HSBC Appoints First Chief AI Officer: David Rice Promoted from Corporate and Institutional Banking COO

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HSBC appointed David Rice as its first Chief AI Officer, promoting him from his role as COO of the bank's corporate and institutional banking arm. This makes HSBC one of the largest global banks to create a dedicated C-suite AI role. The appointment signals accelerating AI integration at the institutional banking level, following similar moves by other financial institutions in 2026. HSBC joins a growing trend of major banks elevating AI from a technology function to a strategic leadership position.