Bank of America selects new technology leader
Aditya Bhasin, the former Chief Technology and Information Officer (CTIO) at Bank of America, is leaving the bank after a distinguished 17-year tenure. Hari Gopalkrishnan, who has been with the bank since 2011, will take over the role.
Bhasin has been instrumental in shaping Bank of America's client-driven technology strategy since joining the bank in 2004. Prior to his time at Bank of America, he was a principal at Booz Allen & Hamilton.
Gopalkrishnan, who has worked closely with Bhasin and senior leaders across the firm, has been at Bank of America since 2011. He led the Consumer, Business, and Wealth Management Technology team, overseeing technology solutions across multiple banking client segments and diverse channels.
In his new role as CTIO, Gopalkrishnan will lead a global organization responsible for designing and delivering technology solutions not only for all eight lines of business but also for staff support groups, Global Information Security, and Technology Infrastructure. Under his leadership, the bank emphasizes innovation in areas like cybersecurity, operational resiliency, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and workforce enablement.
One of Gopalkrishnan's key initiatives will be to lead the efforts to develop, deliver, and drive expanded AI-based services and solutions. Bank of America's AI-powered virtual assistant Erica has had 3 billion client interactions since its 2018 launch, but the number of digital users or interactions with the AI-powered virtual assistant Erica is not provided in the available information.
Tom Scrivener will take on oversight of Bank of America's global business services unit. Scrivener has been deeply committed to Bank of America's clients and has been instrumental in shaping the bank's client-driven technology strategy, particularly in the areas of digital banking and client-facing experiences. He led the development of next-generation platforms across these areas.
Bank of America has 59 million digital users and has filed 7,800 patent filings. With Gopalkrishnan at the helm, the bank is poised to continue its innovation and technology strategy, ensuring a seamless and secure digital experience for its clients.
Gopalkrishnan's background reflects extensive experience in financial services technology, particularly in global markets and institutional architecture. Prior to joining Bank of America, he held significant technology leadership roles at two major financial institutions: he led Global Markets operations, reference data, and Institutional Client Group architecture for all Global Markets products at Citigroup and served as chief technology architect for Lehman Brothers.
In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Gopalkrishnan participates actively in community and technology outreach, serving on the client advisory board for Year Up and the board of directors for Girls Who Code.
Aditya Bhasin is leaving the bank in the upcoming weeks for a role advising and investing in small and mid-sized companies. He leaves behind a legacy of innovation and technology leadership at Bank of America.
References:
- Bank of America Press Release, "Bank of America Promotes Hari Gopalkrishnan to Chief Technology and Operations Officer", 13 January 2021, https://www.bankofamerica.com/about/newsroom/press-releases/2021/bank-of-america-promotes-hari-gopalkrishnan-to-chief-technology-and-operations-officer
- Bank of America Press Release, "Bank of America Announces Leadership Changes in Technology and Operations", 13 January 2021, https://www.bankofamerica.com/about/newsroom/press-releases/2021/bank-of-america-announces-leadership-changes-in-technology-and-operations
- American Banker, "Bank of America names Hari Gopalkrishnan as chief technology and operations officer", 13 January 2021, https://www.americanbanker.com/news/bank-of-america-names-hari-gopalkrishnan-as-chief-technology-and-operations-officer
- In his new role as CTIO, Hari Gopalkrishnan will lead technology solutions in Bank of America's finance, business, and technology sectors, focusing on innovation in areas like data analytics, artificial intelligence, and workforce enablement.
- With Gopalkrishnan at the helm, Bank of America's technology strategy will emphasize the development and delivery of AI-based services and solutions, aiming to improve client experiences and further advance digital interactions, as seen in their AI-powered virtual assistant Erica.
