About this role
<p>SMBC Group is a top-tier global financial group. Headquartered in Tokyo and with a 400-year history, SMBC Group offers a diverse range of financial services, including banking, leasing, securities, credit cards, and consumer finance. The Group has more than 130 offices and 80,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) is the holding company of SMBC Group, which is one of the three largest banking groups in Japan. SMFG’s shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York (NYSE: SMFG) stock exchanges.</p> <p> </p> <p>In the Americas, SMBC Group has a presence in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. Backed by the capital strength of SMBC Group and the value of its relationships in Asia, the Group offers a range of commercial and investment banking services to its corporate, institutional, and municipal clients. It connects a diverse client base to local markets and the organization’s extensive global network. The Group’s operating companies in the Americas include Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC), SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., SMBC Capital Markets, Inc., SMBC MANUBANK, JRI America, Inc., SMBC Leasing and Finance, Inc., Banco Sumitomo Mitsui Brasileiro S.A., and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Co., Ltd.</p><div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:16.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px">Role Description</H2> </div><div><p style="margin:0.0in;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Our client is seeking a Managing Director to lead AI Strategy & Commercialization as part of a broader, multi-year data and analytics transformation. This role is responsible for moving AI from early-stage or fragmented efforts into disciplined, production-scale adoption across a complex, regulated enterprise.</span></p> <p style="margin:0.0in;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">This is a 0-to-1 build with strong executive sponsorship and long-term investment. The successful leader will define the enterprise AI operating model, establish governance and responsible AI practices, and ensure AI initiatives deliver measurable business outcomes across front-office, risk, and corporate functions.</span></p> <p style="margin:0.0in;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">The role initially focuses on the U.S. organization, with the opportunity to expand globally as capabilities mature</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Role is based out of our Charlotte office. </span></p></div></div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:16.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px">Role Objectives</H2> </div><div><ul style="margin-top:0.0in;margin-bottom:0.0in" type="disc"> <li style="margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Define and execute enterprise AI strategy aligned with business priorities, regulatory expectations, and risk frameworks</span></li> <li style="margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Establish an AI operating model that moves initiatives from experimentation into production environments</span></li> <li style="margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Drive AI commercialization and adoption across financial services business units, with clear ROI and value realization</span></li> <li style="margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Partner closely with technology, data, risk, compliance, and front-office leaders to embed AI into real workflows</span></li> <li style="margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Build and scale an enterprise AI organization, including leadership, governance, and enablement capabilities</span></li> <li style="margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Set standards for AI governance, model risk management, and responsible AI</span></li> <li style="margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Own prioritization decisions, balancing innovation with risk management and operational discipline</span></li> <li style="margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Create executive-level narratives and reporting that communicate progress, outcomes, and tradeoffs</span></li> <li style="margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Build credibility through early wins and consistent delivery, establishing trust across senior stakeholders</span></li> <li style="margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Serve as a senior AI thought partner to executive leadership</span></li> </ul></div></div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:16.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px">Qualifications and Skills</H2> </div><div><ul> <li style="margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:0.0in;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif">Senior leadership experience leading enterprise AI, advanced analytics, or digital transformation initiatives within financial services or similarly regulated industries</span></li> <li style="margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:0.0in;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif">Demonstrated success taking AI initiatives from concept into production-scale environments</span></li> <li style="margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:0.0in;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif">Experience operating in regulated financial environments, including governance, risk, and compliance considerations</span></li> <li style="margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:0.0in;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif">Strong technical fluency across AI, machine learning, and modern analytics (hands-on coding not required)</span></li> <li style="margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:0.0in;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif">Proven ability to build organizational buy-in, influence senior stakeholders, and drive change through delivery</span></li> <li style="margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:0.0in;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif">Track record of building and scaling teams and operating models</span></li> <li style="margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:0.0in;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif">Executive presence, strong communication skills, and high emotional intelligence</span></li> </ul></div></div></div><p>SMBC’s employees participate in a Hybrid workforce model that provides employees with an opportunity to work from home, as well as, from an SMBC office. SMBC requires that employees live within a reasonable commuting distance of their office location. Prospective candidates will learn more about their specific hybrid work schedule during their interview process. Hybrid work may not be permitted for certain roles, including, for example, certain FINRA-registered roles for which in-office attendance for the entire workweek is required.</p> <p> </p> <p>SMBC provides reasonable accommodations during candidacy for applicants with disabilities consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please let us know at [email protected].</p>