Jarrard Named New AI Leadership in Nashville
The firm has appointed James Cervantes and Meltem Singh to spearhead its growing artificial intelligence initiatives.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in People
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Nashville-based Jarrard has tapped James Cervantes as its new AI lead alongside Meltem Singh, who joins as senior vice president of AI strategy and enablement. These appointments are part of a broader expansion that includes 15 additional professional hires.
Why it matters
The firm is scaling its internal capabilities to meet increasing client demand for responsible AI integration. These strategic hires aim to formalize Jarrard's consulting services as businesses navigate the complexities of adopting emerging technologies.
Jarrard has expanded its team with 15 new professionals, adding to a company-wide headcount of approximately 100 employees. The new leadership team brings significant experience, with Cervantes holding 15 years in consulting and Singh offering 20 years of experience.
The players
James Cervantes
He is the newly appointed AI lead at Jarrard who has been with the firm since 2019.
Meltem Singh
She is the new senior vice president of AI strategy and enablement who previously worked at Gartner.
Jarrard
This Nashville-based firm is a consultancy that was acquired by Chartis in 2020.
Chartis
This organization is the parent company of Jarrard and maintains a workforce of approximately 1,000 people.
The details
James Cervantes, a partner at Jarrard since 2025, will oversee AI consulting and internal strategy, while former Gartner employee Meltem Singh will focus on scaling client solutions. The expansion follows Chartis's 2020 acquisition of the firm, which now integrates into a larger organization with 1,000 employees.
Timeline
James Cervantes joined Jarrard in 2019.
Chartis acquired Jarrard in 2020.
Cervantes was named a partner at Jarrard in 2025.
Jarrard announced the new leadership and hiring expansion on September 29, 2026.
Market Landscape
Jarrard's pivot toward centralized AI oversight aligns with the broader professional services sector as firms race to monetize technical implementation. This move secures the company's position against competitors by formalizing internal expertise acquired through its relationship with Chartis.
Clients seeking technical guidance can expect more structured support for AI projects through Jarrard's new dedicated team. These hires suggest that current and future clients will have access to expanded expertise for responsible AI strategy and solution development.
The takeaway
Companies are increasingly investing in dedicated AI leadership to turn experimental tools into viable client solutions. Organizations looking to adopt new technology should evaluate if their current consultants have the specialized internal infrastructure to support complex implementations.
Further reading
For more on industry leadership changes, visit People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Consulting.
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