JPMorgan Hires Nomura's AI Strategy Chief, Second Poach in a Year
JPMorgan Chase is recruiting Tahir Zafar, the international head of AI strategy at Nomura Holdings, as its new head of AI strategy. Zafar will start in July 2026 after completing a non-compete period.
The hire marks JPMorgan's second senior AI recruitment from Nomura in less than a year. The bank brought on Deep Thomas from Nomura's AI division in August 2025.
The Pattern
Zafar joined Nomura in late 2023 and moved quickly through the ranks. By March 2025, he held the title of international head of AI strategy, based in Singapore.
His background spans both technical and business domains. He holds a computer science degree and an MBA from the University of Oxford. Before Nomura, he worked at PwC and Accenture, advising major banking institutions on digital transformation.
His public work has focused on responsible AI deployment in financial services-a subject that matters to regulators increasingly scrutinizing how banks use automated decision-making.
Why This Matters for Strategy Leaders
CEO Jamie Dimon has made AI a central priority at JPMorgan. The bank is systematically recruiting specialists to increase productivity and improve service delivery across its operations.
Zafar's hire signals that JPMorgan views AI strategy as a competitive differentiator worth pursuing aggressively. The bank is willing to recruit proven talent from established competitors.
For Nomura, losing two senior AI strategists to the same rival in under a year raises questions about its ability to retain top technology talent. Compensation and career progression in its AI division may be under pressure.
Zafar has published on blockchain and cryptocurrency topics since 2017, though his role at JPMorgan will likely focus on broader AI applications across business lines rather than digital assets.
For executives building AI strategies, the pattern here is clear: top talent in this field is mobile, and institutions that move decisively on recruitment can gain advantages. AI for Executives & Strategy resources can help leaders understand how to integrate AI talent and strategy effectively. AI for Finance offers sector-specific insights for banking and financial services leaders evaluating AI investments.
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