P1
Strategic AI leadership & investment
Scalable AI strategies aligned with business goals, with clear guidance on planning and the smart allocation of AI investment.
J1Biography
Twenty years of signal.
“With twenty years in technology and business leadership, I’ve served as CTO and VP of Global Sales Engineering, leading teams of a hundred or more, managing P&L for an $80M division, and founding startups. I hold graduate degrees in engineering and economics, and an MBA from Oxford, where I’m an Associate Fellow and Lecturer. I’m a published author in AI and IoT, and a Fellow of the British Computer Society.”
J2Practice
Four pillars, one core.
How Wael works with Saizen clients. Every engagement runs through the same processor: clear strategy, measured outcomes.
P2
Data-driven decision intelligence
Advanced analytics combined with AI tooling to turn information into clear, actionable insight, so organisations decide better and faster.
P3
Technology-agnostic, secure transformation
Secure, private and scalable AI adoption, tailored to the client and independent of any particular vendor.
P4
Customer-centric innovation & operational excellence
AI that elevates customer experience, drives digital innovation and improves operational efficiency for enterprise growth.
J3Career
The career, traced.
From 2006 to today: machine learning before it was mainstream, and now AI that designs hardware.
-
2024–PresentTervuren, Belgium
Vectis.aiLive
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
- Founded Vectis.ai, an AI platform that converts natural language into certification-ready, manufacturable electronics.
- Eliminates the design → prototype → lab → failure loop by validating compliance before fabrication.
- Leads product vision, go-to-market and waitlist growth across EU hardware teams.
-
2023–PresentOxford, UK
University of OxfordLive
Associate Fellow & Lecturer
- Lectures on artificial intelligence to executive audiences.
- Developed the AI Executive curriculum.
- Supports business development to attract new clients.
-
2021–2024London, UK
Proxximos
Chief Technology Officer
- Designed the hardware platform, electronics and firmware, for disease tracking.
- Co-led two successful fundraising rounds.
- Supervised machine learning for outbreak prevention; presented to investors, boards, hospitals and government.
-
2020–2021Oxford, UK
Oxford Seed Fund
College Liaison & Investment Director
- Reviewed investment proposals and advised the investment committee.
- Helped startups develop investor pitches; championed the fund across Oxford alumni and the Wolfson College community.
-
2019–2023London & Brussels
AIOTI · Alliance for AI, IoT & Edge Innovation
Board Director & Treasurer
- Oversaw and audited the alliance’s financial statements.
- Presented at conferences across Europe; developed recruiting and growth plans.
-
2015–2021London, UK
Hitachi Vantara
VP, Global Sales Engineering
- Managed ~120 sales engineers responsible for $80M in annual revenue.
- Scaled the team from 7 to 120+ following acquisition.
- Served on the executive leadership and product management boards.
-
2006–2015London, UK
Peak Consulting
Managing Director & Founder
- Founded and grew the firm to ~30 people; sold the business in 2013.
- Designed and delivered machine-learning solutions before the field was mainstream.
J4Honours
Selected honours.
H012015–21
4×
President’s Club
Hitachi Vantara
Four-time winner for exceeding sales leadership quotas, most recently above $80M a year.
H022019
Parliamentary testimony
APPG AI · House of Lords
Invited to testify on AI and IoT before the UK Parliament’s All-Party Parliamentary Group.
H032022
Fellow of the BCS
British Computer Society
The Society’s highest membership grade, for outstanding contributions to IT.
H042022
MBA with Distinction
University of Oxford
Graduated with Distinction from one of the world’s most competitive programmes.
H05Since 2006
Three-time founder
One acquired · one active
Fundraising, technical leadership and strategic vision across three ventures.
H062017
Author, The Future of IoT
Wiley
An executive guide to IoT’s shift toward a data-centric world.
H072019–23
Board Director & Treasurer
AIOTI · Brussels
Elected to the board of the Alliance for AI, IoT & Edge Innovation.
H08Ongoing
Press & media expert
BBC · Forbes · FT · The Telegraph
Regular expert commentary in global media on enterprise AI and IoT strategy.
J5Competencies
Measured, not claimed.
- Business leadership100
- Sales leadership100
- Thought leadership & press100
- Software development100
- Business management & finance100
- AI & data strategy95
- Hardware development80
J6Education
Engineered, then educated in business.
Ox
University of Oxford
MBA · Distinction
Saïd Business School.
SOAS
SOAS, University of London
MSc Economics
Global development and heterodox economic systems.
GW
The George Washington University
BSc Electrical Engineering
AOL Home of the 21st Century and FutureTruck engineering competitions.
IMD
IMD Business School
High Performance Leadership
Executive leadership programme in Lausanne, Switzerland.
J7Publication
The Future of IoT.
Leveraging the shift to a data-centric world · Wiley
Co-authored by Wael Elrifai, the book gives executives and senior managers a complete guide to understanding and capitalising on the Internet of Things. It traces IoT’s evolution from simple alerting systems to ecosystems where data drives insight and action, and argues that data architecture, and data primacy, unlock its full potential.
With Don DeLoach & Emil Berthelsen
View the bookAs featured in
BBCForbesFinancial TimesThe TelegraphWIREDTechCrunch