ProofID named Neil Evans as its first Chief AI Officer on July 9, 2026, creating a new executive position to lead the identity security company's shift to an AI-native model as it extends services across EMEA and the Americas. The move underscores how AI is reshaping the identity security market, where enterprises must now govern access for autonomous agents alongside human users.
Evans's background and mandate
Evans brings more than three decades of technology leadership, spanning software engineering, product development and executive management. Most recently, he led cloud and mobile engineering for Music Tribe's Midas Division. Before that, he spent five years as CTO for EMEA at UNICOM Global, where he directed emerging technology initiatives in natural language processing, artificial intelligence, machine learning and blockchain. He holds a Master of Engineering degree in Microelectronics Systems Engineering from the University of Manchester.
As Chief AI Officer, Evans joins ProofID's senior leadership team with responsibility for the company's AI strategy and the organizational and cultural changes needed to embed AI across operations. His remit includes commercial, operational and workforce initiatives, not just technology development. "This is a people-first transformation as much as a technical one," said Tom Eggleston, CEO of ProofID. "Technology is the enabler, but it's the mindset, behaviours and capability of our people that will determine whether we succeed in becoming AI-native, while staying true to who we are - the identity security specialist our customers already trust. Neil has spent his career leading exactly that kind of change, and he's the right person to drive it end-to-end."
Evans said, "This is a rare opportunity to lead a transformation from the inside - not just advising clients on how to become AI-native, but building that capability into ProofID itself. The technology is the easy part. The real work is bringing our people with us, so we can deliver AI-powered identity services at the level our customers expect."
ProofID's market position
ProofID, founded in 2014, specializes in identity security advisory, implementation and managed services for enterprise and mid-market organizations. It protects more than 260 million identities, supports over 100 million daily transactions and has completed more than 2,000 identity projects. The company serves more than 60 managed services clients worldwide through partnerships that include Ping Identity, SailPoint and Palo Alto Networks. Its headquarters are in Manchester, with an additional office in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The new role builds on ProofID's existing Agentic AI Enablement advisory practice, which helps organizations secure autonomous AI agents using their existing identity infrastructure. As enterprises deploy AI-powered systems more broadly, identity management has become central to governance, access control and cybersecurity.
The AI-native transformation
The AI-native operating model goes beyond adding AI features to existing products. ProofID's strategy involves rethinking how the company itself operates - from service delivery to workforce skills - so that AI becomes a foundational layer. Eggleston's comments highlight that the transformation will be measured by changes in behaviour and capability, not just technology adoption.
The appointment also signals Manchester's growing role as a hub for globally focused technology companies. By establishing a dedicated Chief AI Officer role, ProofID is positioning AI as a central element of its long-term growth strategy, both for its own operations and in the identity security services it offers to enterprises securing human users and AI-driven systems.
Why this matters for Executives and Strategy
For senior leaders, the creation of a Chief AI Officer role at a specialized company like ProofID is a tangible example of the shift toward AI-native business models - a topic explored in resources on AI for Executives & Strategy. The move shows that AI adoption in security is not just about tools but requires rethinking organizational structure, talent and culture. Executives in identity security, cybersecurity and IT services should watch how ProofID integrates AI internally, as it may offer a model for combining deep domain expertise with AI-native operations without sacrificing customer trust.
Your membership also unlocks:
