Apply Digital Appoints Omnicom Precision Marketing Group’s Chief AI and Technology Officer as New CEO
Visionary AI specialist Dr. Ali Alkhafaji is set to pioneer the development of an AI-integrated services firm for the future.
VANCOUVER, BC, March 17, 2026 Apply Digital, a globally recognized transformation partner backed by Interlock Equity, has announced the appointment of Dr. Ali Alkhafaji as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Gautam Lohia, the company’s founder, will assume the role of Chairman of the Board after achieving an impressive average annual growth rate of 35% over the past decade.
As a leader in transformation innovation, Apply Digital now looks to Dr. Alkhafaji to propel its growth trajectory, fortifying its AI leadership while redefining the capabilities of the professional services sector.
“Our industry stands at a pivotal juncture, and Apply Digital is uniquely equipped to navigate it,” remarked Alkhafaji.
“The horizon we face allows us to reinvent the framework for professional services, building upon the solid foundation laid by Gautam and establishing what AI enablement can achieve for our clientele.”
Before this role, Alkhafaji served as Chief AI and Technology Officer at Omnicom Precision Marketing, where he ingeniously crafted the group’s global AI vision and founded Omni AI.
He garnered recognition, ranking #36 in AI Magazine’s Top 100 AI Leaders of 2026. Previous to this, he was the Global CEO and President of TA Digital, which was subsequently acquired by Omnicom in 2022.
“A decade ago, we embarked on a mission to create a company where exceptional talent and genuine ambition could flourish in unison,” stated Lohia. Ali is the ideal leader to carry this mission forward.
As Chairman, I will stay intricately involved in our long-term strategy, nurturing our culture, and supporting the clients who have accompanied us from the outset.
Apply Digital’s early investments in AI have already yielded tangible benefits for clients in sectors ranging from retail to food and beverage, sports, and entertainment.
Alkhafaji asserts that the company’s structural flexibility and size present an “ideal canvas” for transformative industry-wide changes, allowing it to respond with the agility of a boutique while delivering the comprehensive insights expected from a multinational consultancy.
Moving ahead, Alkhafaji will spearhead Apply Digital’s next chapter, enhancing its global reach, amplifying its AI capabilities, and creating innovative frameworks for scalable client value.
This appointment comes on the heels of a series of commercial victories, as Apply Digital has recently added a new major sports league, a top entertainment enterprise, and a US-based airline to its distinguished client roster.
Apply Digital is an AI-centric transformation partner, obsessively focused on client needs and tailored for a new epoch of client services.
The company amalgamates industry acumen and elite talent to synchronize strategy, compelling experiences, technology, and data for the world’s most ambitious organizations.
With the dexterity to act swiftly and the expertise to execute with precision, Apply Digital collaborates with clients including Arc’teryx, Lululemon, and Kraft Heinz.
Source link: Morningstar.com.
