KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 2): Censof Holdings Bhd (KL:CENSOF) has hired Jude Lopez to a newly created role to drive the software firm’s artificial intelligence strategy, platform engineering and delivery.

Lopez will start as the chief artificial intelligence (AI) officer on Thursday, Censof said in an exchange filing. The appointment is part of Censof’s efforts to strengthen its subsidiaries’ offerings with AI features and create “cross-group synergies,” the firm said.

Censof’s AI strategy is designed not only to enhance compliance and efficiency, but also to create new revenue streams and improve margins across the company, Lopez said in a statement.

“By building on a unified AI offering, we can scale innovations quickly, reduce costs and strengthen our competitive edge,” he added.

Lopez, who has nearly 30 years of experience in enterprise technology, is the chief operating officer of Censof's subsidiary Cognitive Consulting Sdn Bhd that touts specialisation in robotic process automation, AI and machine learning.

His stint also includes various roles at global information technology firms including Oracle, as its country manager; and Sun Microsystems, as its sales director.

Censof aims to deliver AI features within its financial management solutions for government, covering intelligent financial analytics, fraud detection, and the rollout of “Intelligent Advisors,” the company said in a statement.

Planned initiatives targeting private sectors, meanwhile, include AI-driven automation, compliance and e-invoicing, as well as related applications in wealth management and digital tech.

The company said it is also planning to establish an AI Centre of Excellence and a cross-functional governance committee to support execution and talent development across the group.

“Our clients expect technology that doesn’t just sound innovative but delivers measurable results,” said managing director Ameer Shaik Mydin. “The appointment of a chief AI officer accelerates our plan to embed AI across every product line.”

Note: The article has been amended for accuracy.