o9 Solutions appoints Dr. Ashwin Rao as CTO in a strategic leadership move that reinforces the company's commitment to advancing enterprise AI and next-generation decision intelligence. The promotion reflects o9's focus on accelerating innovation through its AI-powered Digital Brain platform and expanding the capabilities of its APEX operating model to help enterprises navigate increasingly complex business environments.

Dr. Ashwin Rao takes on the Chief Technology Officer role after serving as Executive Vice President of Next-Gen AI and Technology since joining o9 Solutions in late 2025. During his tenure, he played a critical role in shaping the company's AI strategy and leading the development of advanced enterprise technologies that combine artificial intelligence with domain-specific business intelligence. His promotion recognizes both his technical expertise and his leadership in driving innovation across the organization.

One of Dr. Rao's most significant contributions has been the advancement of APEX, which stands for Agile, Adaptive, Autonomous Planning and Execution. The platform represents o9's vision for the future of enterprise planning by enabling organizations to make faster, smarter, and more autonomous business decisions. Built on the company's Digital Brain platform, APEX is designed to improve enterprise planning, execution, and transformation through AI-powered intelligence and continuous learning.

The APEX model extends the capabilities of the Digital Brain platform by addressing one of the most pressing challenges facing modern enterprises—managing change in volatile and uncertain business conditions. Rather than focusing solely on improving planning technology, the platform aims to transform organizational processes, decision-making frameworks, workforce capabilities, and operational models. This holistic approach enables companies to adapt more effectively to evolving market demands while maximizing enterprise value.

A key differentiator behind APEX is its use of neuro-symbolic AI. This innovative approach combines the pattern-recognition strengths of neural networks with the structured intelligence of o9's Enterprise Knowledge Graph. By integrating these technologies, the platform can understand complex enterprise relationships, analyze operational data, identify business risks, and recommend optimized actions with greater accuracy than conventional AI models.

Since joining o9, Dr. Rao has also strengthened the company's technology organization by recruiting experienced architects and accelerating research and development initiatives. His leadership has helped expand next-generation AI capabilities throughout the platform, enabling enterprises to automate repetitive processes while supporting more informed strategic decision-making. The company's continued investment in AI innovation demonstrates its ambition to remain at the forefront of enterprise planning technology.

Before joining o9 Solutions, Dr. Rao built an impressive career spanning academia, financial services, retail, and artificial intelligence. He previously held leadership positions at QXO, Target, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley, where he developed AI, quantitative analytics, and algorithmic trading solutions. In addition to his corporate experience, he serves as an adjunct professor at Stanford University's Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering, where he teaches graduate-level courses and conducts research focused on artificial intelligence and reinforcement learning.

The promotion also reflects o9 Solutions' broader strategy to strengthen enterprise decision intelligence in the age of AI. Businesses today face growing uncertainty caused by economic volatility, supply chain disruptions, changing customer expectations, and rapidly evolving technologies. Through AI-driven planning platforms like APEX, organizations can continuously evaluate operational performance, detect value leakage, optimize workflows, and improve collaboration across business functions.

Company leadership believes Dr. Rao's combination of technical expertise, enterprise knowledge, and AI research will further accelerate innovation for customers worldwide. His work bridges advanced machine learning with practical enterprise applications, helping organizations transform data into actionable insights while improving planning accuracy, operational resilience, and long-term business performance.

As Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Rao will lead o9 Solutions' technology vision and oversee the continued evolution of its AI-powered Digital Brain platform. His appointment positions the company to expand its capabilities in autonomous enterprise planning, intelligent decision-making, and AI-driven business transformation. With growing demand for advanced enterprise AI solutions, o9 Solutions aims to deliver faster innovation and greater value creation for organizations across multiple industries.

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