The accolade highlights Suraj's trailblazing work in making AI accessible and practical for institutions across the globe.
Leicester, UK - October 2025 - Jadu is proud to announce that its Chief Executive Officer, Suraj Kika, has been ranked 21st in the Digital Leaders AI100, a prestigious list celebrating the 100 most influential individuals and their companies advancing artificial intelligence across the United Kingdom.
The Digital Leaders AI100, determined through public nominations and votes, recognises those driving meaningful and responsible adoption of AI across a diverse range of sectors in the UK.
Since 2022, Suraj has led Jadu's practical adoption of responsible AI in UK public services, co-funding groundbreaking early pilots with customer councils including Swindon Borough Council and West Northamptonshire Council. Some of Jadu’s most notable achievements include developing imaging recognition technology for fly-tipping detection in Swindon and co-producing “Norbert,” an AI assistant that processes more than 400,000 customer emails annually for West Northamptonshire Council, while also supporting voice services in their contact centre.
Recognising that councils were investing substantial resources in AI pilots with limited returns, Suraj led the development of Agent-Ex: Search, an innovative no-code AI agent designed to deliver accurate, source-linked answers directly within website searches. The solution works on any content management system, supports over 70 languages, and includes built-in governance frameworks that are aligned with UK GDPR requirements.
“This recognition is not just a personal honour, but a reflection of the work our team do every day to make AI accessible, practical and responsible for our customers and partners”, said Suraj Kika. “At Jadu, our goal is to empower people to get the information and support they need, when, where and how they need it. Whether someone is accessing student services or applying for community support, AI should remove barriers and improve experiences for all."
Since its launch in Summer 2025, Agent-Ex: Search has been adopted by Lichfield District Council, Medway Council, Coventry City Council and Broxbourne Borough Council. The platform represents a shift in UK local government from experimental chatbots to practical, governed, and affordable generative AI that demonstrably improves service outcomes.
Jadu also congratulates Sheraz Yaqub, Head of Customer Experience at Birmingham City Council, who ranked 5th in the Public Sector category and 16th overall in the AI100 list. This is an outstanding achievement that showcases the innovation and great leadership driving digital transformation and AI adoption across UK Local Government.
