“ROBO-DEPUTIES AN IMMINENT REALITY FOR THE C-SUITE” says global search firm

Global executive search firm Allegis Partners last night hosted an event where The Hon Gladys Berejeklian MP, Minister for Industrial Relations and NSW Treasurer spoke of the importance of the human resources sector in helping to create the workforce of the future.
 
The event marked the rebrand from Talent Partners to Allegis Partners following the acquisition of the business in 2015, and was attended by Australian Board and C-suite candidates and clients.  
 
Allegis Group, a US$10 billion business and the largest privately owned human capital company in the world, also confirmed it will make Sydney its regional headquarters, giving its clients and candidates access to global insights and expertise to position local businesses for tomorrow’s competitive environment.
 
Speaking at the event The Hon Gladys Berejeklian MP, Minister for Industrial Relations and NSW Treasurer commented, “It is always exciting when a huge global player decides to call Sydney its home. We take this as tick in confidence in Sydney as a global centre for human resource excellence.”
 
Commenting on the future of the Australian workforce, The Treasurer continued, “Companies like Allegis will be world leaders in jobs for the future, they are already, because a lot of people studying at high school and university will be applying for jobs in 10 or 20 years time that aren’t even around yet and I think that is a promising prospect for the future.”
 
Following the relaunch event and building on the Treasurer’s comments, Allegis Partners has shared its insights on the future of the leadership landscape in Australia, in particular its view that Australian CEOs could soon have access to a new deputy that will transform the C-suite’s ability to lead.
 
Speaking about the immediacy of a Robotic Deputy CEO, Managing Director Feargal Owens Owens commented, “This is not science fiction, it is a reality of business today. A.I. has moved upwards from the factory floor and most businesses now have the data streams that make it possible for many management decisions to be automated, resulting in much better decision-making in organisations and in turn better commercial outcomes.  We just need to become comfortable with autonomous decision making.”
 
Mr Owens went on to expand on the role of a Robotic Deputy CEO, “We’ve actually christened the Deputy ‘ROBIN’, which stands for robotic intelligence and it will be the CEO’s closest ally and greatest source of business insights.  It’s likely ROBIN will prompt a re-think about what true leadership is. 
 
“Decisions also need to be made about the organisational structure. The advent of artificial intelligence means new roles will need to be created to cascade the learnings that ROBIN will produce throughout the business,” he said.
 
According to Allegis Partners and an analysis of global trends in artificial intelligence, the C-suite will see its roles evolving and new areas of responsibility assigned. Allegis Partners highlights a number of management positions it has witnessed the metamorphosing in other countries such as the United States and closer to home in Japan, most notably:

• Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
  Diversity roles will take takes on a whole new meaning with the integration of robots and augmented intelligence into the workforce and in leadership teams where roles are supplemented by machines.  Looking after the human interest will necessitate a designated management role as businesses look to balance AI with the interests of employees.
• Chief Intelligence Officer
  As businesses are automated, either through hardware in the form of robotics, or software, through machine learning and artificial intelligence, the need to manage, regulate and ensure growth will require a dedicated overseer.
• Chief Ethics Officer

Measuring the ethical impact of integrating artificial intelligence will be a vital piece of business strategy alongside ensuring that any work completed is ethically sound. Overseeing a company’s ESG risks may form part of this role.

• Chief Data Officer

The Chief Data Officer already has a seat at the table in many US businesses and this will soon be the case in Australia.  Businesses are investing billions in projects that will, at least initially, require human oversight.    
 
Mr Owens suggests that businesses can ready themselves for this brave new world, commenting “there needs to be a change of mindset so that robotics and AI is not just associated with automating routine and procedural tasks. Given the benefits robotic intelligence will deliver, every business needs to be thinking now about the changes that will need to be made to operations to incorporate artificial intelligence.”
 
Offering advice to Australian leaders Mr Owens concluded, “Businesses need to start immediately if they want to take full advantage of the potential for ROBIN to transform their operations. Companies that do this will benefit from a first mover advantage and have access to better analytics on which to base business decisions. Few if any chief executive can afford to ignore this opportunity.”
 
For more information or to arrange an interview with Allegis Partners, please contact:
 
Holly Clark
The F4WARD Agency
holly@f4ward.agency
M: 0452 069 936
 
About Allegis Partners

• In 2015 Allegis Group acquired Talent Partners, part of the Talent 2 Group, rebranding the business Allegis Partners.
• The business has always been a leading executive search firm but the acquisition now brings clients and candidates the benefits of a global footprint, insights and expertise to advise Boardroom and C-Suite clients in sourcing and retaining internationally benchmarked senior talent.
• Allegis Partners has the global knowledge, insights and expertise essential for sourcing senior leaders and Board members who can assist local companies to compete in the global market.
• The business comprises a team of senior consultants with extensive experience, networks and reach into the local market and who genuinely care about clients’ businesses and outcomes
• The acquisition marks the start of Allegis Partners expansion into the Asia Pacific region and the Group has further plans to grow organically and through acquisition.
• Allegis Partners is a research-driven organisation using innovative and proactive research methodologies that allow us to identify and curate high calibre executive talent.
• Allegis Group has invested in the expertise to help its clients understand the forces shaping their business.  Allegis Partners’ Chief Innovation Officer is transforming both the Allegis Partners business and that of their clients.