Zapier Appoints First AI Transformation Officer in Human-Centered Push

Zapier, the leading platform for AI-powered automation, has announced the appointment of Brandon Sammut as its first-ever Chief People & AI Transformation Officer. This move signals a significant strategic shift, positioning the company to lead what it calls a "new era of human-centered business modernization."

The creation of this unique, hybrid role—blending human resources with AI strategy—underscores Zapier's core belief that a successful AI transformation is not just a technical challenge, but a cultural and talent-based one.

A New Kind of C-Suite Role
Brandon Sammut, who previously served as Zapier's Chief People Officer, will now be responsible for overseeing both the company's internal AI adoption and its people operations.

Unlike traditional AI efforts that often focus exclusively on technical infrastructure, Zapier's new model is built on the idea that the AI opportunity, much like previous business transformations, comes down to empowering employees.

The company is already a case study in this approach, having aggressively integrated AI since its CEO declared a "Code Red" on AI in March 2023. According to Zapier, 97% of its employees now use AI in their daily work, and all job candidates are evaluated for AI fluency, regardless of department.

"Human-Centered" Modernization, Not Replacement
In a statement, Sammut emphasized that this new era of AI is not about replacing workers but about augmenting their abilities.

"Done thoughtfully, AI transformation isn't about replacing humans with machines," said Sammut. "It's about redesigning work in ways that boost efficiency, quality and, importantly, the experience of the people doing the work."

By appointing Sammut, Zapier is making a clear statement that its own internal AI transformation is its most important product—a "blueprint" for the human-centered adoption of AI that it hopes other organizations will follow. The company is betting that the key to unlocking AI's potential lies not in the technology itself, but in the culture and people who use it.