MENA’s leading bank Mashreq has appointed Xi Liang as the Head of Artificial Intelligence, effective immediately. 

Announcing the appointment, the bank stated, “Mashreq is pleased to announce the appointment of Xi Liang as its new Head of Artificial Intelligence. In her role, Xi will spearhead Mashreq’s AI strategy, driving innovation and embedding advanced AI capabilities to enhance customer experience, operational efficiency, and the bank’s competitive edge.”

Xi brings over 15 years of AI leadership experience across leading sectors including banking, retail, consulting, and healthcare. She most recently served Judo Bank in Australia as the Head of Data and AI products. Stepping into her new role, she shared, “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Head of AI at Mashreq! A new adventure in Dubai!”

In her previous roles, Xi worked with Endeavour Group Australia as the Practice Lead of Data Science, Analytics and BI, McKinsey & Company as Data Science Specialist, and IBM as AI Researcher (awarded four patents and published in top-tier journals). She also served InterPublic Group and various international research centres including National Informatics Institute Japan, CSRIO Data 61 Australia, Fraunhofer MEVIS Germany, AccuRad China and Melbourne University at the beginning of her career. 

Welcoming her on the AI leadership team, Mohamed Abdel Razek, Group Head of Transformation, Technology, and Information at Mashreq, said, “We are pleased to welcome Xi to Mashreq at a pivotal moment in our AI journey. Her exceptional expertise in developing enterprise-scale AI solutions, combined with her commitment to ethical and explainable AI, will play a critical role in strengthening our technology leadership. Xi’s experience in driving innovation and building world-class AI teams aligns perfectly with our vision to deliver transformative banking experiences for our clients.”

“In her new role, Xi will lead the development and implementation of Mashreq’s AI initiatives across all business units. This includes advancing generative AI, intelligent automation, and enterprise-wide AI adoption, ensuring alignment with business priorities and regulatory requirements.” the bank added. 

Xi added, “I am excited to join Mashreq, an organization renowned for its culture of innovation and ambition to lead in digital banking. Together, we have a unique opportunity to harness the power of AI to create meaningful, customer-centric solutions while setting new standards for responsible AI in financial services. I look forward to collaborating with Mashreq’s talented teams to drive the next wave of intelligent transformation.”

On the academic front, Xi completed a PhD in Engineering, advancements in machine learning and AI applications from the University of Melbourne. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the same institution and multiple certifications in cloud computing, AI governance, and data science from leading global providers.

“Mashreq welcomes Xi Liang to its team and is confident that her expertise will be instrumental in shaping the bank’s AI strategy and driving sustainable innovation in the financial industry.” the bank added.