NatWest Taps AI Pioneer Maja Pantic to Lead Next-Gen Research and Simplification Drive

NatWest Taps AI Pioneer Maja Pantic to Lead Next-Gen Research and Simplification Drive

(IN BRIEF) NatWest has named Dr. Maja Pantic as its first Chief AI Research Officer to spearhead the bank’s AI-driven transformation and simplification strategy. Dr. Pantic, formerly Professor of Affective & Behavioural Computing at Imperial College London and a leader at Samsung AI Research Centre and Meta London, will oversee advanced AI initiatives—including multimodal deepfake detection and generative AI for responsible-AI controls—while guiding research on future industry trends. Her appointment coincides with NatWest’s broader AI efforts: a collaboration with OpenAI, rollout of an enterprise GenAI platform, and enhancements to virtual assistants Cora+ (150% rise in customer satisfaction) and AskArchie+ (75% of HR queries automated).

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 11-Jun-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — NatWest has appointed Dr. Maja Pantic as its inaugural Chief AI Research Officer, entrusting her with the mission to deepen the bank’s artificial intelligence capabilities, foster groundbreaking research, and accelerate its strategic simplification agenda. Effective immediately, Dr. Pantic will lead efforts to anticipate customer needs through advanced AI applications and support innovation across all divisions.

Dr. Pantic joins NatWest from Imperial College London, where she serves as Professor of Affective & Behavioural Computing. Her distinguished career also includes founding the Samsung AI Research Centre in Cambridge and directing AI scientific research at Meta’s London office.

In her new role, Dr. Pantic will:

• Champion cutting-edge AI projects—such as deploying multimodal techniques (voice, video) to detect deepfakes and harnessing generative AI to strengthen responsible-AI frameworks.
• Spearhead research initiatives that track emerging AI trends, assess their implications for banking, and forecast shifts in technology and customer behaviour.
• Drive bank-wide simplification by expanding AI-powered tools and automation, enabling colleagues to focus on high-value tasks and improving overall productivity.

Scott Marcar, NatWest Group’s Chief Information Officer, remarked, “AI is central to making NatWest simpler and more responsive in the moments that count. Maja’s appointment is a pivotal step—her exceptional expertise will accelerate our ability to meet evolving customer expectations and enhance our team’s capabilities.”

Dr. Pantic added, “Throughout my career, I’ve sought roles where I can have real impact and continue learning. NatWest’s critical role in supporting customers and communities offers a unique chance to apply AI at scale and collaborate with leaders who prioritise innovation and continuous learning.”

Dr. Pantic’s arrival builds on NatWest’s recent AI advancements, including its partnership with OpenAI, the launch of an internal GenAI platform accessible to all employees, and improvements in virtual assistants such as Cora+ and AskArchie+. Since introducing GenAI features, Cora+ has achieved a 150% increase in customer satisfaction and significantly reduced the need for colleague intervention. Similarly, AskArchie+ now resolves up to 75% of HR queries without human assistance.

Media Contacts:

James Abbott
Head of Financial Media
+44 7557 316 540
James.Abbott@natwest.com

Claire French
External Leadership Communications & Financial Media Lead
+44 7581 066 380
Claire.French@natwest.com

Alex Dee
Media Relations Manager
+44 7967 865 819
Alexandra.Dee@natwest.com

SOURCE: NatWest