Leadership Shifts in Risk & AI — September Fortnight 2025

Staff Correspondent
Sep 14
3 min read

The fortnight of September has brought some notable leadership shifts across banking, compliance, and financial technology. From a global bank strengthening its risk leadership to a retailer betting big on AI, these appointments reveal where the industry is headed — tighter controls, sharper oversight, and a growing role for artificial intelligence.

Here are the key moves you should know about.

Recent Chief Risk / Data / Technology Appointments

Dr Andrew McMullan starts at Westpac as the Chief Data, Digital and AI Officer

Role: Chief Data, Digital and AI Officer (started September 2025) https://www.westpac.com.au/about-westpac/media/media-releases/2025/26-may/
Westpac has appointed Dr Andrew McMullan to lead data, digital and AI, reporting directly to the CEO. He previously served as Chief Data & Analytics Officer at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. The role centralises AI, data and digital under a single mandate to accelerate responsible AI at scale across the bank. Dr McMullan holds a PhD in Statistics from the University of Glasgow and brings extensive global experience in developing and scaling digital, data analytics and AI platforms.

Lululemon appoints Ranju Das as the Company’s First Chief AI & Technology Officer

Role: Chief AI & Technology Officer (new role; effective 2 Sept 2025) https://corporate.lululemon.com/media/press-releases/2025/08-26-2025-113010087
Lululemon has created a new leadership role with the appointment of Ranju Das as Chief AI & Technology Officer. Reporting to CEO Calvin McDonald, Das will lead global AI and technology strategy, embedding AI into retail and supply chain operations, driving AI‑powered personalisation, and strengthening digital risk and governance frameworks. His mandate will focus on embedding AI into Lululemon’s retail and supply chain operations, driving AI‑powered customer personalisation and strengthening digital risk and governance frameworks. This appointment signals Lululemon’s commitment to making AI a core driver of growth and operational resilience.

Thabani Ndwandwe — Standard Bank of South Africa / Standard Bank Group

Role: Group Chief Risk Officer (early September 2025) https://www.standardbank.co.za/southafrica/news-and-media/newsroom/standard-bank-announces-internal-leadership-appointments
Thabani Ndwandwe steps up to succeed David Hodnett as Group CRO while retaining SBSA CRO responsibilities. With two decades at Standard Bank, he brings deep, multi‑jurisdictional risk experience as the Group strengthens oversight in a dynamic macro environment.

Zanders Appoints Lars Frisell as Partner (Nordics & Baltics)

https://zandersgroup.com/en/insights/press-releases/

Zanders has welcomed Lars Frisell as a Partner to expand its presence in the Nordics and Baltics. With a career spanning banking, consulting and financial regulation (including roles at Swedbank, the Central Bank of Ireland and the Swedish FSA), Lars brings expertise in credit and ESG risk, financial modelling and regulatory frameworks. This appointment strengthens Zanders’ advisory capabilities in tackling complex risk challenges across Europe, especially around ESG disclosures and regulatory‑driven change.

The Bank of London appoints Aris Asimakis as Chief Risk and Compliance Officer

https://www.bankoflondon.com/resources/bank-of-london-further-strengthens-executive-bench-with-new-chief-risk-and-compliance-officer
Aris Asimakis joins The Bank of London as CRCO, further strengthening the executive bench at the clearing and payments bank as it scales regulated operations. In his new role, Aris will lead the optimisation of the Bank’s risk and compliance framework across enterprise risk management, capital and liquidity planning, recovery and resolution preparedness, risk governance, and economic crime prevention. With over 20 years of risk, regulatory and professional services experience - including roles at the Prudential Regulation Authority and commercial banks such as Zempler Bank, where Aris served as CRO for more than six years - he brings a wealth of expertise. At Zempler, Aris led the development of the Enterprise Risk Management Framework and Board risk reporting and played a key role in securing the bank’s full licence in 2021.

SmartBank Names Jarrod Trumpp as Chief Risk Officer
https://www.smartbank.com/2025/08/smartbank-names-jarrod-trumpp-chief-risk-officer/
SmartBank has appointed Jarrod Trumpp as its new Chief Risk Officer. Trumpp joins the executive leadership team with over 20 years of experience in enterprise risk and regulatory compliance. He previously held senior risk management roles at regional and national banks in the US. His areas of expertise include credit and operational risk, regulatory compliance frameworks and risk governance and oversight. As CRO, Trumpp will strengthen SmartBank’s risk culture and guide its response to evolving regulatory expectations in the US banking sector.