Ewen Plougastel

It’s easy to see AI as the domain of data scientists, IT teams, and tech start-ups. But increasingly, it’s something much more fundamental …a board-level issue that cuts across strategy, risk, ethics, and performance. AI is already shaping the competitive landscape across South East Asia (SEA). We’re seeing businesses automating processes, tailoring products, detecting fraud, even predicting customer behaviour. Yet too often, it’s my observation that boards are still watching from the sidelines. That’s understandable. Many directors come from finance, legal or operational backgrounds, not tech. But when decisions are being made about data strategy, algorithmic bias, workforce displacement, or cyber resilience, the absence of board-level literacy on AI becomes a governance risk in itself. I don’t expect directors to become coders, but boards do need to ask the right questions. - Do we know what data is driving our AI decisions? - Have we considered the ethical risks? - How are we balancing automation with human oversight? - Who’s accountable if something goes wrong? Without a basic working knowledge of AI’s capabilities (and limitations) it’s hard for a board to challenge, support or steer management effectively. In many SEA markets, governance structures are still maturing. Regulatory frameworks around AI are emerging but inconsistent. In this environment, boards have an even greater role to play…not just in oversight, but in shaping how AI is used responsibly and sustainably. There’s also a real opportunity here. With global supply chains shifting, digital adoption speeding up, and capital flowing into the region, SEA could leapfrog older models, but only if leadership is willing to lean in. Boards that stay passive risk becoming irrelevant. So what needs to change? 1. Board education: AI literacy should be a core part of board development. Not a one-off seminar, but ongoing, relevant, business-focused learning. 2. Diverse appointments: Bring in new voices. Whether it’s a tech leader, digital ethicist, or younger director with data with a tech background, many boards need to broaden their mix of skills and perspectives. 3. Cultural shift: Perhaps most importantly, boards need to move from a mindset of oversight alone to one of proactive stewardship. AI isn’t just a risk to mitigate, it’s a strategic lever to understand and shape. The boards that thrive won’t be the ones with all the answers, they’ll be the ones asking the best questions, listening with intent, and approaching AI with curiosity rather than fear. And in this part of the world, that could make all the difference. #AI #BoardGovernance #FutureOfWork #DigitalTransformation

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A solid reset and a powerful reminder of the “architecture” behind every transformation. Our mid-term meet-up for the Asian Institute of Management – Chief Digital and AI Officer Program (CDAO) Cohort 2025 was all about Enterprise Architecture, AI Ethics, and Positioning Strategic Value—and it was exactly the deep dive we needed at this point of the journey. Beyond frameworks and models, what made the day meaningful was the collective insight in the room. We learn from each other in as much as we learn from the course, with everyone bringing in respective expertise and experiences from government, banking, logistics, retail, services, etc. Halfway through the program, this session grounded us again in what truly drives digital and AI excellence. 🚀 #AIM #CDAOProgram2025 #EnterpriseArchitecture #DigitalTransformation #AILeadership #FutureReady

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🚀 Data Cloud: Batch DMO Activation Has Finally Arrived With the October 2025 Data Cloud release, the long-awaited Batch DMO Activation is now available — and it’s a game changer. Until now, we only had Streaming DMO Activation, which handled incremental updates. But exporting full datasets from a DMO in a clean, scalable, batch format? That wasn’t possible — until now. (excluding methods such as API integrations) 🔥 What You Can Do with Batch DMO Activation Companies can now activate large-scale datasets from Profile, Engagement, and Other DMOs directly to: - Marketing Cloud Engagement - Amazon S3 - Google Cloud Storage - Azure - SFTP - Even other Data Cloud spaces ✅ Supported DMO Types - Profile DMO - Engagement DMO - Other DMO ❌ Not supported: Audience, Segment Membership, Unified Link DMOs 📌 Key Specifications - All DMO records are included - Fields must be manually selected - Supports Contact Point Filtering, Attribute Filtering, and Add Attributes - Engagement DMOs include only the past 90 days - No scheduler yet — manual publish only (…and yes, we’re all waiting for this 😅) 📈 Why This Matters By combining Batch DMO Activation with Marketing Cloud Engagement or cloud storage, organizations can dramatically improve: - Personalization accuracy - Cross-cloud data activation - Analytics depth - Enterprise data governance Streaming activation handles incremental changes. Batch activation now handles complete datasets — giving Data Cloud users both power and flexibility. ⏳ Now, all we need is… scheduling. Let’s hope it arrives soon! 😉 Step by Step: https://lnkd.in/gQTdqGGD Thanks for reading —  and stay tuned for more Salesforce & Marketing Cloud insights. 😎✨ #Salesforce #MarketingCloud #DataCloud #MomentMarketer #MarketingChampion #MarketingChampions 🔗 Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/gkeKyShH

