New industry champions to turn rapid AI adoption into safe, scalable growth.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
Around three-quarters of UK financial firms already use AI, with the technology expected to boost the economy, cut costs for\u00a0firms\u00a0and transform services for customers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Champions will focus on helping firms seize opportunities at pace while protecting\u202fconsumers and financial\u202fstability, reporting directly to the Economic Secretary.\u00a0<\/p>\n
AI is already widely used across financial services, with around three-quarters of UK firms now deploying AI, up sharply\u202ffrom just over half in recent years.\u202fIndependent analysis suggests AI could add tens of billions of pounds to the financial and professional services sector by 2030,\u202fas well as transforming services for consumers,\u202funderlining both the pace of adoption and the scale of the opportunity ahead.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
The new Champions, Harriet Rees from Starling Bank and Dr Rohit Dhawan from Lloyds Banking Group,\u202fwill help turn this momentum into practical delivery through their extensive experience of working in this field. They will report directly to the Economic Secretary Lucy Rigby – helping firms seize the\u00a0huge potential\u00a0of AI in financial services, and exploring ways to accelerate safe adoption at scale,\u202fidentify\u202fwhere innovation can move faster, and tackle barriers holding firms back.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
Their focus will be on ensuring firms can seize the opportunities AI presents with confidence \u2014 improving customer outcomes, boosting productivity and competitiveness, and\u202fmaintaining\u202ftrust,\u202fresilience\u202fand strong consumer protection \u2014 while reinforcing the UK\u2019s position as a global hub for financial services,\u202ftechnology\u202fand investment.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
Economic Secretary to the Treasury Lucy Rigby\u202fKC MP\u202fsaid:\u00a0<\/p>\n
Harriet and Rohit bring deep, real-world experience of deploying AI safely at scale, and they will help turn rapid adoption into practical delivery \u2013 unlocking growth while keeping our financial system secure and resilient.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Harriet Rees,\u202fGroup\u202fChief Information Officer \u2013 Starling Bank,\u202fsaid:\u202f<\/p>\n
Being appointed AI Champion for Financial Services is an exciting opportunity as the sector faces a pivotal moment to become a world leader in AI. I look forward to working with HM Treasury and the industry to create a world-class ecosystem in which innovation exceeds customers\u2019 expectations and the transformative power of AI unlocks growth. In turn, this will reinforce the UK\u2019s status as the world\u2019s most technologically advanced financial centre.<\/p>\n
Dr Rohit Dhawan, Head of\u202fAI and Advanced Analytics \u2013 Lloyds Banking Group,\u202fsaid:<\/p>\n
It is a privilege to have been asked by HM Treasury to take on the role of AI Champion for financial services. AI has the potential to reshape the industry and at Lloyds Banking Group we are already seeing how thoughtful and responsible adoption of AI can transform customer experience and the way a large organisation\u202foperates. I look forward to working with HM Treasury,\u202fregulators\u202fand industry partners to accelerate the trusted and effective use of AI across financial services and support the UK\u2019s ambition to remain a global leader in financial innovation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Harriet Rees is Group Chief Information Officer at Starling, where she leads data, engineering, information\u202fsecurity\u202fand product development. Having joined Starling in 2018 to found its Data Science practice, she now defines and delivers the Group\u2019s technology strategy, including oversight of information and technology assets and ensuring operational resilience at scale. Harriet also plays a leading role in shaping the future of AI in financial services as Co-Chair of the Bank of England\u2019s AI Taskforce and a member of the AI Consortium.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dr Rohit Dhawan is Group Director and Head of AI & Advanced Analytics at Lloyds Banking Group, a role he has held since 2024. He\u202fis responsible for\u202fshaping the Group\u2019s strategy and roadmap for AI, machine\u202flearning\u202fand advanced analytics. He leads multidisciplinary teams across data science, behavioural science, machine learning engineering and AI ethics, focused on transforming customer experience and operational processes.\u202fHe is also a member of the AI Consortium.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The appointments take effect from 20 January 2026. The roles are unpaid, direct ministerial appointments reporting to the Economic Secretary to the Treasury.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
Further information<\/p>\n
Established processes for the declaration and management of interests have been followed in respect of this appointment.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n