In a significant leadership change, the global digital engineering and AI software transformation company Avenga has announced the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer. Clay Van Doren will take the helm as CEO, starting January 12, 2026, succeeding Ludovic Gaudé.
A Seasoned Leader Takes the Helm
Clay Van Doren joins Avenga with a substantial track record in the international technology sector, boasting more than 25 years of experience. He arrives from the global IT services and consulting giant Atos, where he most recently held the position of Group Chief Growth Officer. In that role, he was instrumental in steering the company through a difficult period while simultaneously driving its growth strategy and fortifying key client relationships.
His extensive background at Atos also includes serving as Deputy CEO for the massive Tech Foundations managed services division, which employs 50,000 people worldwide. Furthermore, Van Doren has held CEO responsibilities across multiple critical regions, including the UK and Ireland, Central Europe, Northern Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Throughout his decade in senior leadership, he has built a reputation for creating high-performance teams and guiding organizations through major transformations, with a steadfast emphasis on delivery excellence and operational resilience.
Steering Avenga's Next Chapter
Van Doren steps into his new role at a pivotal moment for Avenga. He will be responsible for overseeing the company's global operations and its team of over 6,000 experts spread across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. His primary focus will be on helping Avenga's clients achieve tangible business outcomes by leveraging secure and practical innovation. Key areas of concentration will include application transformation, data and artificial intelligence (AI), and next-generation cybersecurity solutions.
The appointment has received strong endorsement from Avenga's ownership. Karel Komárek, Chair of KKCG, the investment group that owns Avenga, stated that Van Doren's arrival coincides with an important phase for the company as it aims to become a global category leader. Komárek highlighted the new CEO's experience in managing complex technology organizations and his customer-centric passion as critical assets for Avenga's future.
Building on a Strong Foundation
Van Doren will be building upon the foundation established by outgoing CEO Ludovic Gaudé, who led Avenga through a comprehensive five-year integration process. This period was crucial in unifying the company and setting the stage for its ongoing international growth. Michal Tománek, Deputy Chief Investment Director at KKCG and Chair of the Avenga Board, publicly thanked Gaudé for his commitment and leadership, noting that he achieved a level of corporate integration in a remarkably short timeframe that typically takes many years, all while maintaining service to a worldwide client base.
In his first comments as CEO-designate, Clay Van Doren expressed his honour in taking the role. He pointed to Avenga's strong capabilities, enduring customer relationships, and deep bench of expert talent as key strengths. "My priority is to strengthen partnerships and keep our focus firmly on our customers’ success, while making Avenga a great place to work, with excellent development opportunities," Van Doren said, outlining his vision for the company's path forward under his leadership.
