SEI Investments, the Oaks, Pennsylvania-based financial technology and asset management firm, has made a series of senior leadership appointments across artificial intelligence and international wealth management, signaling a strategic push to embed AI into its operations while expanding its global private banking footprint.
On Tuesday, the company named Sneha Shah as chief AI strategist, a role that places her at the helm of the firm’s artificial intelligence initiatives. Shah, who will continue to lead SEI Next, the company’s innovation division, is tasked with evaluating whether SEI should build, acquire, or partner for AI capabilities. She will also serve as a public-facing representative for the firm’s AI efforts.
Alongside Shah, SEI appointed Michael Tryniszewski as head of AI orchestration and William Coffey as chief data officer. Tryniszewski will focus on deploying AI across operations and risk management, while Coffey will oversee data strategy, governance, and monetization. The three appointments create a dedicated leadership structure that separates AI strategy, implementation, and data management into distinct functions.
“AI is no longer optional,” CEO Ryan Hicke said in a statement, describing the technology as a strategic driver of growth and innovation across financial services. The move comes as wealth management firms and asset managers increasingly move beyond pilot programs to establish formal AI leadership roles.
The following day, SEI announced the appointment of Sean Hurley as head of international private banking and wealth management services. In this newly created role, Hurley will oversee business development and client relationship management for the firm’s international private banking and wealth management segment. Prior to joining SEI, Hurley held senior positions at Avaloq and Temenos, both technology providers to banks and wealth management institutions.
These appointments follow a broader trend in the wealth management industry, where firms are investing in both technology and talent to stay competitive. For example, LPL Financial recently recruited a UBS veteran with $250 million in assets, and Cresset and Callan Family Office added senior directors to bolster ultra-high-net-worth services.
SEI’s dual leadership expansion underscores the firm’s commitment to leveraging AI for operational efficiency while strengthening its international wealth management business. The appointments also reflect a growing recognition among financial services firms that dedicated AI leadership is essential for long-term growth.
With over $1 trillion in assets under management and administration, SEI serves a broad client base including RIAs, broker-dealers, and institutional investors. The new leadership team is expected to drive innovation and client service improvements across these segments.
