Key Takeaways
• CIPD appoints AI strategist Danilo McGarry to guide ethical and effective AI integration in HR
• McGarry will advise on tools, policies, and frameworks to support HR professionals navigating AI adoption
• His role includes contributing to the UK’s government-backed BridgeAI program for ethical AI use in business
• The move responds to rising concern among leaders, with 61% reporting difficulty navigating AI in the workplace
CIPD Appoints Danilo McGarry as AI Adviser to Guide Ethical Workforce Innovation
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has appointed Danilo McGarry, a prominent artificial intelligence and digital transformation expert, as its strategic adviser on AI.
The appointment is designed to strengthen the institute’s ability to support HR professionals as organizations across sectors adopt artificial intelligence at an accelerating pace.
According to CIPD’s 2024 member survey, 61% of senior business leaders reported difficulty understanding or navigating AI adoption within their companies—underscoring the urgency of providing trusted, actionable guidance for the HR profession.
Strategic Role and Scope of Responsibility
Danilo McGarry, previously head of AI at Citigroup and UnitedHealth Group, brings deep experience in large-scale AI implementation and training. At CIPD, his role spans multiple strategic priorities:
• Advising on development of tools, support materials, and policy guidance for HR professionals
• Shaping research into AI’s impact on people, work models, and organizational structure
• Contributing to CIPD’s internal AI adoption strategy and governance frameworks
McGarry will also play a key role in the UK government’s BridgeAI programme, a cross-sector initiative focused on responsible AI adoption in businesses.
This includes work on frameworks for ethical use, research on AI’s organizational impact, and defining evolving employer skills needs in an AI-driven labor market.
Insights from Danilo McGarry and CIPD Leadership
McGarry’s appointment reflects CIPD’s recognition that artificial intelligence is not simply a technology issue—it is a transformative force impacting how organizations structure work, evaluate performance, and define future roles.
“I look forward to helping support the people profession in its role in delivering on the great potential for AI to help create better jobs and working environments for people and positive outcomes for organizations, while also understanding and mitigating the risks.”
CIPD CEO Peter Cheese emphasized the broader implications of AI integration and the profession’s responsibility to ensure its ethical use in the workplace.
“The rapid acceleration of AI presents many challenges and opportunities for employers, and we’re likely to see significant shifts in how work is done and the types of work people do. This is a significant agenda and opportunity for the people profession, which we want to encourage and support. Through our work with Danilo, we’ll continue to support organizations with responsible and ethical AI adoption, ensuring it is implemented in ways that drive business performance and help create good work for people.”
Broader Context: Addressing AI Anxiety in the Workplace
This appointment is timely. Across sectors, employers are already deploying AI in areas including:
• Talent acquisition, candidate screening, and employee performance analytics
• Workforce planning, training recommendations, and retention prediction
• Operational automation and risk monitoring in compliance-sensitive industries
Yet many HR leaders lack the technical confidence or policy frameworks to guide this transformation responsibly. CIPD’s proactive stance, combined with McGarry’s expertise, aims to close this readiness gap—ensuring that AI adoption enhances both organizational outcomes and employee experience.
CIPD’s decision to bring on a dedicated AI strategist signals a fundamental shift in how human resources is expected to operate in the AI era. It reflects a recognition that HR teams must lead not react in shaping ethical, inclusive, and productive use of AI at work.
With McGarry’s guidance, CIPD intends to equip HR professionals with the tools, insights, and confidence to manage AI’s challenges and unlock its potential—while protecting the human element at the core of every organization.
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