Orange, a global telecommunications operator, has appointed Usman Javaid as Group Chief AI Officer, effective September 1, 2026. Reporting to Group Chief Technology & Innovation Officer Bruno Zerbib, Javaid will help accelerate and expand the company’s artificial intelligence initiatives across the organization.

In the role, Javaid will lead efforts to scale AI adoption across Orange’s operations, with a focus on embedding AI and agentic AI across networks, customer experience, operational functions, and business services. The appointment aligns with Orange’s broader strategy to advance AI as a driver of operational performance, customer value, and future growth.

Prior to his new appointment, Javaid served as Chief Product and Marketing Officer at Orange Business, where he led product strategy, development, marketing, and the organization’s data and AI transformation. Earlier in his career, he held leadership positions at Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Vodafone, following his start at France Télécom (now Orange) in research and innovation.

Javaid succeeds Steve Jarrett, who helped establish Orange’s AI strategy and technological foundation during his tenure. Sharing the update on LinkedIn, Javaid said, “Building on Orange’s exceptional technological foundations, our ambition is clear: to embed AI at the heart of everything we do—from networks and operations to customer experience and consumer & business services. My mission is to accelerate this transformation and help turn AI into a lasting source of value, innovation, and competitive advantage for Orange.”

He holds a master’s degree in Networks and Telecommunications and a Ph.D. from the University of Bordeaux, where his research focused on mobile technologies and the Internet of Things. He is also the holder of several patents.