- Kelly Hernandez held CFO roles at Clark Construction Group and Leidos
- Stuart Brown previously spent decades in technology leadership at Accenture
- The chief transformation officer role builds on Guidehouse’s $1.5 billion AI investment plan
Guidehouse has appointed strategic leaders Kelly Hernandez and Stuart Brown as chief financial officer and chief transformation officer, respectively, to advance artificial intelligence-enabled transformation and growth initiatives.
The professional services firm said Wednesday Hernandez will lead Guidehouse’s global finance organization and help shape Guidehouse’s long-term business strategy, growth initiatives and operational performance as CFO.
As the inaugural chief transformation officer, Brown will lead Guidehouse’s AI-enabled transformation strategy, drive innovation across the firm’s operations, client services and delivery model. The newly created role builds on Guidehouse’s $1.5 billion investment in AI and marks a shift in the firm’s approach to technology, from a support function to a core driver of enterprise value.
What Did Guidehouse Officials Say About the Appointments?
Guidehouse CEO Scott McIntyre said Hernandez brings a combination of financial expertise, strategic perspective and operational leadership.
“Her experience leading organizations through growth and transformation will be invaluable as we continue investing in our business, expanding our capabilities, and creating long-term value for our clients and stakeholders,” added McIntyre, a 2026 Wash100 awardee.
Guidehouse President John Saad said Brown has been instrumental in shaping the firm’s technology strategy.
“This role will create a more unified direction across the firm as clients across highly regulated industries move from experimentation to measurable results. Stu has the vision and experience to lead that effort,” Saad noted.
Who Is Kelly Hernandez?
Hernandez is a finance executive who most recently served as CFO of Clark Construction Group. She previously held senior leadership roles at Leidos, including group CFO and senior vice president of investor relations, where she supported strategic growth, financial performance and investor engagement.
Hernandez said she is joining Guidehouse at a time of continued growth and investment and looks forward to helping strengthen the firm’s financial foundation and operational discipline.
Who Is Stuart Brown?
Brown is a technology executive who joined Guidehouse in January 2025. He helped build the foundation for the firm’s expanding AI, cloud and platform capabilities and will now lead the integration of technology, talent and industry expertise to advance Guidehouse’s AI-enabled delivery model and strategic ecosystem partnerships.
Before joining Guidehouse, he spent more than two decades at Accenture, where he served as senior managing director of the company’s technology business for the resources industry group, according to his LinkedIn profile. Earlier in his career, he worked at Lockheed Martin as a design engineer.
Brown said success in AI requires the ability to deliver outcomes in complex environments while keeping systems secure, governed and trusted, and that Guidehouse is positioned to help clients move forward by combining industry expertise, engineering talent and independent oversight.
How Do the Appointments Fit Into Guidehouse’s Broader AI Strategy?
The appointments follow a series of moves by Guidehouse to expand its AI and technology capabilities. In June 2025, the firm announced plans to invest $1.5 billion over three years in AI innovation, including the launch of an AI Center of Excellence and the development of multiagent AI architectures.
In March, Guidehouse, IP3 and Cybernetic Intelligence launched a strategic partnership to develop nuclear-enabled compute infrastructure to support data processing, AI and mission-critical intelligent operations.
Guidehouse has also expanded its alliance with Databricks, rolling out a new financial management capability designed to help government agencies modernize audit and accounting operations using AI.
