La Fosse is proud to have partnered with Avantia Group, a high-growth home insurance platform and the parent company behind Homeprotect, an award-winning direct-to-consumer insurance brand, to appoint Saurabh Johri as AI Advisor.
The search, led by Kirsten Coleman at La Fosse Executive, combined a sharp understanding of the AI and data talent landscape with access to a highly curated network of senior AI leaders. With a focus on driving real business outcomes while enabling future-facing innovation, the process was fast-paced and outcome-driven, resulting in the appointment of a leader uniquely positioned to deliver both commercial impact and visionary thinking.
We are thrilled to have placed Saurabh Johri, a proven AI leader with a rare blend of deep technical expertise and real-world delivery at scale. From re-architecting AI platforms for high-growth companies to pioneering generative AI solutions and founding his own consultancy, Saurabh brings a visionary mindset and operational excellence to his new role.
Saurabh Johri, Founder at Depend.AI, on joining Avantia:
“Avantia stands out for its strategic commitment to staying ahead as an AI-first business, not just adopting tools but architecting and building for intelligence at the core of its operations. I’ve spent most of my career innovating and working on Novel AI/ML architectures, AI Platforms and pioneering products, including assistants and co-pilots that broke new ground, helping companies harness the latest breakthroughs to solve real-world problems. I am delighted to work with forward-thinking organisations such as Avantia, with the ambition to turn advances in Generative AI into scalable, production-ready systems that deliver meaningful impact.”
Dan Huddart, CTO at Avantia Group, shared his thoughts on the appointment:
“Back in 2016 we knew insurance software was lagging behind other industries, and this was most starkly true in the application of AI. Avantia had a bold vision and so we built the capability to use AI to intelligently interact with all the key touchpoints in our business. This investment in innovation has been key to our accelerating growth.
“As early adopters of AI, we compare ourselves to the most advanced companies and technology solutions in the world. We searched for an advisor from outside the insurance industry and have been impressed with the fresh thinking and expertise that Saurabh was able to bring from his experience in other sectors in the US. We’re delighted to have him onboard to help shape our AI strategy and to look at how we can unlock the benefits for our customers and our future business growth.”
Kirsten Coleman, Senior Data & AI Search Consultant at La Fosse Executive, added:
“This was one of those rare searches that felt like shaping the future, not just filling a role. Avantia Group had a bold vision for how AI could drive their next stage of growth, and it was clear they needed more than just technical expertise. They were looking for a strategic partner who could contribute experience from other industries and operate at every level within their business. It was a privilege to work closely with Dan and the team to deliver a leader as forward-thinking and impactful as Saurabh.”