10 heads of AI in HR technology
Head of Artificial Intelligence at BambooHR, Director of Machine Learning Engineering at Workday and Senior Director and India Head of AI Labs at ADP are among the current titles held by these ten heads of AI in HR technology. A reader can learn how heads of AI lead AI and machine learning teams in HR technology businesses from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Alan Whitaker
LinkedInExperience: Head of Artificial Intelligence · BambooHR
Alan Whitaker has been Head of Artificial Intelligence at BambooHR since May 2020, based in the Salt Lake City Metropolitan Area. Alan Whitaker was Maker & Founder at Dept. 24C from 2017 to 2020, held a Venture Research role at Savvysherpa, Inc. from 2013 to 2017 and was Founder and CEO of Red Brain Labs from 2012 to 2013.
Ansel Gou
LinkedInExperience: Director of Machine Learning · Workday
Ansel Gou was Director of Machine Learning at Workday from January 2019 to January 2025, and the profile headline now gives Director of Applied Artificial Intelligence. Ansel Gou was Technical Lead at VMware from 2013 to 2019 and Senior Software Engineer at Autodesk from 2007 to 2013.
Kartik Khanna
LinkedInExperience: Head of Machine Learning & AI · Gusto
Kartik Khanna was Head of Machine Learning & AI at Gusto from September 2023 to August 2025 and Head of Machine Learning at Gusto from 2019 to 2023, based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Kartik Khanna has been VP, AI at iFIT since August 2025 and was Machine Learning/DS Manager at BILL from 2017 to 2019.
Ken Hironaka
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director Of Engineering - Feature, ML Platforms · Indeed
Ken Hironaka has been Senior Director Of Engineering - Feature, ML Platforms at Indeed since October 2024, based in Tokyo, and also held the title Director Of Engineering - Feature, ML Platforms there from 2024 to 2025. Ken Hironaka was Director Of Engineering - Search, Feature, ML Platform at Indeed from 2022 to 2024 and Senior Software Engineering Manager - Search Ranking, Personalization, Metadata there from 2020 to 2022.
Robyn Mohan
LinkedInExperience: Director of Machine Learning and Data Science · Indeed
Robyn Mohan has been Director of Machine Learning and Data Science at Indeed since January 2023, based in Denver, Colorado, and the profile describes machine learning engineering leadership in large language models, search ranking algorithms, recommendation systems and fraud prevention models. Robyn Mohan was Senior Data Science Manager at Indeed from 2021 to 2022 and Product & Data Science Manager there from 2019 to 2021.
Ryan King
LinkedInExperience: Director of Data Science, Machine Learning Engineering, & AI Platforms · Paylocity
Ryan King has been Director of Data Science, Machine Learning Engineering, & AI Platforms at Paylocity since October 2025, based in Knoxville, Tennessee. Ryan King was Senior Manager, Data Science & Machine Learning Engineering at Paylocity from 2023 to 2025, Data Science Manager II from 2022 to 2023 and Senior Data Scientist from 2020 to 2022, all at Paylocity.
Saurav Basu
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director and India Head of AI Labs · ADP
Saurav Basu has been Senior Director and India Head of AI Labs at ADP since March 2025, based in Bengaluru, and describes leading the AI lab of ADP in India and reporting to the Chief Product and AI Officer. Saurav Basu was Principal ML and Data Science Manager at Microsoft from 2019 to 2025 and a Research Staff Member at IBM Research from 2013 to 2019.
Sekhar Jami
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering, Machine Learning · Phenom
Sekhar Jami has been Director of Engineering, Machine Learning at Phenom since May 2025, based in Hyderabad, India, and the profile describes building ML systems from conversational AI to multi-agent platforms for talent acquisition and bootstrapping Phenom's conversational AI team. Sekhar Jami was Engineering Manager - Machine Learning at Phenom from 2020 to 2025 and Machine Learning Engineer 3 there from 2018 to 2020.
Todd Meinershagen
LinkedInExperience: Applied Machine Learning & GenAI Director · Paycor
Todd Meinershagen has been Applied Machine Learning & GenAI Director at Paycor since August 2024, based in Frisco, Texas, and was Senior Principal SaaS Architect at Paycor from 2018 to 2024. Todd Meinershagen was Senior Software Architect at FinThrive from 2012 to 2018 and Principal Consultant at Improving from 2009 to 2012.
Xu Chu
LinkedInExperience: Director of Machine Learning Engineering · Workday
Xu Chu has been Director of Machine Learning Engineering at Workday since August 2025, based in Alpharetta, Georgia, and the profile headline also names Head of Workday AI Research. Xu Chu was Senior Staff Software Engineer at Celonis from 2023 to 2025 and Assistant Professor at Georgia Institute of Technology from 2018 to 2023, and has been an Adjunct Professor there since 2024.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's product area, such as payroll, recruiting and job search, or core HR software, to the problem you have. Check whether each person's title points to research, platform or applied work, and when each person started or left the role.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01Which AI features have customers of your HR software actually adopted, and which have they ignored?
- 02How do you handle fairness, privacy and accuracy when your models affect hiring or pay decisions?
- 03What has your own work taught you about building an AI team inside an HR software company?
Reaching heads of AI in HR technology
How can I contact one of these heads of AI in HR technology?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 8 companies, including BambooHR, Workday and Gusto, based on profile data retrieved on October 24, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach heads of AI in HR technology?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. The offer is what the person receives, and Instant Expert's fee is added on top, so a $100 offer costs you $125. The fee is 20% of what you pay. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
Can an AI agent ask one of these heads of AI in HR technology a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. Claude and ChatGPT can do the same through the Instant Expert connector: setup is at /docs/mcp for Claude and /docs/chatgpt for ChatGPT. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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