Chris Rowe: «These HR Trends Will Define Finance in 2026»
As disruption in banking gathers pace, human resources is undergoing radical change. Against this backdrop, 2026 is set to become a pivotal year. Artificial intelligence is morphing into the new offshoring model, governance frameworks must be reimagined, and certain roles are suddenly becoming critically important, writes Chris Rowe, executive search specialist and co–founder of Pltfrm, in an exclusive contribution to finews.asia.
For years, India and parts of Eastern Europe were seen as the «bogeyman» of the Swiss labour market, as international companies sought to replace costly Swiss structures with cheaper offshore or nearshore teams.
That chapter may soon be over. Increasingly specialised roles are now being replaced by artificial intelligence «agents», often referred to as agentic AI.
AI – The New Offshoring
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In the past, a shrinking headcount was considered a warning signal on a company’s organisational chart and a cause for concern among investors. In future, it will increasingly be interpreted as a competitive advantage.
At the same time, a substantial increase in demand for experienced senior executives in the field of AI is expected. Chief AI Officers (CAIOs) and Heads of AI Governance are particularly sought after. One open question remains the positioning of the CAIO: should the role report to the CTO or CIO, as at UBS, or directly to the CEO, as is the case at J.P. Morgan? This remains to be seen.
Rethinking Governance
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Almost every second image we see on social media today is AI-generated. In a world marked by data misuse, deepfakes and cyberattacks, trust is becoming the most valuable currency in business. The Chief Trust Officer (CTO) brings together compliance, data protection, corporate culture and ethics, thereby creating a value-based relationship between companies, employees and customers.
This new C-suite role already exists at technology giants such as Salesforce, Google and Coinbase. Against this backdrop, it is entirely conceivable that 2026 will see the appointment of the first Chief Trust Officer in global banking or insurance.
A Strong Year for CHROs and CFOs
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Amid all the hype surrounding new leadership roles, the core pillars of executive management should not be overlooked: Chief Human Resources Officers and Chief Financial Officers. Many of them owe their current standing to the Covid period, when they demonstrated decisiveness in a «perfect storm» of workforce disruption, remote work and cost pressures.
The year 2026 promises to be at least as demanding. With almost all business models in the financial industry under pressure, the right strategy and the appropriate financing mix will determine success or failure.
CFOs will be firmly in the driver’s seat when it comes to AI investments and innovation budgets. And, as during the pandemic, the rule will apply once again: those CHROs and CFOs who adapt fastest will succeed – the rest will be replaced.
The Rise of the Allrounders
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The growing complexity of the modern business world has, in recent years, reinforced the view that specialised roles require highly specific skills and experience. In positions such as heads of AML or CTOs, it was difficult to argue against specialists, leading to the rise of largely single-discipline «monoline» executives to the top management level.
However, as technological barriers to entry fall rapidly, a stronger focus on human-centred, skills-based hiring criteria is expected. This could play to the strengths of allrounders, also known as utility players – seasoned leaders who have worked in different functions and regions within an organisation. Recent top appointments at UBS and Morgan Stanley support this trend.
Chief Sustainability Officer – Back in Favour
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Imagine being a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO): in 2020 and 2021, it was «the hottest ticket in town». Three years later, no one seemed interested anymore.
Now the CSO is making a comeback. Sustainability is evolving from a «nice to have» into a «must have», not least from a regulatory perspective. It is also playing a central role in capital formation and financing strategies. Recent appointments at Apollo and Edmond de Rothschild underline this shift.
Based in Zurich and London, Pltfrm is a technology–driven executive search firm founded in 2023 by Chris Rowe and Will Lahaise, the former Global Head of Recruiting at UBS. The firm specialises in C-level executive appointments for clients in financial services and technology. Rowe is based in Zurich and brings more than twenty years of experience in executive search.
