across industries indicated their roles have been in place at their companies for five or more years.
• The share of respondents who reported spending the most time working with the software development, product development, and product engineering functions has increased. There were general decreases in time spent with other functions, particularly operations, marketing and customer engagement, strategy, sales, and corporate IT applications.
  • By market, notably higher shares of US respondents indicated they spend time working or consulting with strategy, sales and go-to-market, and corporate IT applications than leaders in any other market.
• This year, in addition to asking respondents with which functions they spend the most time, we also asked with which functions they consult. The top functions with which they consult were are finance; legal, compliance, and risk; and marketing and customer engagement. Notably, while only 5% of respondents named HR as the function with which they spend the most time, more than five times that share identified HR as stakeholders. 
• The vast majority of respondents to this year’s report present to the board in some capacity, with 71% agreeing they have adequate exposure to the board or its members.
• Year over year, respondents’ confidence in their board’s knowledge and expertise to respond effectively to presentations on data and analytics, AI, and machine learning is increasing, albeit slowly. 

Key findings: The use of generative AI

• Respondents reported that their companies most frequently use generative AI to support internal functions and customer or technical services.
• The use of generative AI appears to be expanding, with more than half of respondents indicating that they are using it in some functions, and nearly half stating that they are actively integrating it into their products and piloting it in other areas.
• Regarding challenges in adopting generative AI, more than half of respondents cited a lack of clarity around data privacy and protection frameworks, and nearly half expressed concerns about not having the right internal talent to effectively integrate generative AI, though barriers vary by sector. 

Key findings: Compensation

• In the United States, average cash base and equity were down slightly year over year, while cash bonus was slightly up.
• In Europe (including the United Kingdom), average cash base, bonus, and equity were all up year over year, illustrating the growing understanding of the strategic importance of those roles in the region.
• Respondents in the United States more often than their peers in Europe and the United Kingdom receive a cash bonus, equity or long-term incentives (LTI), and a sign-on bonus. 
• Respondents in Europe more often than their peers in the United Kingdom reported receiving a cash bonus and more often reported receiving equity/LTI, while respondents in the United Kingdom more often than their peers in Europe reported receiving a sign-on bonus.

For more, download the full report.

About the authors

Ryan Bulkoski (rbulkoski@heidrick.com) is a partner in Heidrick & Struggles’ San Francisco office and global head of the Artificial Intelligence, Data & Analytics Practice.

Brittany Gregory (bgregory@heidrick.com) is a principal in Heidrick & Struggles’ New York office and a member of the global Artificial Intelligence, Data & Analytics and Financial Services practices.

Frédéric Groussolles (fgroussolles@heidrick.com) is a partner in Heidrick & Struggles’ Paris office and a member of the global Technology & Services and Artificial Intelligence, Data & Analytics Practice.