Three out of four major organizations now have a chief AI officer. A year ago, that number was barely one in four. The banking sector is leading this hiring frenzy, but the people filling these roles are already whispering something uncomfortable: this job might not exist in a decade.
The share of organizations with a dedicated chief AI officer jumped from 26% in 2025 to 76% in 2026, according to an IBM survey of 2,000 CEOs across 33 countries. That is not gradual adoption. That is a stampede.
The new power brokers of banking
HSBC made one of the most high-profile moves in this wave, appointing David Rice as its first chief AI officer effective April 1, 2026. Rice previously served as COO for Corporate and Institutional Banking, which means the bank pulled from its operational core rather than importing a Silicon Valley hire.
HSBC is not alone. Commonwealth Bank of Australia tapped Ranil Boteju as its first chief AI officer during roughly the same window. Lloyds Banking Group followed a similar path.
