Lloyds Banking Group has appointed former Amazon Web Services (AWS) executive Rohit Dhawan as the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) director. The newly-created role will see Dhawan report to Lloyds Banking Group chief data and analytics officer Ranil Boteju. As the bank’s new AI director, Dhawan will take the lead of the British financial services company’s AI Centre of Excellence, which unites experts in data science, behavioural science, machine learning (ML) engineering, advanced analytics, and AI ethics. His responsibilities include developing the group’s overall AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics strategy.
“I’m excited to work for an organisation undergoing one of the largest transformations in financial services and look at how we can transform the way we use data and tech to respond to changing customer needs,” said Dhawan. “I’m looking forward to progressing the Group’s ambitious AI strategy and maximising opportunities across the organisation as part of the Group’s purpose to help Britain prosper.”
Lloyds’ internal AI push
Dhawan holds a PhD in AI from the University of Sydney. At AWS, he served as the data and AI strategy head across the Asia-Pacific region. During his tenure at the hyperscaler, Dhawan led several strategic initiatives, including the integration of AI into customer and operational processes and the establishment of a multi-disciplinary data and AI function.
At Lloyds, Dhawan will spearhead efforts to foster technical excellence and promote the adoption of customer-facing, AI-driven products and services. Under his leadership, the AI Centre of Excellence also aims to reinforce the group’s commitment to attracting and retaining leading AI and ethics talent within the UK. This is expected to add to its team of experts, which includes more than 30 PhDs in key disciplines. Lloyds Banking Group said that it will also continue to focus on promoting early careers in AI and data science through its data science graduate programme.
50 AI use cases identified within bank
The appointment comes as part of Lloyds Banking Group’s strategy, announced in February 2022, to accelerate the adoption of digital technologies and data to support its customers. According to Lloyds Banking Group, the integration of AI and analytics across the group will improve the overall customer experience.
Currently, Lloyds Banking Group is trialling more than 50 use cases, including enhancing the speed of support, improving the quality of chatbot tools, and detecting early warning signs of fraud. Last year, Lloyds Banking Group released a new digital ID app in partnership with tech vendor Yoti. Dubbed Lloyds Bank Smart ID, the app offers users a more private, secure and convenient way to verify their age or identity through their mobile phone.
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