Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) has appointed Richard Lowe as Chief Data & Analytics Officer (CDAO) for its Asia Pacific Division. Based in Singapore, Lowe will lead the development and execution of the bank’s regional data and analytics strategy.

In this newly created role, Lowe will focus on advancing data-driven decision-making, artificial intelligence adoption, enterprise-wide data governance, and the use of advanced analytics across SMBC’s Asia Pacific operations. He will also collaborate with the bank’s head office and global stakeholders on group-wide data and analytics initiatives, while supporting regulatory compliance and data integration efforts across the region.

Lowe brings more than 20 years of experience in data, analytics, and AI in the financial services industry. Most recently, he served as Managing Director and Group Chief Data Officer at United Overseas Bank (UOB), where he led enterprise data and AI capabilities and worked closely with senior management, boards, and regulators across Asia. Earlier in his career, he held senior data leadership positions at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, contributing to large-scale data, analytics, and regulatory transformation initiatives.

Reflecting on the move in a LinkedIn post, Lowe shared, “It is an incredibly exciting time to join the bank as we accelerate our Data, AI and digital transformation and build out next-generation capabilities. I am deeply energized to work alongside our talented regional and global teams to drive a world-class Data Analytics and AI agenda that scales our growth globally and delivers immense value across the APAC ecosystem.”