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In Asia Pacific, the conversation around AI is shifting fast - from experimentation to strategic advantage. But as we scale, one reality is hard to ignore: the foundations of AI (models, compute, data) are still highly concentrated, creating dependencies that can limit resilience, local value capture and long-term innovation.   That’s why sovereign AI is becoming a defining priority across APAC. 62% of APAC enterprises plan to increase sovereignty investments over the next two years - a clear signal that leaders see sovereignty as more than compliance.   This shift is already visible around the world. From Europe to APAC, sovereign AI is becoming a defining pillar of digital strategy. Not as protectionism, but as a way to:   Strengthen resilience and security Reflect local language, culture, and values Capture more economic value from AI innovation Turn strategic vulnerability into a long-term engine of growth   For business leaders, sovereign AI isn’t a technology decision alone. It’s a CEO-level strategy choice about competitiveness, trust and reinvention. Read the research: https://lnkd.in/gdvheDKn   Vivek Luthra     Kunal Shah   #sovereignAI #AIstrategy #Accenture  

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Super excited to discuss the biggest painpoint and challenge our clients face today: Scaling AI across enterprise! Anticipating a very lively panel discussion with lots of real-life stories and experiences from Cliff Ching (AXA), Brad Scheepers (Generali), Louis Lee (Prudential), Justin K. (Hupo) and Anthony H. (Equinix). Sia Sia AI Vincent Kasbi Camilo Ramirez Jeremy Fetiveau Arthur Roiret Terry Cheung Claire Yuyao Z. Brian Lin David Hollander IIC (InsurInnovator Connect)

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In ASEAN, we’re sprinting into AI like it’s the finish line—but we’re forgetting the guardrails. EY’s new Responsible AI Pulse shows that most companies in the region say “we’ve integrated AI across the business.” But only about half say they have strong governance controls in place. https://lnkd.in/gJDkKqhH Across the region, boards are talking “agentic AI”, yet many still don’t feel comfortable with the risks. This feels off. Because if we scale big, without understanding the real potholes (data flows and integration, process vs decisions, bias, brand risk in ASEAN), we’re not going fast – we’re likely to break something valuable. Suggestions: • Let’s embed governance before the go-live, not chase it after. • Let’s shift the boardroom conversation from “What can AI do?” To “How ready are we to use it responsibly and at scale?” • And let’s make trusted AI a competitive edge in ASEAN—not just “faster, bigger, cooler”. Because trusted AI won’t slow ASEAN’s growth — it will accelerate it, sustainably. We’re ambitious here—and that’s great. But ambition without structure? Needs serious consideration. If you’re building or advising AI rollout in ASEAN: What guardrails are you setting today? Manik Bhandari Hardeep Arora Jason Pang Veron Wong Karen Koh Adrian Chew #ASEAN #AI #ResponsibleAI #Governance #Leadership #EYInsights

