Head of AI – Venture Capital Portfolio | AI Leadership & Strategy Role, London

We are partnering with a leading venture capital investor to appoint a Head of AI. This is a senior, portfolio-level role supporting fast-growth, VC-backed technology companies, where the ability to translate artificial intelligence into clear commercial and investor-ready strategy is as important as technical credibility. As such, if you’re known for being the person who can bridge founders, engineers, investors and customers, this role is built for you. Importantly, this appointment forms part of our Head of AI recruitment work for venture capital and technology businesses.

The Opportunity: Head of AI for a VC-Backed Technology Portfolio

As Head of AI, you will operate as the portfolio’s AI translator and trusted advisor, helping leadership teams understand what AI can do, why it matters and how to deploy it responsibly. In practice, this means working across multiple businesses at different stages of growth. In addition, you will work directly with Founders, CEOs, CTOs and Venture Partners. At the same time, you will guide AI conversations from idea to execution, ensuring that initiatives are clearly articulated, well-governed and commercially aligned.

The Role: Translating Artificial Intelligence into Business Strategy

At this level, the role suits an AI leader who enjoys influence without ego, clarity over complexity and shaping decisions at the highest level. Equally, it suits someone comfortable operating without direct ownership of delivery.

What You’ll Be Known For as Head of AI

In this role, you will be known for:

• Acting as the primary AI voice across a portfolio of VC-backed companies
• Translating complex AI concepts into clear, confident, business-ready narratives
• Leading AI strategy conversations with non-technical stakeholders
• Helping founders and boards make informed AI investment decisions
• Aligning product, engineering, commercial, and investor expectations
• Representing AI initiatives in board meetings, investor updates, and strategic reviews
• Establishing shared language, principles, and guardrails for AI adoption

Key Responsibilities: AI Strategy, Governance and Executive Influence

Specifically, you will:

• Define and communicate the AI vision across multiple high-growth companies
• Facilitate alignment between technical teams and business leadership
• Critically, advise on where AI adds value — and, equally, where it does not
• Support founders in articulating AI strategy to investors, customers and partners
• Influence AI roadmaps without owning day-to-day engineering delivery
• Guide conversations around risk, ethics, governance and responsible AI use
• Contribute to AI-related due diligence and investment discussions

About You: Senior AI Leader with Strong Commercial and Communication Skills

We’re looking for a credible AI leader with exceptional communication skills.

Typically, you will have:

• Previously, held a senior AI, data or ML leadership role in a technology business
• Regularly, presented AI strategy to boards, investors and executive teams
• Enjoys simplifying complexity without oversimplifying reality
• Consistently, built trust with both technical and non-technical audiences
• Importantly, understands the commercial pressures of VC-backed, high-growth environments
• Equally, balanced listening and facilitation with clear direction-setting

Why This Head of AI Role Is Different

Importantly, this is not a single-company engineering leadership role. Instead, it is a portfolio-level Head of AI appointment for an AI leader who thrives on influence, clarity and strategic alignment, working at the intersection of founders, investors and technology teams. This portfolio-level appointment reflects the growing demand we see through our Head of AI recruitment work for senior AI leaders who can operate at board and investor level.

Apply for the Head of AI Role

If you have the relevant experience and this opportunity sounds interesting to you, please get in touch with our team, including a copy of your CV as soon as possible via the form below.

Hanson Search is a globally recognised, award-winning talent advisory and headhunting consultancy. Our expertise lies in building successful ventures worldwide through our recruitment, interim and executive search in communications, sustainability, public affairs and policy, digital marketing and sales and commercial.

We are committed to equality of opportunity for all. You can access our Diversity and Inclusion Policy here.

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