Hertz CIO Tim Langley-Hawthorne on Cloud, AI, and Reinventing the Rental Car Experience
Technovation with Peter High (CIO, CTO, CDO, CXO Interviews)
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Show Notes
Hertz CIO Tim Langley-Hawthorne joins Peter High on Technovation to share how he’s modernizing a $9B global fleet operation through AI, cloud, and a product-first mindset. Since joining post-COVID, Tim has sunset Hertz’s data centers, scaled AWS infrastructure, launched a consumer+fleet product org, and embedded AI from customer chat to tire inspections.
He explains why he rejected a centralized AI model, the power of grassroots innovation, and why partnerships with firms like Palantir and Amadeus are accelerating results. This episode is packed with real-world digital transformation strategies from a high-stakes, asset-heavy enterprise.
Highlights include:
- Product Operating Model: Merged consumer and fleet tech under dual product strategy.
- AI in Action: How decentralized AI is enhancing CX, fleet, and operational speed.
- Fleet Optimization: Partnership with Palantir to keep cars rented and moving.
- Post-COVID Reset: Lessons in fleet lifecycle economics and demand response.
- Culture Change: Infusing big tech talent with long-tenured ops veterans.