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Building a Smart Nation starts with trusted data. Singapore’s Smart Nation vision depends on unlocking data across the public sector — but silos, fragmented systems, and legacy architectures often stand in the way of AI success. In this whitepaper, “Building a Smart Nation with a Data Fabric for Generative AI,” we explore how a secure, governed #DataFabric enables public sector organizations to turn data into real outcomes with GenAI. 📘 You’ll discover: - Why traditional #ETL and replication can’t keep up with #GenAI - How Denodo unifies siloed data into a single, governed fabric - How #DenodoAssistant and the #AISDK make data truly #AIReady - Real-world #publicsector scenarios across #healthcare, transport, defense, and more 🚀 With Denodo, agencies can accelerate innovation, ensure governance, reduce costs, and confidently power #SmartNation initiatives. 👉 Download the whitepaper: https://okt.to/R40SOA #GenerativeAI #AIReadyData #DataForALL #NoDataLeftBehind #NoAIWithoutData

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https://lnkd.in/gHazE3C7 The strategic partnership between Humana International Group and RGH Group Pte Ltd https://lnkd.in/gKrG3g2f officially commenced in January 2026. Humana International Group is proud to announce a strategic partnership with RGH Group (Resource Group Holdings), strengthening our commitment to deliver comprehensive, future-ready talent solutions for organizations in Indonesia and across international markets. The collaboration unites Humana’s long-standing expertise in Executive Search and Professional Recruitment with RGH Group’s global infrastructure and workforce consultancy capability. To ensure best in class technology underpin this alliance, we proudly present Epitome Global https://epitome.global/, an AI-driven solutions that transforms and optimizes your workforce. “. These advanced recruitment and talent management solutions will support AI-enabled sourcing, assessment, and seamless project execution for clients of Humana and RGH Group. A core strength RGH brings to the partnership is its integrated Five Streams model, covering the full talent lifecycle: 1. Executive Search – research-driven retained search delivering mission-critical leaders. 2. Professional Recruitment – rapid placement of permanent and contract specialists. 3. Large-Scale Deployment – mobilization of skilled to blue-collar workforces including visa, relocation, and sponsorship support. 4. Workforce Optimization – analytics and predictive insights improving engagement, efficiency, and retention. 5. Beyond Recruitment: HR & Payroll Solutions – strategic HR transformation, Train-Transform-Transfer up-skilling, contractor payroll, and executive career coaching.

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The hub will serve as a centre for applying AI technologies to address complex, enterprise-wide challenges at BHP, with a focus on enhancing safety, boosting productivity, and embedding automation and data-driven decision-making into core operations. Set to open this month, the hub will bring together a team of AI specialists to lead collaborations between BHP and local partners, developing practical solutions to operational problems. https://lnkd.in/gVcHvTSQ

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As generative AI moves from experimentation to enterprise-scale impact, one message is resonating strongly with the region’s C-suites: true AI transformation cannot happen on legacy foundations. Across Southeast Asia, I continue to see organizations with the ambition to adopt AI but are held back by architectures built for a different era. They continue to rely on decades-old architectures and scattered data sources that weren't designed to support the real-time, multimodal data demands of gen AI today. It’s no surprise that modernization is rising in the C-suite agenda, with even greater focus expected in the coming year. In my latest article for DigiconAsia I unpack how forward-looking enterprises across ASEAN are navigating this transition, and what their experiences signal for business leaders shaping their AI strategies in the years ahead. https://lnkd.in/gbtxPYGY #MongoDB #GenAI #Modernization

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"Between 2018 and 2021, demand for AI talent in Singapore was dominated by what we call “Deep AI” roles — research scientists and algorithm engineers building models from scratch. This demand cooled in 2022. But starting in early 2023, a new structural trend emerged: a surge in demand for “AI Users” and, crucially, “AI Integrators.” AI Integrators are not necessarily machine-learning PhDs. They are professionals tasked with embedding existing models into business workflows via APIs, fine-tuning or Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). By late 2025, the proportion of Singaporean firms hiring for these integration roles had climbed significantly. These companies aren’t trying to replace humans with chatbots; they are re-engineering their operations to make humans more productive using AI. This distinction — between replacement and integration — is the key to navigating the AI age. Singapore’s experience demonstrates that high AI exposure does not have to lead to mass unemployment. When technology transitions from a tool for cost-cutting substitution to a mechanism for business integration, it creates new employment spacing."

