Hertz CIO Tim Langley-Hawthorne on Cloud, AI, and Reinventing the Rental Car Experience

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.