finance
Manulife, HSBC and Barclays accelerate AI adoption in Hong Kong
Major banks have appointed AI chiefs and expanded AI teams in Hong Kong after the government launched an AI+ strategy to promote AI in banking and society.
Apr 3rd 2026 · Hong Kong
Insights
- Manulife relocated its Asia chief AI officer Mark Czajkowski to Hong Kong and on March 9 appointed Liu Hongjuan as chief AI and data officer for Hong Kong and Macau.
- HSBC named David Rice as its first chief AI officer effective April 1.
- Barclays is among major banks signaling plans to expand AI use in the city.
- The appointments follow Financial Secretary Paul Chan's AI+ strategy in this year's budget to promote AI in banking and AI literacy.
- Firms say the leadership hires aim to strengthen Hong Kong's position as an AI innovation hub.
Sources
- Manulife, Sun Life CEOs see opportunities in China ahead of meeting with vice-premier www.theglobeandmail.com
- Politics Insider: In Beijing, Canadian CEOs say they see business opportunities in China www.theglobeandmail.com
- Manulife, HSBC, Barclays among big finance firms pushing AI adoption in Hong Kong www.scmp.com
- China to build ‘inclusive’ AI network to ease cost pressures on small firms www.scmp.com