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🚀 APAC AI Outlook 2026: The Next Chapter of Transformation AI in Asia-Pacific is moving from efficiency to reinvention, becoming the engine of growth across industries. Key signals: ✅ 95% of executives expect generative AI to be atleast partially self-funded by 2026 ✅ AI is shifting from back-office automation to strategic boardroom decisions ✅ Cross-industry innovation is accelerating—a breakthrough in telecom can become a blueprint for manufacturing What’s shaping 2026? 🔹 Banking: Conversational super apps, ecosystem finance, and trust-as-a-service 🔹 Manufacturing: Predictive autonomous operations, mass personalization, and sustainable supply chains 🔹 Telecom: Agentic AI as the new operating layer, monetizing data ecosystems 🔹 Energy: AI-enabled energy transition, green AI for sustainability 🔹 Public Sector: Inclusive AI for citizen services and robust governance for trust Top 5 AI Trends Driving APAC: 🌐 Internet of AI | 📈 AI as a Growth Multiplier | ✅ Trusted AI ROI | 🇮 Sovereign AI | ⚛ Quantum + AI The message is clear: AI is no longer a support tool—it’s the strategic core. Organizations that embrace responsible, scalable, and cross-industry AI adoption will lead the next wave of growth. 👉 Read the full report for insights, case studies, and actionable strategies:[https://lnkd.in/gBZ-jid6]   Thanks to my co-authors Juhi McClellandRishi AuroraArun BiswasBalasubrahmanyam PappuBrian C. GoehringCindy AndersonAmith Singhee #APACAIOutlook2026 #Ai #IBM #IBMconsulting #GenAI #trends #agenticAi Russell Smyth Richie Paul Barry Ramirez Dev Mookerjee James Cleaver Sarra Swami Jayanth (Jay) Jagadeesan Sena Nallasenapathi Periasamy Surabhi S. Gaurav Goswami Clifford Patrao Shamindra Basu Mahidhar Surapaneni Sachin Mudholkar Srinivasan Chary Francesco Brenna Manish Goyal Suranjan Nandi Roger Yu Elisa Lin Tarun Sharma Hyun-Jung Kim Paranee Reymondon Selvi R Priscilla Kim Bonnie Chan Boris Jelic Balakrishnan Sreenivasan Harish Bharti Anup kumar Derek Chan Tara Sims Elizabeth Goergen

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Unveiling CCCS’s AI Markets (AIM) Toolkit at that 11th ASEAN Competition Conference: https://lnkd.in/gZwwQBtw Developed in partnership with the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA), the AIM toolkit is a voluntary self-assessment tool that helps businesses evaluate their artificial intelligence models and practices for competition and consumer protection compliance through process checks and technical tests. #CCCS, #Celebrate20, #MakingMarketsWorkWell

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Singapore has been busy. Google, Microsoft, Oracle, Alibaba, BHP, Accenture, PwC, and Prudential have all opened AI labs, research centres, and innovation hubs here in the last 12 months alone. The two main goals of nearly all of them are developing talent and resolving actual business issues. That’s not a coincidence. Singapore is turning into an interesting place to look at if you're considering the intersection of AI, capability-building, and real-world implementation. #AI #Singapore #DigitalInnovation #TalentDevelopment #AIEcosystem #TechLeadership

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AI won’t fix your operational bottlenecks unless your team knows how to use it right. 💡 80% of companies have launched AI projects in SG&A. ❌ But 60% fail to hit their financial goals. Why? A lack of strategy, skills, and realistic expectations. What sets top performers apart? A clear roadmap and a skilled workforce. 📘If you’re working on digital transformation in finance, HR, procurement, or operations, this is a must-read: https://okt.to/tK9c05 #AI #CorporatePerformance #RolandBerger #DigitalTransformation

