AI-powered customer experience platform Genesys has lined up Allen Chiu as its next chief legal officer, replacing Jim René who is stepping down at the end of this month.

Chiu – who takes up his new role on 1 July – is currently the company’s general counsel and chief compliance officer. In his current role he already oversees the company’s global ethics and compliance programme, trade and export controls and litigation strategy. His expanded remit will see him take responsibility for all legal matters, reporting directory to chairman and CEO Tony Bates.

San Francisco-based Genesys provides what it calls an ‘experience orchestration’ platform that helps companies improve their customer experience by offering more personalised services.

Bates said: “Allen is an exceptional and strategic leader whose expertise in compliance, privacy and global regulatory matters will be instrumental as we continue to scale our business and expand our AI leadership. His thoughtful counsel and business acumen will help us navigate complexities and keep Genesys at the forefront of experience orchestration.”

Chiu has been GC at Genesys since joining the company in 2016 from the US Department of Justice, where he was an assistant US attorney in its national security and criminal divisions. Prior to that he spent three years at Latham & Watkins, having started his career clerking in the US District Court for the Southern District of California.

René, meanwhile, is retiring after more than 13 years as the company’s CLO, a role he took up after it was sold in 2012 by parent company Alcatel-Lucent, where René was deputy GC. Prior to joining Alcatel-Lucent in 2000, he was a partner at Sheppard Mullin.

Bates added: “Jim’s contributions to Genesys have been significant and enduring. His legal insight and steady guidance have been essential in strengthening our governance, navigating complex challenges and supporting the company’s growth. We’re deeply grateful for his contributions and leadership, and we wish him all the best in his next chapter.”

In other AI-related moves, earlier this month German AI food service business Circus Group hired Sasha Borovik as GC from German defence tech company Helsing as Circus prepares to launch its battlefield-ready autonomous meal supply system. And in March, AI automation business Nintex hired former Limeade GC Sarah Visbeek as its legal chief.