What the DataIQ 100 tells us about where data strategy and AI leadership is heading
- William Beresford
- 57 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The launch of the DataIQ 100 Europe 2026 provides a useful snapshot of how data, data strategy and AI leadership is evolving across organisations.
The 2026 cohort spans regulators, retailers, global brands, infrastructure providers and public services. It includes data strategy leaders from the Ministry of Defence, NHS England, Unilever, British Airways, Shell, LVMH and The LEGO Group, and of course our very own Paul Alexander!
Across sectors, the common theme is accountability. Data strategy and AI are increasingly tied to operational outcomes, commercial performance and public value.
This reflects what we continue to see in our work at Beyond: Putting Data to Work. Organisations making progress are those embedding data and AI into leadership, governance and decision-making. Insight earns its place when it influences priorities, trade-offs and behaviour at scale.
A shift towards decision ownership
One of the clearest signals from this year’s DataIQ 100 is the emphasis on decision ownership. Many leaders recognised in 2026 operate across analytics, operations and executive leadership. Their focus is not insight production in isolation. It is the design of decision systems that shape everyday action.
This is particularly visible in sectors where risk, cost and public impact are tightly linked. In these environments, data is expected to inform choices directly and consistently, rather than sit alongside them.
Signals for the next phase of data strategy leadership
The 2026 DataIQ 100 highlights a growing focus on integration. As AI agents move into live operational environments, organisations are giving greater attention to how humans, AI systems and governance frameworks work together.
This brings renewed focus to responsibility, oversight and trust. Data leadership increasingly involves shaping how decisions are made, reviewed and owned across the organisation.
Join us at DataIQ Live
The DataIQ Top 10 will be announced live on 5 March at the Science Museum. Paul will be attending and hosting a roundtable discussion focused on the convergence of AI agents, human decision-makers and governance frameworks, and where value is created in practice.
If you would like to attend drop us a line!
Read the full DataIQ Top 100 here: https://www.dataiq.global/2026-dataiq-100-europe-enablers/
