Ryan Kumar

Managing Director at Direct Search Global

Speaker

Ryan has over a decade of experience working with shipowners, engineering companies, technology providers and industrial businesses globally.

Through his work in specialist recruitment, Ryan has a front row view of how traditionally operational industries are being reshaped by digitalization and artificial intelligence. He has supported companies building teams in areas such as connectivity, cybersecurity, data analytics and AI-enabled operational support, giving him insight into how technology is changing job design, skill requirements and leadership structures across organizations

Ryan contributes a workforce and organizational perspective to AI adoption. He regularly advises companies on talent shortages, reskilling and how professionals adapt when automation and decision support tools enter daily operations. His focus is a practical question many organizations now face: not only what AI can do, but how businesses and people must evolve to work effectively alongside it.