Clyde Calhoun

Clyde Calhoun is the founder and CEO of Root Idea, a Charlotte-based firm focused on AI decision governance for finance executives. Drawing on 30 years leading enterprise transformation at Lockheed Martin, GE, and Owens Corning, Calhoun founded Root Idea in 2023 on the observation that AI now influences pricing, forecasts, and capital allocation at most companies — often before anyone has decided where humans belong in the loop or what the guardrails should be. Citing EY research that 64% of enterprise companies have experienced a negative AI incident costing $1M or more, he argues the exposure is a CFO problem, not just a technology one. Root Idea's work spans mapping where AI already shapes key decisions (including AI embedded in platforms like SAP and Salesforce), establishing board-ready governance and controls, and training leaders and auditors to keep governance operational.