SEI, a financial technology and asset management firm managing $1.9 trillion in assets, has appointed three new senior leaders to drive its artificial intelligence and data strategy. The moves signal a shift from experimental pilots to enterprise-wide execution in a highly regulated sector where governance and data controls dictate AI viability.
Connecting strategy, execution and data
The company named Sneha Shah as Chief AI Strategist, Michael Tryniszewski as Head of AI Orchestration and William Coffey as Chief Data Officer. These roles are designed to connect high-level strategy with day-to-day operations and data management as the firm reshapes its operating model.
Shah will lead the enterprise AI strategy and external market positioning while continuing to direct SEI Next, the firm's innovation unit. Tryniszewski, who reports to Shah, will oversee the practical application of AI across product, technology, operations, risk, compliance and business units. Coffey will report to Chief Technology Officer Zach Womack, overseeing a unified data and AI framework, commercializing data assets, and maintaining governance controls.
As financial institutions operate in strict regulatory environments, effective AI for Finance requires rigid data controls to move projects from isolated tests into production. This structural change ensures that data infrastructure, commercial value, and risk management are handled at the executive level rather than siloed within product teams.
Executive backgrounds and responsibilities
Tryniszewski brings over two decades of experience in large regulated organizations. He previously held senior roles at Takeda, where he designed operating models and governance structures to transition data and AI programs from pilot stages into wider organizational use.
Coffey joins from AKUVO, where he served as Chief Risk and Data Officer. He also held prior senior roles at WSFS Bank and Vanguard covering data strategy, risk management and cybersecurity.
Shah has built SEI Next into an internal engine for innovation and venture building since joining in 2023. Her previous experience includes senior positions at London Stock Exchange Group, Refinitiv and Thomson Reuters, focusing on data, artificial intelligence and financial markets.
Balancing speed with discipline
Chief Executive Officer Ryan Hicke said the appointments address the industry-wide pressure to deliver measurable operational results from AI investments. "AI is no longer optional for financial services firms; it's a strategic accelerant that requires clarity, accountability, and long-term vision," Hicke said.
Shah emphasized the need to balance rapid technological shifts with disciplined execution. "AI is evolving faster than any technology shift we have seen, and that demands both intention and adaptability," Shah said. "At SEI, our focus is on applying AI in ways that enhance human decision-making, strengthen trust, and deliver measurable outcomes."
For professionals focused on AI for Executives & Strategy, this restructuring highlights the necessity of separating high-level vision from day-to-day orchestration and underlying data infrastructure. This division of labor prevents AI initiatives from stalling in isolated technical departments.
Why this matters for executives and strategy
Financial institutions are moving past the proof-of-concept phase, where isolated technology teams ran AI tests. The establishment of dedicated orchestration and data roles signals that scaling AI now requires executive-level accountability for governance, security, and commercial value.
Leaders must decide whether to build proprietary AI capabilities or partner with existing vendors. SEI's model of pairing a Chief AI Strategist with a Head of AI Orchestration and a Chief Data Officer provides a clear blueprint for distributing that responsibility across the C-suite.
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