You’d think HR and IT play their own roles; one manages people, the other handles systems. But AI is rewriting that setup. Increasingly, companies are merging HR and IT under a single leader who bridges people strategy and digital transformation.
A Radical Shift Is Brewing
A survey by workplace software provider Nexthink found that 64% of senior IT decision-makers at large firms expect an HR–IT merger within five years. Beyond that, 93% believe combining these teams would boost productivity, engagement, and satisfaction, and 94% expect more successful digital transformation outcomes (Nexthink, 2025; IT Brief News, 2025).
Moderna: Architecting the Flow of Work
At Moderna, Tracey Franklin now holds the role of Chief People and Digital Technology Officer, overseeing both HR and IT teams; over 5,000 employees in all (Wall Street Journal, 2025; Duperrin, 2025). As she puts it, she helps architect “how work flows through the organization,” deciding what should be handled by human skill, software, or AI.
Moderna partnered with OpenAI to build over 3,000 custom GPTs; virtual assistants tailored to functions like HR, clinical trial planning, and regulatory support. Franklin describes one as a “virtual HR AI agent” that handles tasks typically done by junior analysts. It’s less about replacing people, and more about rethinking how and by whom work gets done (Wall Street Journal, 2025; Duperrin, 2025).
Covisian: One Team, Shared Vision
In April 2023, Covisian merged its HR and IT departments, creating a unified group led by Fabio Sattolo, who became Chief People and Technology Officer (BM Magazine, 2023; Technology Magazine, 2023). The company, a 27,000-strong customer service provider, says the merger has sped up decision-making and encouraged more integrated thinking.
One tangible win: an internal job-posting platform created by the combined team doubled employee response rates. Sattolo admits the hardest part was bridging communication styles, HR teams tend to listen, while IT teams don’t always articulate and balanced that by appointing neutral leaders to facilitate dialogue (BM Magazine, 2023; Technology Magazine, 2023).
Bunq: Automating Without Cuts
At Bunq, a Dutch online bank, HR and IT function as one unified team. Their goal? Automate 90% of operations by end-2025, all without layoffs (BM Magazine, 2023; Technology Magazine, 2023). As Chief Strategy Officer Bianca Zwart explains, the shift aims to push repetitive tasks to AI so employees can focus on complex, strategic work.
The Upside and the Risks
Why it works:
- A unified HR-IT team can reduce friction, align people and digital strategies, and execute AI initiatives more swiftly.
- Digital transformation and workforce planning happen in lockstep.
- Innovation becomes more than a buzzword, it’s practical, everyday work.
But there’s a warning flag.
David D’Souza, Director of Profession at the CIPD, cautions that the two fields require distinct expertise: “Complex people issues require different understanding to the specialist expertise needed in IT. Full mergers risk losing depth” (BM Magazine, 2023; Technology Magazine, 2023).
