Chris McClellen

Finastra, a London-based provider of financial services hardware, has established a centralized AI Centre of Excellence ( COE ) and appointed Chris McClellen as senior vice president, group head of AI, reporting to chief technology officer Mike Stawchansky, to lead the initiative.

The AI COE will bring together expertise from across the firm to help coordinate AI initiatives, share best practices, and accelerate innovation across the organization. The centre will draw on resources from engineering, product and other teams, creating a more connected approach to accelerating the development and application of AI capabilities across the company.

McClellen brings extensive experience leading AI strategy and large-scale technology platforms across complex organizations, Finastra says. With a background spanning enterprise software, data platforms, and regulated environments, he has a strong track record of translating emerging technology platforms into practical, scalable solutions.

“We already have a tremendous amount of AI talent and innovation across Finastra. Establishing the AI Centre of Excellence allows us to bring that expertise together while continuing to grow it,” says chief executive officer Chris Walters.“We’re expanding our teams and hiring in key technology hubs including Atlanta and India, combining the strength of our existing teams with new talent. AI has the potential to deliver significant value to our customers, and this structure helps us move faster and scale the work already underway across the company.”