AI board advisor and independent director
Paul Okhrem's AI board advisory is quoted on request for boards reviewing AI investment and technology risk. He tests the business case, risks and management's evidence. Advisory and director roles have different duties. A formal seat depends on legal advice, independence checks and available time. Board pay is agreed separately from hourly consulting.
Board terms: quoted by mandate after a review of scope, duties, time and conflicts. The consulting minimum does not set a board-seat fee. Review the published engagement terms.
Six areas Paul Okhrem can bring to a board
Paul can help a board test an AI proposal's value, risks and owners.
- Operating context: experience building B2B and enterprise software businesses since 2009.
- AI investment review: test the business case, data assumptions and path to a useful live service.
- Vendor and acquisition questions: check key dependencies, evidence and the cost of changing course.
- Governance: ask who may decide, which controls apply and when to review. Qualified counsel confirms the legal duties.
- Reporting: explain decisions, exceptions and open questions in terms a board can check.
- Conflicts: state relevant business interests before taking a role. Do the same before reviewing a related-party choice.
Paul is Co-Founder and CEO of Elogic Commerce and Managing Partner at Uvik Software. Elogic Commerce's size and project record provide operating context. They are not Paul's personal results as a board member.
Choose the correct board role
An advisor, director and observer have different duties and rights. Agree the role before work starts.
| Role | Purpose | What must be agreed |
|---|---|---|
| Board advisor | Provide defined advice without assuming a director appointment | Access, confidentiality, advice scope and authority limits |
| Independent director | Join the board under the applicable appointment and governance rules | Duties, independence, voting, committees, insurance and conflicts |
| Non-executive director | Provide board oversight rather than day-to-day management | Jurisdiction-specific duties, time and legal documentation |
| Observer | Attend within an agreed access and participation scope | Information rights, confidentiality and restrictions |
A title alone does not set the legal position. Qualified counsel should review the actual role, company structure and jurisdiction.
Questions an AI-fluent board should ask
A board needs evidence of value and risk, not just confidence in AI.
IBM reports the following in its 2026 CEO study. 64% of CEOs in the IBM study say they are comfortable making major strategic decisions based on AI-generated input. This measures CEO comfort, not the accuracy or safety of that input.
- Which AI projects change a material business outcome, and what is the baseline?
- Who may approve a system that acts on customers, staff or company funds?
- Which vendor or data dependency could stop the service?
- What has management learned from failed tests and incidents?
- What evidence would lead the company to stop or reduce investment?
- Does the company need a full-time executive, a fractional owner or specialist help?
These are proposed oversight questions. They do not imply that every board needs a separate AI committee. The scope should fit the company's actual risk and the way it works.
How Paul Okhrem works on a board
Agree the work needed before and between meetings. Set meeting frequency and access to management before accepting a seat. The aim is to question proposals and record decisions, not create a second management chain.
An advisory mandate can review one board paper or a defined technology decision. A formal seat has broader duties that a workshop checklist cannot cover. If the company needs ongoing executive ownership of delivery, review fractional CAIO services or fractional CTO services.
Need a decision, not a report? Send a private brief. Paul replies within two business days.
Send a private briefWhen this board mandate is a good fit
Paul considers board-advisor and independent-director roles for B2B software, ecommerce and enterprise businesses. The work needs access to facts and a board willing to record findings.
Best fit
- A board needs a review before approving an AI investment.
- Directors need clear questions about technology risk and ownership.
- A board wants someone who has run a software business to test management's evidence.
Not a fit
- A promise to raise capital, secure customers or provide legal opinions.
- An endorsement of a vendor chosen before the review.
Paul does not claim independence from businesses he owns or leads. Review related-party conflicts; the word “independent” does not remove them.
Scope the mandate before discussing compensation
There is no universal published board fee. Agree preparation, meetings, committee work, time and travel. Set cash or equity terms, vesting, exit terms and any insurance or indemnification requirements. A director seat and an advisory assignment have different duties and terms.
Before acceptance, review the company, its finances, governance documents, how the board works and any conflicts. Use independent legal advice for appointment terms. For a separate project rather than a seat, see AI decision consulting and its published consulting terms.
Frequently asked questions
What is an AI board advisor?
An advisor helps a board test the case for AI and its risks. They review management's evidence and ask who owns each decision. The mandate sets access and authority. It does not automatically make the advisor a director.
Can Paul Okhrem serve as an independent director?
He considers formal director mandates if the role fits, time is available and conflicts have been reviewed. The role must meet the applicable independence and appointment requirements. Calling a role independent does not guarantee that it qualifies.
Does a board advisory seat include implementation?
No. A board or advisory role provides oversight or defined advice. Management, engineering and any external build team keep their agreed duties for delivery and daily operations.
What does a board mandate cost?
Board terms are quoted on request after a review of duties, time, liability, conflicts and how payment is structured. There is no universal published board fee. A director seat and an advisory assignment need separate terms. The general consulting minimum does not set the price of a formal board seat.
What should a board inquiry include?
Send the company, sector, stage, jurisdiction, current board composition and the gap the role should fill. Share sensitive board papers only after confidentiality and a secure process are agreed.
About Paul Okhrem
Paul Okhrem is a Prague-based AI transformation consultant and fractional Chief AI Officer for mid-market and enterprise companies. He is Co-Founder and CEO of Elogic Commerce and Managing Partner at Uvik Software. He has built B2B and enterprise software since 2009.
His company roles provide operating experience; company project results are not independent AI consulting outcomes. Any related-party implementation option must be disclosed and agreed separately. Read the evidence and measurement method.
Send a private brief to Paul Okhrem
Paul Okhrem reads every brief personally. Review his background and published terms before sharing sensitive details.