How AI is redefining Information Governance roles: Insights from industry leaders

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Artificial intelligence isn’t on the horizon anymore. It’s here, reshaping how organizations create, manage, and govern records and data. For information governance professionals, this shift presents both challenges and opportunities, as well as a chance to evolve from record custodians to strategic enablers of intelligent, data-driven organizations.

Sue Trombley

November 25, 20257 mins

Woman descending stairs while checking phone

At our October Education Series webinar, I had the pleasure of hosting three IG leaders from different industries:

Chuck Barth, Director of Information Governance, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP (legal)
Steve Colombus, Director, Enterprise Data Retention, USAA (financial services)
Michelle Kirk, Director of Information Governance, Georgia Pacific / Koch, Inc. (manufacturing, energy, agriculture, and technology)

Together, we explored how AI is transforming the roles, responsibilities, and skill sets of IG professionals and what it means for the future of the field.

From records management to lifecycle stewardship

One of the strongest themes that emerged was the shift from managing records at the end of their life to stewarding information through its entire lifecycle.

Where IG teams once focused on retention schedules, storage, and disposition, they now engage much earlier in the data lifecycle, helping define data lineage, ownership, and purpose. Early involvement ensures data is fit for purpose, properly classified, and governed from creation through retirement.

This evolution reflects how organizations increasingly view data as a strategic asset. IG professionals are no longer simply custodians of records; they’re becoming architects of trustworthy, usable data.

We’re looking at AI to help process data…ensure that it has the right data quality, the right sensitive data classification. (Then) we create this whole ecosystem for data sharing.

Steve ColombusDirector, Enterprise Data Retention, USAA

AI governance and responsible innovation

AI is expanding the scope of IG into a new and complex territory: the governance of AI systems themselves.

IG leaders today are developing policies, frameworks, and training programs for the responsible use of AI, striking a balance between innovation, compliance, and risk management.

As AI regulations continue to evolve across states and countries, IG teams are relying on internal legal experts, industry associations such as ARMA and the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), as well as peer networks to stay informed and translate new requirements into actionable policies.

Team structures are also shifting. IG departments increasingly collaborate with data architects, automation specialists, and technologists to manage application programming interfaces (APIs), data lineage, and AI integration. Close partnerships with IT and compliance functions are now essential to ensure that data remains structured, auditable, and compliant—a foundation for effective AI deployment.

Rethinking data management

Reskilling and demonstrating value

Our panelists were unanimous in their view that AI isn’t a threat. Rather, it’s a labor-saving technology that can free IG professionals from repetitive tasks, opening the doors to higher-value, strategic contributions.

They emphasized the importance of continuous learning and taking ownership of career growth by upskilling, experimenting with AI tools, and staying curious about new capabilities.

We wanted to take a very principles-based approach to using AI, which was, we’re all in. We want all our employees to be all in. There was no stick, only a carrot to get people literate and adopting.

Michelle KirkDirector of Information Governance, Koch, Inc.

Equally important, the panelists highlighted the need to demonstrate IG’s tangible value. As organizations increasingly prioritize projects with measurable outcomes, quantifying returns through cost savings, efficiency gains, or compliance improvements has become essential for securing executive support.

Cross-functional collaboration and the rise of soft skills

The modern IG role is inherently cross-functional. Professionals are now working hand-in-hand with legal, IT, data science, and operations teams to align data practices and policies.

There’s also a growing emphasis on education and advocacy, helping “citizen developers” and non-technical staff understand data risks and responsible AI practices.

You need to identify the people on your team that are interested in career growth, and these people need to speak up and say, I’d like to learn and grow that knowledge.

Chuck BarthDirector of Information Governance, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

Soft skills are proving just as critical as technical expertise. Adaptability, curiosity, collaboration, and willingness to learn are emerging as defining traits of the next-generation IG professionals.

Looking ahead: From custodians to strategic enablers

Across industries, one message came through clearly: AI represents a transformational opportunity for IG professionals.

By embracing automation, cultivating new skills, and fostering collaboration across business units, IG leaders can elevate their role from managing records to enabling intelligent, data-driven decision-making throughout the organization.

IG professionals have always been the stewards of organizational memory. Now, they have the chance to become stewards of its intelligence.

Watch the full webinar

Interested in hearing the full discussion and live Q&A with our panelists? Visit Iron Mountain’s 2025 Education Series to watch the on-demand recording of Evolving the Information Governance role: Adapting to the age of AI.