EVP – International Strategy — Machine-Learning Infrastructure Stack

The mandate

The investment committee has withheld further expansion pending clarity on international expansion that lacks explicit market-entry gates within a institutionally backed enterprise artificial-intelligence products company. The immediate arena is the machine-learning infrastructure stack during a research-to-product transition. For mandate 177, the successful executive inherits decisions that have been deferred, competing stakeholder expectations and a need to establish facts before committing further capital.

The EVP – International Strategy operating perimeter covers approximately CHF 1,100 million in AI product and services revenue, with activity spanning several machine-learning infrastructure stack customer, product and delivery clusters rather than a single asset. The EVP – International Strategy Artificial Intelligence remit carries direct influence over roughly 450 colleagues and third-party capacity.

The group board and the relevant risk and people committees want a EVP – International Strategy who can convert ambiguity into a short list of explicit choices for the machine-learning infrastructure stack. The EVP – International Strategy Artificial Intelligence seat must resolve a research-to-product transition, while preserving the underlying strengths of the machine-learning infrastructure stack. For mandate 177, value will come through sharper allocation, stronger leaders and an operating cadence that exposes variance early.

The EVP – International Strategy’s first year on the machine-learning infrastructure stack is expected to end with capital-efficient entry, partnership choices and timely exits. In mandate 177, authority covers resources and leadership appointments; material trade-offs go directly to the board sponsor.

Why this seat is open

This is a newly created EVP – International Strategy — Machine-Learning Infrastructure Stack seat, established because a research-to-product transition now requires one accountable executive rather than distributed ownership. The board has classified the appointment as urgent and intends to move from qualified shortlist to offer within 6–8 weeks. Interim governance protects the machine-learning infrastructure stack, but it is not a substitute for a permanent appointee. The external search remains confidential to avoid unnecessary disruption before the appointment is agreed.

What you will own

• Set the EVP – International Strategy value-creation thesis for the machine-learning infrastructure stack, translate it into no more than five enterprise priorities and stop work that does not support them.
• Carry stewardship of approximately CHF 1,100 million in AI product and services revenue, including allocation, risk acceptance and board forecasts.
• Lead the EVP – International Strategy Artificial Intelligence organisation of about 450 employees and partners, appointing a team with clear decision rights and credible succession for every critical seat.
• Resolve the machine-learning infrastructure stack economics and execution constraints created by a research-to-product transition, with EVP – International Strategy-approved owners, dated milestones and transparent escalation thresholds.
• Establish one EVP – International Strategy operating review across commercial, customer, financial, people, technology and risk outcomes for the machine-learning infrastructure stack; remove reconciliations that obscure accountability.
• Demonstrate enterprise authority across functions and markets, with outcomes visible in cash, customers or controlled risk in mandate 177.
• Build the EVP – International Strategy’s three-year succession and capability plan for the machine-learning infrastructure stack, reducing dependence on individual executives and improving mobility across the wider Artificial Intelligence organisation.

The first 12 months

• Days 1–90: Validate the machine-learning infrastructure stack baseline, meet the 30 stakeholders most consequential to international expansion that lacks explicit market-entry gates, assess the leadership team, stabilise immediate delivery risks and agree a board-owned scorecard with explicit decision gates.
• Months 4–9: Make the principal EVP – International Strategy portfolio and organisation choices for the machine-learning infrastructure stack, install the new operating cadence, fill critical leadership gaps and deliver the first measurable release of cash, capacity or customer value.
• Months 10–12: Demonstrate a repeatable machine-learning infrastructure stack trend against capital-efficient entry, partnership choices and timely exits, lock the following year’s capital and talent plan, evidence control sustainability and present a credible three-year value case with downside actions.

What the board will measure

• Delivery of the EVP – International Strategy’s agreed first-year machine-learning infrastructure stack value case within a 10% tolerance, with variance explained before rather than after the relevant quarter closes.
• A EVP – International Strategy forecast that remains decision-useful across three consecutive quarters and reconciles the machine-learning infrastructure stack’s operating, cash, customer and people assumptions.
• Closure of the EVP – International Strategy mandate’s highest-priority machine-learning infrastructure stack risk and execution issues by their board-approved dates, with independent evidence that fixes are sustained.
• Retention of at least 90% of critical machine-learning infrastructure stack talent and ready-now successors for at least 70% of the EVP – International Strategy’s direct reports.
• A quantified EVP – International Strategy-owned improvement in the machine-learning infrastructure stack operating constraint behind a research-to-product transition, supported by a clean baseline and named data owner.
• Clear stakeholder confidence in mandate 177: no unresolved high-severity escalation older than 30 days and no material surprise withheld from its agreed governance forum.

The person

You are currently a EVP Strategy, International Development Head or CSO in a institutionally backed Artificial Intelligence or adjacent enterprise. In relation to the machine-learning infrastructure stack, your EVP – International Strategy track record includes a transition where the original plan was no longer sufficient; you can explain your choices, evidence and numerical impact. Candidates from AI, enterprise software, data infrastructure, cloud, analytics or applied research will be considered where the operating model, customer stakes and governance intensity match this EVP – International Strategy brief.

As a EVP – International Strategy candidate, you bring 22–28 years of progressive Artificial Intelligence or adjacent-sector experience, consistent with the 22-28 experience band. At minimum, you have carried a P&L, book, budget or accountable portfolio of CHF 900 million and led an organisation of at least 325 people.

For mandate 177, the board wants two transitions: a difficult machine-learning infrastructure stack portfolio choice and a leadership-system change during a research-to-product transition. As the prospective EVP – International Strategy for this machine-learning infrastructure stack, you must challenge optimistic cases and still create followership. References for mandate 177 must distinguish your contribution from the institution around you.

The EVP – International Strategy must be based in Zurich; international relocation is supported, but this Artificial Intelligence role is not designed as a remote appointment.

Non-negotiables

• Current or recent accountability at the level of EVP Strategy, International Development Head or CSO, with direct exposure to a board, investment committee or equivalent Artificial Intelligence governance forum.
• Proven EVP – International Strategy ownership of at least CHF 900 million and leadership of no fewer than 325 employees in a comparable machine-learning infrastructure stack context.
• One completed Artificial Intelligence or adjacent-sector example of international expansion that lacks explicit market-entry gates with outcomes sustained for at least two reporting periods after the initial intervention.
• Sector credibility from AI, enterprise software, data infrastructure, cloud, analytics or applied research; experience that is purely functional and lacks EVP – International Strategy-level machine-learning infrastructure stack consequences will not meet the bar.
• Willingness to meet the Zurich location expectation, complete conflicts and background diligence, and protect the confidentiality of mandate 177.

Compensation and terms

The anticipated EVP – International Strategy package is CHF 320,000–430,000 base + annual incentive, calibrated to the final machine-learning infrastructure stack scope and the candidate’s current mix. Any long-term participation for mandate 177 follows standard vesting and performance conditions. The EVP – International Strategy appointment in Zurich, centred on the machine-learning infrastructure stack, offers regular exposure to the group board and the relevant risk and people committees. A notice period of up to 6 months can be accommodated for the selected executive in mandate 177.

Confidentiality

Client identity is withheld at this stage and will be disclosed under mutual confidentiality after an initial fit discussion for mandate 177. Rounded ranges and blended context prevent this document from being used to triangulate the organisation for mandate 177.