Hugo Doetsch, who joined AuditBoard as Chief Financial Officer in 2026, sees risk not as a threat but as a pathway to business growth. In a recent interview with CFO.com’s Dan Niepow, the veteran finance leader discussed how the Los Angeles-based governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) software company is leveraging artificial intelligence to help enterprises transform uncertainty into advantage.
Doetsch brings over two decades of tech and software finance experience, most recently as CFO at healthcare software provider Symplr. His background includes private equity-backed roles and a stint at NetDocuments, plus a past as a professional cyclist that informs his emphasis on discipline, teamwork, and incremental improvements. At AuditBoard, he aligns with the company’s philosophy: mitigate risks while converting them into strategic opportunities through its AI-powered connected risk management platform.
A core focus for Doetsch is efficient scaling amid AI advancements. AuditBoard has achieved 100% AI tool adoption across its workforce, enabling productivity gains without broad headcount increases. In G&A functions, he expects minimal expansion this year, prioritizing better tooling. R&D could see over 100% productivity boosts via AI, while sales and marketing may add staff to support international growth, always guided by efficiency metrics.
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To address AI reliability concerns in regulated industries, Doetsch highlighted AuditBoard’s cautious approach: embedded AI includes sourcing and validation for traceability. In October 2025, the company launched Accelerate—an AI suite with natural-language workflows, continuous auditing, document intelligence, and agentic automation—and acquired FairNow, a specialized AI governance platform for risk assessments and compliance guidance. These steps position AuditBoard to meet surging demand for safe AI oversight.
Doetsch joins under new CEO Raul Villar Jr. (appointed July 2025), praising the refreshed C-suite as “A+” talent ready for goals like $1 billion in annual recurring revenue and global expansion. Preferring private equity-backed environments like AuditBoard’s (acquired by Hg in 2024), he stresses transparency with sponsors and proactive solutions. Drawing from past roles, including capital efficiency lessons at Symplr, Doetsch is confident AuditBoard can turn evolving GRC challenges—fueled by AI and regulation—into a lasting competitive edge.
