Leadership Shifts in Risk & AI — October Fortnight 2025
- Staff Correspondent
- Oct 20
- 4 min read
As September wrapped up and October got underway, the pace of leadership shifts picked up again across banking, insurance, and technology. From new Chief AI Officers to fresh appointments in risk and compliance, companies are clearly leaning into governance and innovation.
Here are the major moves worth noting this fortnight.
Aldis Erglis joins Emergn as Chief AI Officer - Emergn, a global consulting firm, has named Aldis Erglis as its first Chief AI Officer.
In this newly created CAIO role, Erglis will spearhead Emergn’s AI strategy and product development. Erglis previously led Emergn’s Machine Learning Lab and has overseen the company’s AI/ML initiatives since 2015. Hence, his promotion formalizes Emergn’s decade-long emphasis on integrating AI into its consulting and delivery platforms.
Source- https://www.emergn.com/news
Guna Jayaraman joins Cornerstone OnDemand as Chief AI Officer
Cornerstone OnDemand Inc. announced that veteran technology executive Guna Jayaraman will join as its Chief AI Officer. Jayaraman, who spent over 20 years at leading tech firms, including 13 years at Amazon, will drive Cornerstone’s AI strategy for its talent-management platform.
The appointment underscores Cornerstone’s focus on an “AI workforce transformation,” leveraging Jayaraman’s extensive experience in software development and people technology to scale the company’s AI initiatives across recruiting, learning, and HR solutions.
Karen Mitchell takes on the role of Chief Risk Officer at Alloya Corporate FCU
Alloya Corporate Federal Credit Union announced that Karen Mitchell will become its new Chief Risk Officer, effective October 1, 2025. Mitchell joins from roles in banking regulation and risk management (most recently as an enterprise risk management leader at Wipfli LLP).
The credit union said her expertise in risk management and governance will help maintain “the highest standards of risk management” as Alloya’s senior risk leader, succeeding its retiring CRO.
Christine Palmer named Group Chief Risk Officer at ANZ
Source- https://www.anz.com.au/newsroom/media/2025
Australia’s ANZ Group announced that Christine Palmer will join as Group Chief Risk Officer on 1st December 2025. Palmer, who has been Chief Risk Officer at Santander UK since 2020, brings deep experience in enterprise risk, governance, and credit risk.
Her appointment is part of ANZ’s broader executive reshuffle and is intended to strengthen the bank’s risk oversight as it continues growing its business across the region.
Pedro Rodeia appointed Group Executive, Australia Retail at ANZ
ANZ also announced that Pedro Rodeia will join as Group Executive for Australia Retail (based in Melbourne) from 17 November 2025. Rodeia is a former McKinsey senior partner with over 30 years of retail banking experience, including 15 years working with Australian banks.
He will oversee ANZ’s retail banking division in Australia, further bolstering the bank’s leadership in consumer and business banking.
Donald Patra appointed Group Chief Information Officer at ANZ - In the same announcement, Donald Patra was named ANZ’s new Group Chief Information Officer, effective 24 November 2025. Patra comes from HSBC, where he held chief technology roles for Europe and Asia, and is tasked with leading ANZ’s technology and data strategy.
ANZ CEO Nuno Matos noted that Patra’s “global-scale digital transformation” experience will help drive the bank’s best-in-class tech capabilities for customers and staff.
Ryan Billingsley named Director of Risk Management Supervision at the FDIC (U.S.)
The FDIC announced that Ryan Billingsley has been appointed Director of its Division of Risk Management Supervision (RMS). Billingsley had been Acting Director of RMS since March 2025 and previously served as Deputy Director for Capital Markets and Accounting Policy.
In his new role, he will lead the FDIC’s safety-and-soundness supervision of insured U.S. banks and savings institutions.
Krista Robinson promoted to Chief Risk Officer at Vantage Risk
Reinsurance firm Vantage Risk promoted Krista Robinson to Chief Risk Officer. Robinson, who joined Vantage in 2021 and most recently served as its CRO- Insurance, will succeed the retiring Peter Skerlj and lead the company’s enterprise risk management and reserving frameworks.
The press release notes that her actuarial background and strategic mindset have been instrumental in shaping Vantage’s risk and reserving functions.
Jon Rasmussen named U.S. Chief Compliance Officer at TD Bank - TD Bank has hired Jon Rasmussen, a veteran of JPMorgan Chase’s compliance division, as its U.S. Chief Compliance Officer. According to Reuters, Rasmussen will join TD in December 2025 and report to the bank’s U.S. Chief Risk Officer as well as to the global compliance chief.
His recruitment comes as TD works to strengthen its financial crime and compliance functions following recent regulatory challenges.
Madhav Kale appointed Chief Technology Officer at CreditRiskMonitor
CreditRiskMonitor.com, a financial risk analytics firm, announced that its Board has appointed Madhav Kale as Chief Technology Officer, effective September 18, 2025. Kale is a fintech and AI enthusiast with over 30 years of experience in cybersecurity, SaaS, and enterprise IT.
He will lead the company’s technology and product development, bringing an entrepreneurial perspective to enhancing CreditRiskMonitor’s risk-scoring platforms with AI and advanced analytics.
Burce Gültekin takes on the role of Chief Data & Analytics Officer at Ingka Group (IKEA Retail) - https://www.ingka.com/newsroom/ikea-retai
Ingka Group (the largest IKEA retailer) announced that Burce Gültekin will become its Chief Data & Analytics Officer for IKEA Retail, effective October 2025. Gültekin joins from the FrieslandCampina dairy company, where she was CIO and Chief Data Officer.
In this role, she will bring two decades of data strategy experience to IKEA, aligning data analytics and AI initiatives with the company’s growth and sustainability goals.
Ben Ng named Group Chief Risk Officer Designate at AIA Group
AIA Group (Asia’s largest life insurer) announced on 18 September 2025 that Ben Ng has been appointed Group Chief Risk Officer Designate, effective 1 October 2025. Ng, a longtime AIA executive, will be based in Hong Kong and report to the Group CEO.
He will officially become Group CRO on 1 January 2026 (pending regulatory approval), succeeding the retiring CRO after that date. This move ensures continuity in AIA’s enterprise risk management as Ng brings extensive leadership experience across AIA’s Asian markets.
That’s a wrap on leadership moves from the close of September to early October. The pattern’s clear- tighter risk frameworks and a bigger bet on AI across the board.
📌 For more such updates on leadership shifts in banking, risk, compliance, and fintech- follow Riskinfo.ai
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