Avantia Group has appointed Saurabh Johri as its AI Advisor to help drive the next phase of its AI transformation.
The creation of this newly-established role marks a significant milestone in Avantia’s continued journey to embed cutting-edge technology at the heart of its operations. It shows how AI and new technologies are becoming a bigger part of modern business, with roles like this playing a key role in driving innovation and opening up new opportunities across organisations.
Saurabh is a highly regarded AI expert with extensive experience building scalable platforms and leading generative AI initiatives across the UK and US. His blend of strategic vision and technical capability includes re-architecting AI systems at enterprise scale, founding and growing an AI startup, and driving commercially impactful AI solutions across multiple sectors.
Avantia partnered with La Fosse Executive, a firm that specialises in technology and transformation leadership to find the right candidate for this innovative new role. The focus of the search was to find a leader with deep technical expertise paired with the ability to apply creative, cross-sector thinking.
Dan Huddart, Chief Technology Officer at Avantia Group, said:
“Back in 2016, we knew insurance software was lagging behind other industries, which was most starkly true in the application of AI. Avantia had a bold vision, so we built the capability to use AI to intelligently interact with all the key touchpoints in our business. This investment in innovation has been key to our accelerating growth.
“As early adopters of AI, we compare ourselves to the world’s most advanced companies and technology solutions. We searched for an advisor from outside the insurance industry and have been impressed with the fresh thinking and expertise that Saurabh was able to bring from his experience in other sectors in the US. We’re pleased to have him onboard to help shape our AI strategy, and to look at how we can unlock the benefits for our customers and future business growth.”
Saurabh Johri, newly appointed AI Advisor at Avantia Group and Founder of Depend.AI, commented: “Avantia stands out for its strategic commitment to staying ahead as an AI-first business, not just adopting tools but architecting and building for intelligence at the core of its operations. I’ve spent most of my career innovating and working on Novel AI/ML architectures, AI Platforms and pioneering products, including assistants and co-pilots that broke new ground, helping companies harness the latest breakthroughs to solve real-world problems. I am delighted to work with forward-thinking organisations such as Avantia, with the ambition to turn advances in Generative AI into scalable, production-ready systems that deliver meaningful impact.”
Kirsten Coleman, Senior Data & AI Search Consultant at La Fosse Executive, added:
“This was one of those rare searches that felt like shaping the future, not just filling a role. Avantia Group had a bold vision for how AI could drive their next stage of growth, and it was clear they needed more than just technical expertise. They were looking for a strategic partner who could contribute experience from other industries and operate at every level within their business. It was a privilege to work closely with Dan and the team to deliver a leader as forward-thinking and impactful as Saurabh.”
This appointment forms part of Avantia’s commitment as a technology-driven insurer, combining award-winning customer service with advanced innovation to challenge legacy models and deliver greater value to homeowners across the UK.