APAC Head of AI and Innovation

American President Lines; Singapore; On-site; SGD 220,000 - 380,000; Full time

Job summary

CMA CGM Group in Singapore is seeking a senior IT leader to drive AI and automation across APAC, translating global technology strategy into locally relevant, commercially valuable solutions.

You will lead enterprise AI adoption, build digital capability, mentor teams, collaborate with global architecture, governance, HR, and business leaders, and ensure rapid prototyping scales to global deployment. This role offers regional exposure and tangible ROI.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of technology leadership in IT transformation, data engineering, digital products, or AI/ML.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders in global matrix organisations.
• Experience delivering production-ready AI/ML solutions.
• Knowledge of Power BI and low-code tools.
• Commercially focused with ROI track record.

Responsibilities

• Lead APAC rollout, integration, and adoption of global AI platforms with strong local relevance and ROI.
• Identify regional opportunities and translate them into business cases shaping the global AI roadmap.
• Govern balance between global platforms and locally developed solutions for scalable deployment.
• Partner with Global Enterprise Architecture and GRC to manage data privacy and responsible AI governance.
• Define and deliver an APAC digital upskilling roadmap with HR and business leaders.

Skills

AI leadership

Stakeholder management

Enterprise IT transformation

Agile / innovation

Data governance

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT/CS/Data Science

Tools

Power BI

Vibe (citizen development)

Generative AI frameworks

Job description

Led by Rodolphe Saadé, the CMA CGM Group, a global leader in shipping and logistics, serves more than 420 ports around the world on five continents. With its subsidiary CEVA Logistics, a world leader in logistics, and its air freight division CMA CGM AIR CARGO, the CMA CGM Group is continually innovating to offer its customers a complete and increasingly efficient range of new shipping, land, air and logistics solutions.

Committed to the energy transition in shipping, and a pioneer in the use of alternative fuels, the CMA CGM Group has set a target to become Net Zero Carbon by 2050.
Through the CMA CGM Foundation, the Group acts in humanitarian crises that require an emergency response by mobilizing the Group’s shipping and logistics expertise to bring humanitarian supplies around the world.

Present in 160 countries through its network of more than 400 offices and 750 warehouses, the Group employs more than 155,000 people worldwide, including 4,000 in Marseilles where its head office is located.

Role Overview

This senior IT leadership role drives AI and automation across APAC, translating global technology strategy into locally relevant, commercially valuable solutions. You will lead enterprise AI adoption, build workforce digital capability, and direct rapid prototyping to turn high-priority business opportunities into scalable solutions. Working closely with global technology, governance, HR, and business leaders, you will shape regional priorities and scale successful APAC innovations across the organisation.

• Lead the APAC rollout, integration, and adoption of global AI platforms, ensuring strong local relevance, compliance, and commercial ROI.
• Identify regional technology opportunities and translate them into compelling business cases that shape the global AI and technology roadmap.
• Govern the balance between global platforms and locally developed solutions, ensuring APAC innovations are scalable, reusable, and ready for global deployment.
• Partner with Global Enterprise Architecture and GRC teams to manage data privacy, cross-border data requirements, and responsible AI governance.

Digital Literacy & Workforce Enablement

• Define and deliver an APAC digital upskilling roadmap with HR and business leaders to accelerate workforce adoption of AI and digital tools.
• Drive practical capability-building across AI, Power BI, low-code/no-code automation, and digital productivity.
• Build and scale a governed Citizen Developer community that enables employees to create secure, compliant self-service solutions.
• Lead organisational change initiatives that build confidence in automation and strengthen a data-driven culture.
• Lead a high-performing AI and data science incubator, providing strategic direction, technical mentorship, and resource prioritisation.
• Deliver rapid prototypes and MVPs that solve high-value APAC business challenges and validate feasibility before scale-up.
• Ensure incubator solutions are modular, documented, and production-ready for handover to regional, core IT, or global delivery teams.
• Establish a fast, commercially focused delivery cadence that converts innovation into measurable business outcomes.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field.
• 10+ years of technology leadership experience in IT transformation, data engineering, digital products, or AI/ML, including delivering production-ready AI/ML solutions.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders in complex global matrix organisations and translate regional needs into global technology strategies.
• Experience managing enterprise-scale technology deployments and agile innovation or R&D environments.
• Practical knowledge of Power BI, low-code automation, citizen development platforms (e.g., Vibe), and generative AI frameworks.
• Experience leading organisational change, digital-literacy, or culture-shift programmes.
• Commercially focused and pragmatic, with a track record of delivering measurable ROI, operational stability, and speed to market.
• Be part of a global leader in shipping and logistics with ambitious growth plans.
• Work in a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive environment.
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Opportunities for professional growth and regional exposure.

**This role is open for local employment only

**Kindly note that only short-listed applicants will be contacted.