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Last week, I had the privilege to join the Google Cloud AI Agents Live + Labs Taipei as a panelist — alongside inspiring leaders from E.SUN Bank and 17LIVE, and moderated by Harry Lin, VP of Technology, Google Cloud Taiwan. As BCG’s Asia Pacific Leader for AI in Operations, I shared insights distilled from years of helping organizations turn AI and GenAI strategies into real business impact. At BCG, we see three distinct pathways for enterprises to advance in AI: ✅ Deploy – embedding AI into existing processes to drive immediate efficiency. ✅ Reshape – redesigning the operating model to capture AI’s full potential. ✅ Invent – creating new business models powered by AI capabilities. But the real challenge isn’t technology — it’s people. Successful transformation requires: 💡 Rethinking processes and operating models 💡 Reshaping talent — building new hybrid profiles who blend business operations expertise with AI opportunity-sensing 💡 Adjusting organizational structures to sustain these new ways of working It was inspiring to discuss how we can bridge strategic vision and practical execution in the era of AI agents. Read more from https://lnkd.in/eE98UcbE 上週，我很榮幸受邀參與 Google Cloud AI Agents Live + Labs Taipei 活動，與 玉山銀行資訊長謝萬里先生、17LIVE 資深技術副總徐永吉先生 一同對談，由 Google Cloud 台灣技術副總經理林士傑 (Harry Lin) 主持。 身為 波士頓顧問公司（BCG）亞太區 AI in Operations 負責人，我分享了多年協助企業 將 AI 與生成式 AI (GenAI) 從策略落地、創造實際價值 的經驗與觀察。 我們看到企業推進 AI 的三種典型模式： ✅  Deploy（導入） —— 將 AI 植入現有流程，提升效率 ✅  Reshape（重塑） —— 重新設計營運模式，以 AI 為核心優化 ✅  Invent（創造） —— 圍繞 AI 能力打造全新的商業模式 但真正的挑戰不在技術，而在人。成功的 AI 轉型需要： 💡 重新設計流程與營運模式 💡 重塑人才結構 —— 培養兼具業務洞察與 AI 應用思維的新型人才 💡 調整組織架構，以支撐新的運作方式 很高興能與業界領袖們共同探討，如何在代理型 AI 的時代中，將宏觀策略轉化為具體行動。 #GoogleCloud #AI #GenAI #AIAgents #Operations #DigitalTransformation #Leadership #BCG

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𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐈 | 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐓 2025   A big thank you to Deloitte Singapore for hosting an outstanding Deloitte ConnecT 2025.   It was a privilege to take the stage alongside industry leaders to explore how technology – especially Agentic AI – is redefining the way we work.   Special thanks to Chris Lewis for moderating our session with clarity and energy, and to Eric Kong and Laurent Herviou for your thoughtful insights on scaling enterprise AI in Singapore.    It was a pleasure to connect and learn with you.   In my session, I shared how Agentic AI is transforming work, moving beyond traditional automation to intelligent collaboration. A few key takeaways:   ➡️ 𝑨𝑰 𝑨𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝑫𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔. Far more than automation tools, agents act across platforms and custom apps as intelligent co-workers. ➡️ 𝑨𝑰-𝑫𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝑶𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏. Agents now initiate workflows, detect issues, run root cause analysis, and resolve them – all without human intervention. ➡️ 𝑪𝒐-𝑪𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒈𝒎. With GenAI + Agentic AI, users describe their needs in plain language. Agents generate the scripts, workflows, and integrations, thus democratising workflow creation. ➡️ 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒍-𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑰𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒕. At one client, AI agents are transforming HR by personalising onboarding, triaging requests, and accelerating resolutions. Next up: IT – with self-healing systems and proactive incident response. ➡️ 𝑹𝑶𝑰 𝑩𝒆𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒐𝒔𝒕. Leading organisations are measuring value through time saved, complexity reduced, and improved experience – tying AI directly to business outcomes.   I also shared how ServiceNow’s Now Platform is evolving into an Agentic platform where AI agents serve as users, orchestrators, and co-designers.    It’s a shift from static workflows to dynamic, intelligent automation ecosystems that unlock scale and speed.   We are entering a future where enterprise platforms are intelligent, proactive, and nearly invisible – and where AI agents drive transformation, not just automation.   The next 24–48 months will be pivotal. I’m excited to see how we build this future together.   Let’s keep the conversation going!

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