Ryan Bulkoski

Partner

Ryan Bulkoski is a global managing partner in Heidrick’s San Francisco office. He leads the firm’s AI & Data Practice globally and co-leads the AI & Technology Officers Practice. He advises boards, CEOs, founders, and investors on leadership matters related to artificial intelligence, data, and emerging technologies.

Contact

Ryan's expertise

Experience

Ryan’s clients include Fortune 500, venture-backed, and private equity-owned companies. His functional search experience spans AI, data, technology, CEO, and board leadership roles, including chief AI officer, chief data officer, chief analytics officer, chief technology officer, and AI operating partner assignments.

Ryan is a frequent commentator on AI leadership, executive talent, and technology trends. He regularly authors research and market insights on emerging executive roles, organizational design, and leadership in the age of artificial intelligence. His work includes the annual Europe and U.S. Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence Executive Organization and Compensation Survey, a leading study of executive leadership structures and compensation trends in AI and data.

His perspectives have been featured in leading business and technology publications, including CNBC, CNET, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and other media outlets. Ryan is an avid ultrarunner and has completed more than 30 long-distance races.

Education

Case Western Reserve University, Bachelor’s Degree in Management

Thought Leadership

Insights by Ryan Bulkoski

View all insights

AI and Data Analytics

A new strategic imperative in private equity: The AI operating partner

Ryan Bulkoski | Austin Cowan

Private equity funds that include operating partners with skilled, strategic AI perspectives at the portfolio level have an immense competitive advantage—those that don’t risk leaving millions of dollars on the table.

INSIGHTS

Key insights: Heidrick CPO Summit

Jennifer Wilson | Brad Warga | Christie Smith, PhD | Dr. Leah Houde | Ryan Bulkoski

Grounded in insights from the Heidrick CPO Summit, this article shows how the best leaders create clarity amid enduring uncertainty. The CPO’s influence is rising as AI transforms work, and success now depends on fair AI adoption, strong succession pipelines, and performance-focused hybrid work cultures.

INSIGHTS

The most valuable Physical AI leaders won’t be defined by tech credentials alone

Ryan Bulkoski

Winning with Physical AI requires leaders who bridge technology and operations. Explore the leadership capabilities driving AI transformation at scale.

INSIGHTS

CPO focus: Leadership essentials for an AI-enabled HR function

Dorothy Badie | Ryan Bulkoski | Christina Cary

Human resources leaders are at the center of the AI capability gap, responsible for both managing the workforce’s adoption of AI and upskilling themselves and their function. Our work and discussions with seven HR leaders highlight three leadership essentials that can help their peers unlock their AI potential.

INSIGHTS

AI focus | VP of AI Workforce Transformation: The newest addition to senior leadership teams

Brian Kropp | Jennifer Wilson | Brad Warga | Ryan Bulkoski

Companies are starting to hire a dedicated senior leader to convert AI adoption into workforce value. How can CEOs and CHROs decide if they need the role, and what should it look like if they do?

INSIGHTS

AI focus: How boards are finding expertise to chart the unknown

Ryan Bulkoski

As AI continues to reshape the world, the need for specialist expertise in the boardroom is becoming more pressing. Boards around the world are taking several steps to plug their growing AI knowledge gap.

INSIGHTS

AI and leadership: How finance, HR, and technology leaders are collaborating to make the most of AI across the enterprise

Ryan Bulkoski | Jaimee Eddington | Katherine Shannon | Brad Warga

When leaders of these key functions work together effectively, their companies are more able to benefit from implementing AI. Focusing on three areas will help keep progress going.

report

AI’s impact on professional services: 5 questions every executive must ask

Gustavo Alba | Ryan Bulkoski

It’s not a matter of whether your firm will integrate AI but when and at what depth. Making AI work for you is critical to develop and maintain competitive advantage. In order to prepare, here are five questions we think are most critical to ask.

report

2025 Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence Officers Compensation Survey

Ryan Bulkoski

Our fifth annual report examines compensation for executives with artificial intelligence or data analytics responsibilities.

INSIGHTS

2025 Artificial Intelligence, Data, and Analytics Officers Artificial Intelligence Report

Ryan Bulkoski

An examination of how organizations structure, govern, and reward AI leadership highlights evolving governance and operating models.

report

2023 Europe and US Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence Executive Organization and Compensation Survey

Ryan Bulkoski | Frédéric Groussolles

Our third annual report examines both organizational structure and compensation for executive roles with artificial intelligence, machine learning, or data analytics responsibilities.

report

2021 Europe and US Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence Executive Organization and Compensation Survey

Ryan Bulkoski | Kristin van der Sande

Heidrick's first annual survey of data, analytics, and artificial intelligence executives examines both organizational structure and compensation for roles with these responsibilities.

report

2024 Global Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence Executive Organization and Compensation Survey

Ryan Bulkoski | Brittany Gregory | Frédéric Groussolles

Our fourth annual report examines both organizational structure and compensation for executive roles around the world with artificial intelligence, machine learning, or data analytics responsibilities.

report

2022 Europe and US Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence Executive Organization and Compensation Survey

Ryan Bulkoski | Kristin van der Sande

Our second annual report examines both organizational structure and compensation for executive roles with artificial intelligence and/or data analytics responsibilities.

