HSBC appoints first Chief AI Officer to lead AI adoption across bank

HSBC has appointed David Rice as its first Chief AI Officer, marking a significant step in the bank’s push to embed artificial intelligence across its global operations.

The newly created role is designed to provide enterprise-wide leadership for AI adoption, as the lender accelerates efforts to integrate generative AI tools and data-driven capabilities into its business.

Rice will assume the position from April 1, HSBC said in a statement. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer for the bank’s Corporate and Institutional Banking division.

The appointment comes as HSBC looks to move beyond pilot projects and deploy AI at scale. The bank said it plans to make generative AI tools available to employees to streamline processes and support customer-facing teams in delivering more personalised services.

“Our customers increasingly expect their bank to deliver services uniquely aligned to their specific needs, and fast,” said group chief executive Georges Elhedery. “AI plays a key role in how we get there.”

He added that the bank aims to use AI to deliver personalised services “safely, in real time and at scale”, while maintaining human oversight and accountability.

Rice said AI would play an “ever-increasing role” in HSBC’s future strategy, adding that he would focus on advancing the bank’s broader transformation agenda.

The move reflects a wider shift across global banking, where financial institutions are formalising AI leadership roles to manage growing complexity around regulation, data governance and large-scale deployment. As Reuters has reported in similar industry developments, banks are increasingly investing in AI infrastructure to drive efficiency and customer engagement.

Alongside the appointment, HSBC said it is expanding the remit of its Chief Technology Officer, Mario Shamtani, to strengthen the bank’s technology foundations. This includes modernising core systems, building a central AI platform and deepening strategic partnerships.

The creation of a dedicated AI leadership role underscores HSBC’s ambition to build a more integrated, technology-led operating model, as competition intensifies among global banks to harness AI for both efficiency and growth.

For HSBC, the challenge will now shift from experimentation to execution — ensuring that AI delivers measurable business outcomes while meeting the regulatory and ethical standards expected of a global financial institution.