Progress Appoints Ed Keisling as Chief AI Officer to Drive AI Strategy

Progress, a global software company, has appointed Ed Keisling as its Chief AI Officer (CAIO), a newly created role aimed at advancing the company’s AI strategy and enhancing its product portfolio. Keisling will report directly to CEO Yogesh Gupta.

Keisling previously served as senior vice president of engineering for infrastructure management at Progress, where he played a key role in driving innovation and improving operational efficiency. 

His extensive experience includes executive leadership roles in system architecture, cloud computing, and infrastructure management. He was part of the leadership team at Vecna Technologies, overseeing engineering, IT, DevOps, support, program management, and analytics. He also spent over 17 years in senior engineering roles at Pegasystems.

Emphasising the significance of AI in redefining business operations, Keisling stated, “Our customers rely on Progress to power and solve mission-critical parts of their business, and AI is redefining how these solutions evolve. With recent advancements in AI, the pace of innovation is accelerating, removing traditional barriers to adoption.”

He added that Progress has been offering AI capabilities within its products for years and has passionate teams already focused on this space. And he is excited to further develop and lead this charge ensuring their customers have the tools, processes, and expertise to fully leverage AI’s transformative potential and drive even further value with their products.

Beyond his corporate roles, Keisling is actively involved in mentoring and supporting engineering development programs, including the UNH Pathways Program and the MIT Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program (UPOP), where he serves as a mentor and presenter.

Gupta said, “Ed is a transformational technology leader with over three decades of experience leading and driving change. Here at Progress, he has been instrumental in advancing our AI vision and innovation efforts. His ability to bridge engineering execution with strategic business goals has been evident throughout his career. Ed is shaping our AI-first approach as we align our product offerings to the rapidly evolving needs of our customers.”

With a strong focus on AI-driven digital experience and infrastructure software, Progress continues to deliver AI-powered solutions to its global customer base. 

Demand for AI Roles

As AI continues to be the centre of business strategy, the Chief AI Officer (CAIO) is now a new executive role becoming essential in corporate boardrooms. This position is emerging as a critical leader, shaping AI-driven transformation and steering companies toward a future where intelligent systems are integral to success.

According to Dell’s research in 2024, nearly 20% of organisations worldwide have designated a central team or leader to drive their AI strategy. Meanwhile, a LinkedIn report revealed a skyrocketing demand for AI leadership, with “Head of AI” roles tripling in the past five years, highlighting the growing recognition that AI needs dedicated oversight at the highest levels.