BNP Paribas CIB Appoints Charles Holive as Chief AI Officer
The bank consolidates AI governance at the divisional level
Charles Holive has joined BNP Paribas as Chief AI Officer for its Corporate & Institutional Banking (CIB) division. The appointment was announced in January 2026 and covers AI strategy and execution across CIB, which includes capital markets, financing, transaction banking, and securities services.
The appointment follows several years of AI deployment across BNP Paribas, including within CIB. The bank has publicly reported that it has deployed hundreds of AI use cases across its businesses and has made AI a strategic focus. The creation of a dedicated Chief AI Officer role within CIB consolidates responsibility for AI platforms and standards at the divisional level.
Holive’s remit places AI alongside other shared technology capabilities that support CIB operations, including data platforms and workflow systems. The role reports into CIB leadership. BNP Paribas has stated that AI must be used within existing risk, compliance, and governance frameworks in regulated businesses such as investment banking.
AI embedded across CIB operations
BNP Paribas has stated that it has deployed “hundreds” of AI use cases in production across the group, spanning areas such as client experience, operational efficiency, and risk functions. In reporting on its AI activities, the bank has linked these efforts to automation of processes, decision support applications, and cybersecurity risk detection.
A key component of the bank’s approach is its internal “LLM as a Service” platform. BNP Paribas publicly described this platform as shared infrastructure providing controlled access to large language models for its business units, with centralized security and governance controls. The system is designed to support integration of generative AI into internal tools and processes rather than through standalone, disparate deployments.
Within CIB, AI-supported systems assist with internal tasks such as document review and the retrieval of research and transaction materials. An AI-driven portal for investment bankers that helps surface historical pitch data has also been reported as deployed inside the division. These tools are integrated into existing systems and used to support internal workflows rather than as independent, client-facing products.
Securities Services, a business line within the broader CIB perimeter, has also disclosed use of AI to support operational processes and service delivery. In that context, AI is applied to data processing and automation rather than client advisory functions.
Holive’s previous roles include senior positions in financial services and enterprise AI environments, including at JPMorgan Chase and PepsiCo. BNP Paribas’ public announcement of his appointment notes his background in building technology and AI capabilities across large organizations. The Chief AI Officer role within CIB is structured around coordinating shared AI platforms, standards, and execution rather than focusing solely on experimental development.
From deployment to governance at scale
As AI systems move into broader operational use, governance and consistency become central concerns for large financial institutions. BNP Paribas has emphasized the need for centralized controls around data usage, security, and model deployment as AI adoption expands across business lines.
The establishment of a Chief AI Officer role within CIB creates a single point of responsibility for aligning AI systems with divisional requirements and group-wide standards. This includes oversight of model usage, technology partnerships, and integration with existing risk and compliance processes.
Locating the role within CIB reflects the division’s specific operational environment. Capital markets, financing, and securities services rely on distinct data flows and system architectures. AI systems supporting these activities must integrate with those environments while remaining consistent with group-level controls.
BNP Paribas’ approach follows a pattern seen with other foundational technologies inside large banks: initial deployment occurs within teams and business units, followed by formalized ownership once usage becomes widespread. Within CIB, AI systems are now part of daily workflows across multiple functions. The leadership appointment formalizes responsibility for these systems within the division.