International banking group Standard Chartered is set to build its suite of digital solutions with the appointment of David Hardoon as its AI global head.

Hardoon, who is recognised as a data and AI leader across Southeast Asia, shared the news on LinkedIn.

Passion for innovation

The move is “true to [his] passion for innovation,” he said. He also plans to “further expand the bank’s AI footprint, accelerate its adoption across various functions, and enable new opportunities to boost efficiency, elevate experiences, and drive strategic growth on a global scale”.

Prior to Hardoon’s appointment at Standard Chartered, he served as CEO of Aboitiz Data Innovation between 2021 and 2024. He later became a special adviser to the firm. In the years he spent at ADI, he was also group chief data and AI officer for the UnionBank of the Philippines, until he became a special adviser guiding UnionBank on its digital transformation journey.

He also became the chief data officer of UnionBank’s digital banking company, UnionDigital, where he was tasked to “lay the foundations” and establish a “data and AI first” bank with a ground-up enterprise data architecture.

“My role in the capacity of chief data and AI officer is in driving the bank-wide strategy and operationalisation of data and artificial intelligence,” Hardoon said. “[It’s about] overseeing AI and data governance to DevOps.”

Hardoon has also been a fellow at the Singapore University of Social Sciences and a visiting faculty under the Sim Kee Boon Institute for Financial Economics at the Singapore Management University.

Hardoon’s expertise extends beyond the corporate and academic worlds into the public sector. From 2017 to 2019, he was the chief data officer of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, before becoming a special adviser to MAS.

There, he was responsible for leading innovation and data initiatives and “driving data as a business horizontal spectrum – from deep technology, data architecture, data governance and policy, analytical solutions, process transformation to horizon scanning and innovation”.

The power of collaboration

Today, at Standard Chartered, Hardoon hopes to turn the spotlight on his new team.

“With a deep appreciation for the power of collaboration, I look forward to showcasing the incredible work and learnings – both past and future – by our stellar in-house teams,” he said.

“I am also excited to partner with industry colleagues, regulators, technology partners, and research collaborators to push the boundaries of what’s possible.”

Standard Chartered's own GenAI tool

Hardoon’s arrival at Standard Chartered follows the recent release of the bank’s proprietary generative AI tool SC GPT, in 41 markets worldwide to bolster its commitment to innovation, the company announced last week.

“Set to empower over 70,000 employees worldwide, SC GPT is expected to improve the Bank’s operations and productivity; tailor sales and marketing efforts to increase revenue; advance software engineering with more automation; and scale how risks are measured, managed, recorded and reported,” Standard Chartered said.

Mohammed Rahim, group chief data officer at Standard Chartered, said: “SC GPT reflects our people-focused approach to AI and commitment to innovation with responsibility. The tool has been developed with strong governance and ethical AI principles are at its core. As we scale GenAI across our business, we remain committed to responsible AI adoption, guided by our responsible AI framework to mitigate potential biases and promote fairness.”