Wealth managers race to put AI leaders in place as technology reshapes the industry
SEI and Destiny Wealth Partners have appointed AI-focused executives to lead their AI strategies, signaling a major industry shift toward treating AI as core infrastructure in wealth management. SEI created roles for Chief AI Strategist, Head of AI Orchestration, and Chief Data Officer, while Destiny Wealth Partners hired a Head of AI Products and Platform to develop advisor-specific AI tools.
Two major wealth management firms are restructuring leadership to prioritize artificial intelligence as a core business function. SEI, a Pennsylvania-based financial technology and asset management group with $1.9 trillion in assets under management (AUM) and administration (AUA), announced three new executive roles focused on AI strategy and execution. Sneha Shah will serve as Chief AI Strategist, guiding AI adoption across the firm, while Michael Tryniszewski joins as Head of AI Orchestration to implement AI solutions. William Coffey was named Chief Data Officer to build the data infrastructure supporting AI initiatives. SEI CEO Ryan Hicke emphasized AI’s strategic importance, stating it is no longer optional but a key driver for business transformation. Shah, who previously worked at London Stock Exchange Group, Refinitiv, and Thomson Reuters, will oversee AI strategy, including decisions on building proprietary tools or partnering with external providers. Her focus includes embedding AI into SEI’s operations while ensuring responsible use and measurable outcomes. Shah highlighted the rapid pace of AI evolution, stressing the need for adaptability and disciplined investment to maintain competitive advantage. Meanwhile, Destiny Wealth Partners, a Florida-based independent registered investment advisor (RIA) group, appointed Sean Beierly as Head of AI Products and Platform for Destiny Intelligence, a new AI-focused division. Beierly brings nearly three decades of technology experience, including roles at Amazon and Cisco, where he led AI innovation and automation initiatives. His mandate includes developing AI tools tailored for wealth advisory, such as advisor digital twins, client intelligence agents, and onboarding automation. Destiny’s founder and CEO, Tom Ruggie, noted that AI will reshape wealth management, positioning the firm as an industry leader by addressing gaps between large firms and smaller RIAs. Destiny’s AI Operating System is designed as a practitioner-built framework to help advisory businesses adopt agentic AI while navigating cost, compliance, and explainability challenges. The firm aims to test tools internally before offering them to peer organizations. Ruggie emphasized the need for strategic AI leadership to ensure Destiny remains competitive in an evolving industry landscape. Both firms’ moves reflect a broader trend in financial services, where AI is increasingly viewed as essential infrastructure rather than an optional innovation. SEI’s structured approach—combining strategy, execution, and data governance—contrasts with Destiny’s focus on building proprietary AI solutions for smaller advisory firms. The appointments underscore the urgency for wealth managers to integrate AI into their operations to enhance decision-making and deliver value to clients.
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