OneTrust CFO: AI is the 'cornerstone of excellent work'
OneTrust's new CFO Douglas Owens emphasized that AI has transformed from an efficiency tool into a strategic core. He plans to deeply integrate AI into finance and operations, drive 'disciplined growth,' and address customers' higher expectations for AI value.
One of the first priorities for new OneTrust CFO Douglas Owens is ensuring the platform team can properly leverage artificial intelligence—which he sees as "the cornerstone of excellent work."
Owens said in an email response to CFO Dive that the technology "is no longer just an add-on for productivity." According to a press release, Owens was appointed CFO of the Atlanta, Georgia-based AI governance platform in late April.
"My goal is to continuously embed AI into our operations, innovation, and scaling processes," Owens said. "Let the team leverage tools to amplify impact and turn efficiency into a competitive advantage."
Driving AI literacy
Owens, explaining why he chose OneTrust, a company providing risk, governance, and compliance software, said AI "is fundamentally changing how organizations operate, accelerating the speed and scale of enterprise data usage, and governance has become a critical business priority."
According to his LinkedIn profile, before joining OneTrust, Owens spent the last six years as Senior Vice President of Operations at Vista Equity Partners. His previous roles include CFO of PDI Software and CFO of the hospitality business unit at NCR Corporation.
The evolution of AI continues to spark discussions among finance leaders, who face pressure to do more with less—driving growth while navigating persistent economic pressures that could raise costs. AI has gradually permeated finance functions; according to a March survey by procure-to-pay software provider Yooz, 67% of finance professionals said they are "already using or piloting AI."
The survey also found that while 32% of respondents cited saving time on manual tasks as the top benefit, 33% said they have yet to see significant gains—echoing finance leaders' increasingly rigorous scrutiny of AI return on investment.
As tools continue to evolve, AI skills in finance functions are increasingly valued, and companies rely more on CFOs to drive business strategy. Owens said AI-equipped finance teams can "move faster and think more strategically." OneTrust's finance team already has "strong AI literacy and a clear understanding of how to become an AI-augmented team that moves the business forward."
"My goal is to position the finance team as a strategic partner and operational engine for the business," he said. "Beyond reporting results, our team can help the company accelerate, ultimately delivering better outcomes for customers."
Disciplined growth
The focus on strategic AI applications comes as the OneTrust platform seeks to continue expanding with a goal of "disciplined growth"—a phrase from the press release announcing his appointment on April 27. In Owens' view, disciplined growth means "rigorously prioritizing investments, focusing on the capabilities customers need most, avoiding distractions, and doubling down in areas with clear customer value and lasting returns."
Owens said that in his first few months on the job, he is working to ensure the finance function is "closely aligned" with OneTrust's growth plans and operations, and is carefully observing and listening to team members to understand which processes may cause friction.
The focus on growth also comes amid a booming "AI revolution" in the software industry, which, according to a McKinsey blog post last month, is changing how programmers and engineers approach daily tasks.
Owens noted that as AI continues to evolve, customer expectations in the software industry are rising accordingly.
"Customers are more prudent in software investments, preferring platforms over point solutions, and expecting AI capabilities to deliver real value," Owens said. However, software buyers' "risk tolerance" remains low, so vendors must responsibly integrate AI into their solutions.