About AI Exec Hub
Experience. Research. Practical perspective.
AI Exec Hub is an independent knowledge and advisory platform focused on artificial intelligence, banking and emerging technology.
It brings together practical experience, evidence-based research, executive perspectives and specialist expertise to help leaders understand how AI is changing banking, business and technology — and how to create real business value.
The founder
Dato Mohammad Arif Siddiqui
Founder, AI Exec Hub
A banking and technology executive with more than three decades of experience across banking technology, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, payments and emerging technologies - most of it at Standard Chartered Bank, where he rose from systems development to Chief Information Officer.
As CEO of the bank's global shared services company in Malaysia he grew the operation from 350 to 7,000 people, supporting technology and operations in 72 countries. As CIO he led technology and operations across 39 countries, and sponsored the bank's work in analytics, AI and machine learning, innovation labs, digital banking and automation.
He went on to advise the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on digital financial inclusion, with McKinsey and the State Bank of Pakistan, and to serve as Chief Digital Officer of Faysal Bank, a 700-branch bank with 16 million customers.
Today, his focus is on the practical application of AI in banking and AI agents — particularly how organisations move from experimentation to measurable enterprise value.
Career highlights
1990 – 2006
Standard Chartered Bank
Systems development across banking, cards, mortgages, lending and treasury in several countries, then Head of Technology for the ATM, trade, treasury and cash-management platforms.
2006 – 2012
CEO, Global Shared Services - Standard Chartered
Built the bank’s global services company in Malaysia from 350 to 7,000 people, supporting technology and operations in 72 countries.
2012 – 2017
Chief Information Officer - Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia
Technology and operations across 39 countries and a 7,000-strong team, with cyber governance, IT risk, digital banking and automation.
2017 – 2019
Lead Consultant, Digital Financial Inclusion - Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
With McKinsey and the State Bank of Pakistan, helped design a retail digital payment system for mobile transfers.
2019 – 2021
Chief Digital Officer - Faysal Bank
Digital strategy and fintech partnerships for a 700-branch bank with 16 million customers, reporting to the CEO and Board.
2021 – 2024
Strategy & Transformation Consultant - Asia Pacific
Advised bank leadership on digital transformation, efficiency and customer experience.
2024 – today
Author and founder, AI Exec Hub
Books on AI in banking, blockchain in banking and AI in cybersecurity, and the research and advisory work of AI Exec Hub.
Recognition and education
- CIO of the Year, 2012Asian CIO Leadership Awards
- CIO Excellence Award, 2012PIKOM ICT Leadership Awards
- Top 25 CIO, Asia
- Chairman's AwardStandard Chartered Bank
- MSc Mathematics, University of Karachi
- Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science, Petronas Institute
- Leadership programmes at Oxford and Imperial College
- PMP, Six Sigma and Lean, and change management
What AI Exec Hub does
Research & Insights
Independent research, benchmarks, frameworks and evidence-based analysis.
Articles & Publications
Executive perspectives, articles and books by Dato Arif Siddiqui.
Executive Education
One-to-one executive sessions and customised learning for leadership teams.
Consulting
Independent advisory support for AI, banking and technology transformation.
Our perspective
- Business first. AI second.
- Evidence before claims.
- Responsible scale over disconnected experimentation.
Areas of expertise
- AI Strategy & Transformation
- AI in Banking
- AI Agents
- Digital Banking
- Banking Technology
- Payments
- Data & Architecture
- Blockchain & Emerging Technology
- Responsible AI
Books & publications
The books are being added to the library.
Visit Publications