KMS CTO: “Leveraging AI technologies to truly solve complex business problems”

KMS Technology - a leading partner of digital engineering and technology solutions - has recently appointed Guy Merritt as its new Chief Technology Officer. Guy brings with him decades of C-suite experience, having served as a key executive at five startups and led transformative initiatives in strategy, engineering, manufacturing, and venture capital. His diverse expertise spans across consumer electronics, telecommunications, life sciences, and manufacturing. In this interview, Guy has outlined a clear vision for KMS, sharpening its technical edge by leveraging AI innovations and delivering end-to-end solutions that address real business challenges, positioning the company as a trusted partner in the fast-evolving digital era.

From a CTO perspective, can you share your view on the AI revolution?

The rapid growth of AI is transforming the very fabric of how we live and work. But success in AI is not just about the technology it’s about applying it to solve real business problems. One of the most compelling opportunities is in enterprise workflow optimization. Comparing workflows before and after AI integration reveals measurable business value when applied properly, the results are transformative for clients.

At KMS, our objective is to become a recognized premier AI services company. To be truly valuable, we need to go beyond implementation. That’s why we’ve built our AIMO framework: Advise, Implement, Maintain, and Operate. By covering the full lifecycle, we not only solve client problems but also ensure those solutions continue delivering value over time. That’s how we go beyond technology providers to become trusted advisors.

How is the rise of AI reshaping the software industry, and what specific implications does this have for KMS?

AI already has a profound impact on our engineers today and will continue to do so in the future. To stay ahead, our engineers must be fluent across data engineering, data science, traditional AI such as predictions, generative AI for content creation, and agentic AI for autonomous operations. Our success will depend on how effectively we bring these technologies together to solve complex business problems.

The Innovation Center inside KMS is our forward scout. History shows that when companies stop investing in research, they risk losing their ability to innovate — as we saw after the dot-com bubble. At KMS, our Innovation Center continually evaluates new technologies, tools, and processes so we can stay ahead and deliver innovative solutions to our clients.

Our vision is to become an AI Services Factory to the world — providing end-to-end solutions that integrate AI in impactful and unique ways. While we will continue to invest in other technologies, we’ll focus on opportunities where AI can amplify value for clients and create competitive differentiation for KMS.

How do you see your leadership influencing KMS’s growth — both in technical capabilities and in how we serve clients?

Early in my career, I believed that simply following leading practices would ensure success. Boy, was I wrong. Over time, I realized the real differentiator is having the best people, applying the best processes, and most importantly truly listening to clients.

It was clear from the beginning when I joined KMS that I wanted to expand its connections with clients and provide true end-to-end solutions. But more than strategy, it was the people I interacted with that convinced me this was the right place for me. Our people are the heart of KMS, where their talent, creativity, and passion are what make building great technology possible. Leadership is the “art of influence,” but a leader is only as strong as the people around them. At KMS, our global and talented teams will be vital to my leadership style as I listen, coach, and mentor to align with the needs of our clients and business.

Lastly, like everyone in the software services industry, competition for talent remains a challenge. That makes it critical for us to continue building on our track record of attracting and retaining top talent. On the opportunity side, we have the chance to “put a small dent in the universe” by solving hard client challenges while offering a great place for our people to learn, grow, and thrive as professionals.