AI and Data Analytics
A new strategic imperative in private equity: The AI operating partner
Ryan Bulkoski | Austin Cowan
Private equity funds that include operating partners with skilled, strategic AI perspectives at the portfolio level have an immense competitive advantage—those that don’t risk leaving millions of dollars on the table.
Read More
INSIGHTS
Key insights: Heidrick CPO Summit
Jennifer Wilson | Brad Warga | Christie Smith, PhD | Dr. Leah Houde | Ryan Bulkoski
Grounded in insights from the Heidrick CPO Summit, this article shows how the best leaders create clarity amid enduring uncertainty. The CPO’s influence is rising as AI transforms work, and success now depends on fair AI adoption, strong succession pipelines, and performance-focused hybrid work cultures.
Read More
INSIGHTS
The most valuable Physical AI leaders won’t be defined by tech credentials alone
Ryan Bulkoski
Winning with Physical AI requires leaders who bridge technology and operations. Explore the leadership capabilities driving AI transformation at scale.
Read More
INSIGHTS
CPO focus: Leadership essentials for an AI-enabled HR function
Dorothy Badie | Ryan Bulkoski | Christina Cary
Human resources leaders are at the center of the AI capability gap, responsible for both managing the workforce’s adoption of AI and upskilling themselves and their function. Our work and discussions with seven HR leaders highlight three leadership essentials that can help their peers unlock their AI potential.
Read More
INSIGHTS
AI focus | VP of AI Workforce Transformation: The newest addition to senior leadership teams
Brian Kropp | Jennifer Wilson | Brad Warga | Ryan Bulkoski
Companies are starting to hire a dedicated senior leader to convert AI adoption into workforce value. How can CEOs and CHROs decide if they need the role, and what should it look like if they do?
Read More
INSIGHTS
AI focus: How boards are finding expertise to chart the unknown
Ryan Bulkoski
As AI continues to reshape the world, the need for specialist expertise in the boardroom is becoming more pressing. Boards around the world are taking several steps to plug their growing AI knowledge gap.
Read More
INSIGHTS
AI and leadership: How finance, HR, and technology leaders are collaborating to make the most of AI across the enterprise
Ryan Bulkoski | Jaimee Eddington | Katherine Shannon | Brad Warga
When leaders of these key functions work together effectively, their companies are more able to benefit from implementing AI. Focusing on three areas will help keep progress going.
Read More
report
AI’s impact on professional services: 5 questions every executive must ask
Gustavo Alba | Ryan Bulkoski
It’s not a matter of whether your firm will integrate AI but when and at what depth. Making AI work for you is critical to develop and maintain competitive advantage. In order to prepare, here are five questions we think are most critical to ask.
Read More
report
2025 Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence Officers Compensation Survey
Ryan Bulkoski
Our fifth annual report examines compensation for executives with artificial intelligence or data analytics responsibilities.
Read More
INSIGHTS
2025 Artificial Intelligence, Data, and Analytics Officers Artificial Intelligence Report
Ryan Bulkoski
An examination of how organizations structure, govern, and reward AI leadership highlights evolving governance and operating models.
Read More
report
2023 Europe and US Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence Executive Organization and Compensation Survey
Ryan Bulkoski | Frédéric Groussolles
Our third annual report examines both organizational structure and compensation for executive roles with artificial intelligence, machine learning, or data analytics responsibilities.
Read More
report
2021 Europe and US Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence Executive Organization and Compensation Survey
Ryan Bulkoski | Kristin van der Sande
Heidrick's first annual survey of data, analytics, and artificial intelligence executives examines both organizational structure and compensation for roles with these responsibilities.
Read More
report
2024 Global Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence Executive Organization and Compensation Survey
Ryan Bulkoski | Brittany Gregory | Frédéric Groussolles
Our fourth annual report examines both organizational structure and compensation for executive roles around the world with artificial intelligence, machine learning, or data analytics responsibilities.
Read More
report
2022 Europe and US Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence Executive Organization and Compensation Survey
Ryan Bulkoski | Kristin van der Sande
Our second annual report examines both organizational structure and compensation for executive roles with artificial intelligence and/or data analytics responsibilities.
Read More

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