GEC NEWS WIREBackbase has appointed Chris Shayan as the new Head of Artificial Intelligence. This strategic move is set to significantly advance Backbase’s AI vision and adoption across its tech offering, reinforcing its commitment to re-architecting banking around the customer.
A New Era at Backbase
Backbase is leading digital banking transformation by helping financial institutions modernize their customer journeys and optimize operations. The integration of AI into the Engagement Banking Platform (EBP) is a critical step in this mission. “We are pleased to announce Chris as our new Head of Artificial Intelligence,” said Thomas Fuss, CTO of Backbase. “With his demonstrated expertise in digital banking solutions and a true passion for technological advancement, Chris is a true business leader who drives innovation and is set to lead our AI initiatives into an exciting future.”
Introducing Chris Shayan
Chris Shayan brings a wealth of expertise and hands-on experience with AI to Backbase. A digital leader renowned for scaling digital banking transformation programs, Chris has a demonstrated ability of driving business growth through technology.
“I’m excited to be joining Backbase as its first Head of Artificial Intelligence,” he stated. “I believe that AI’s potential extends beyond just process optimization. The existing technology at Backbase is remarkable, and I am genuinely excited about contributing to the development of a robust Gen AI track that will empower banks to enhance productivity and further accelerate their modernization efforts.”
Some of his career achievements and background include:
- Leading Digital Transformation at TCB: In his capacity as CTO, Chris spearheaded the bank’s digital transformation by implementing Backbase for both Retail and Business Banking in a record-breaking nine months. This shift from monolithic architecture to microservices and a micro-frontend not only fueled significant business growth but also unlocked the bank’s first-ever profitable year, exceeding $1 billion, paving the way for further innovation and investment.
- Transforming HD Bank: Known for its corporate banking expertise, HD Bank saw a complete digital transformation under Chris’s leadership. As a customer-centric Chief Digital Officer, Chris co-owned the P&L at HDBank and fueled a remarkable 4x customer base growth. His focus was on customer journeys, technology optimization, ecosystem partnerships, and data & AI. Notably, 84% of new customer acquisition (+500%) came through digital channels, while active customers soared 7x with logins increasing by 5x. This digital transformation led to an 11x increase in online deposits, nearly tripling growth in operating income per customer, resulting in over 96% of retail transactions happening digitally.
