Twelve months ago I was having conversations with mid-market financial services firms that had banned AI tools outright. The mood was caution bordering on paralysis.
That phase is over. What replaced it is harder to manage.
Most organisations now have so much AI activity happening, both sanctioned and unsanctioned, that nobody quite knows what is running, where, or by whom. The AI agenda has scattered across IT, digital, risk, and operations with no single accountable leader and no coherent strategy holding it together.
This is not a technology problem. It is a leadership and governance problem. And it is one that large institutions can paper over with a Chief AI Officer appointment, while mid-market firms largely cannot.
I spoke to MRKT3.0 about what I am seeing on the ground and what needs to change.
If you are looking for a single accountable lead for AI without a full-time appointment, our Fractional Chief AI Officer support may help. You can read more on our services page or get in touch.
This article was first shared as a post on LinkedIn.
Sources
- MRKT3.0, Why Does AI Leadership Fail? Traditional Leadership Must Evolve, 14 May 2026.