Atlanta based regulatory solutions company OneTrust has appointed John Heyman as chief executive officer, marking a leadership transition as the company positions itself for its next phase of growth in data and AI governance. Founder Kabir Barday will remain involved in a strategic advisory capacity through his role on the board.
The change follows what the company describes as strong performance in the fiscal year ended January 31, 2026, and comes as demand rises for governance frameworks that can support enterprise AI adoption. As Barday noted, “Growing adoption of AI across organizations has led to massive demand for OneTrust solutions that help enable the responsible use of data and AI.” He characterised the moment as a turning point for the business, adding: “This is a pivotal time to bring on a new CEO who can harness this momentum and drive OneTrust’s next chapter of growth.”
Heyman steps into the role with prior CEO experience at Radiant Systems and Snap One, where he led both companies through periods of expansion and public listings. His mandate at OneTrust centres on scaling what it terms its AI-Ready Governance platform at a time when enterprises are reassessing how data management, privacy, and AI oversight intersect. “It’s rare to come across an opportunity like OneTrust–a company that has built a strong foundation, achieved scale, and positioned itself to define one of the most important emerging markets with AI-Ready Governance,” Heyman said. He added that “OneTrust’s mission to enable innovation through the responsible use of data and AI has never been more critical.”
The broader context is a market in which AI governance is moving from policy discussion to operational requirement. Organisations are under pressure to demonstrate accountability, transparency and control over AI-enabled processes, particularly as regulatory scrutiny intensifies across jurisdictions. In that environment, platforms that combine data governance, privacy management and AI oversight are becoming embedded in core risk and compliance architectures.
Board member Thomas Laffont, co-founder of Coatue, framed the opportunity in infrastructure terms: “AI has created a once-in-a-generation opportunity for OneTrust to become mission-critical infrastructure – the governance layer every organization needs for data and AI. We are proud to continue to be a significant investor in the company through this evolution.” He added that “John’s experience innovating, transforming, and driving company growth at pivotal market moments positions OneTrust well to execute on the opportunity ahead.”
The transition signals continuity in strategy, with Barday remaining engaged at board level, but also an intent to operationalise growth around AI governance at scale. For customers, the focus remains on enabling innovation while maintaining control over data and AI risk – an agenda that is becoming central to enterprise technology strategy.
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