(US and Canada) Franklin Templeton has appointed Deep Ratna Srivastav as Chief AI Officer. Srivastav will lead the company’s initiatives as an early adopter of AI, driving cutting-edge AI research in finance. He will oversee the conceptualization, development, and adoption of AI products in collaboration with business leaders, clients, technology firms, and the advisory board. Additionally, he will focus on building a best-in-class AI team dedicated to advancing finance-focused solutions.

Previously, Srivastav served as SVP and Head of AI & Digital Transformation, where he was responsible for shaping and executing the company’s AI and digital strategies. In that capacity, he led AI research and innovation, managed the firm’s AI-driven digital platform, and spearheaded digital transformation initiatives for the enterprise and its clients.

Previously, Srivastav was FT’s Head of Digital Investment Solutions, overseeing the digital product roadmap and leveraging financial technologies, data science capabilities, and related investment advice. His other stints at FT include Global Head of Data and Analytics and the Head of Business Strategy for North America. Srivastav also led client analytics, capital market research, data sciences, digital analytics, data engineering, business intelligence, and business strategy.

In terms of his academic background, Srivastav holds a bachelor of engineering in electronics and an MBA with a focus on quantitative research and marketing. He has a certificate in quantitative finance from the CQF Institute. In addition to holding various data-related certifications, he is a GE Capital-certified Six Sigma Black Belt. He co-authored “A New Approach to Goals-Based Wealth Management,” published in the Journal of Investment Management, and won the Harry M. Markowitz Award in 2018. His other co-authored papers have been published in multiple academic journals, including the Journal of Banking and Finance.

Srivastav also holds a position on the CDO Magazine Global Editorial Board, showcasing his contributions to the field of data.