10 heads of AI in financial technology
Head of AI and ML, Vice President, Machine Learning and Director of Machine Learning are among the current titles held by these heads of AI in financial technology. A reader can learn how heads of AI lead AI and machine learning teams in financial technology businesses.
Professionals to explore
Amit Bansal
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Machine Learning · Oportun
Amit Bansal has been Vice President, Machine Learning at Oportun since September 2026, based in San Francisco, California, and the listing describes Oportun as a loan company. Amit Bansal was Global Head & Sr. Director, AI, ML & Data Science, Credit, Fraud and Seller Risk at PayPal from 2021 to 2024, Sr. Director, AI/ML & Data Science at Venmo from 2019 to 2024 and Head of Credit & Merchant Risk Products at Sardine from 2024 to 2026.
Anna E. Premo
LinkedInExperience: VP, AI and Organizational Intelligence · Lendistry
Anna E. Premo has been VP, AI and Organizational Intelligence at Lendistry since July 2026, based in the United States, and the listing describes Lendistry as a provider of affordable small business loans. Anna E. Premo was a Postdoctoral Researcher at ETH Zürich from 2024 to 2026, now holds an Affiliate Researcher row there, and was a Research Associate at the Learning Research & Development Center from 2020 to 2024.
Benjamin Ponedel
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering: Applied AI · Block
Benjamin Ponedel has been Director of Engineering: Applied AI at Block since May 2025, based in Berkeley, California. Benjamin Ponedel was Head of Machine Learning - Square Financial Services at Square from 2022 to 2025 and held Machine Learning Tech Lead and Machine Learning Engineer roles at Square from 2018 to 2022.
Daniel Halfmann
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director Risk Analytics & AI · SoFi
Daniel Halfmann has been Senior Director Risk Analytics & AI at SoFi since May 2026, based in the Greater Seattle Area, after serving as Director Risk Analytics & AI at SoFi from 2024 to 2026. Daniel Halfmann was Principal Data Scientist - Financial Risk Management at City National Bank in 2024 and Manager Risk Analytics at KPMG US from 2016 to 2021.
David Puldon
LinkedInExperience: Head of Machine Learning Modeling, Banking and Identity · Cash App
David Puldon has been Head of Machine Learning Modeling, Banking and Identity at Cash App since April 2021, based in the San Francisco Bay Area. David Puldon was Head of Machine Learning Modeling, Banking at Cash App from 2019 to 2021, Data Science Lead, Operations at Square from 2018 to 2019 and Senior Data Scientist, Risk at Square from 2016 to 2018.
Don Carmichael
LinkedInExperience: Director of Machine Learning · Upstart
Don Carmichael has been Director of Machine Learning at Upstart since August 2023, based in Greater Houston, leading the machine learning team for underwriting newer products. Don Carmichael was Manager, Machine Learning at Upstart from 2020 to 2023, Data Scientist at Upstart from 2019 to 2020 and Data Science Consultant at Upstart from 2018 to 2019.
Ming Liu
LinkedInExperience: Sr Director of Machine Learning · WEX
Ming Liu has been Sr Director of Machine Learning at WEX since September 2024, based in San Diego, California. Ming Liu was Senior Director of Machine Learning at Marqeta from 2023 to 2024, Senior Director of Data Science at Credit Karma from 2019 to 2023 and Director of Data Science at Intuit in 2019.
Nancy Wang
LinkedInExperience: Head of AI and ML · Step
Nancy Wang has been Head of AI and ML at Step since February 2026, and the listing describes Step as a financial services company that offers a secured Visa credit card. Nancy Wang was Senior Director of Foundation AI, DS and ML at Flex from 2025 to 2026, Senior Director of Data Science and AI/ML at Flex from 2024 to 2025 and Director of Decision Science at Block from 2022 to 2024.
Sanchit Arora
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director, AI and Data · Possible
Sanchit Arora has been Senior Director, AI and Data at Possible since March 2026, based in the Greater Seattle Area. Sanchit Arora was Director, AI and Data at Possible from 2024 to 2026, Head of Machine Learning and Data Science at Possible from 2021 to 2024 and Lead Researcher at Possible from 2018 to 2021.
Shun Jiang
LinkedInExperience: Director of AI/ML · Ark FinTech.AI
Shun Jiang has been Director of AI/ML at Ark FinTech.AI since July 2026, based in San Jose, California. Shun Jiang was Staff Machine Learning Engineer at Adobe from 2024 to 2026, Staff Backend Engineer, Machine Learning at ByteDance from 2021 to 2024 and Senior Software Engineer at IBM from 2014 to 2021.
Choose the right perspective
Pick the person whose own role and scope sit closest to the decision you face, such as lending, payments or risk. Check the start and end dates of each role to see how recent the experience is.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What did you focus on first when you took on your current AI leadership role, and what did you learn from it?
- 02How have you decided which AI and machine learning use cases your own team takes on first?
- 03How have you worked with risk, compliance and product partners to move a model from a pilot into regular use?
Reaching heads of AI in financial technology
How can I contact one of these heads of AI in financial technology?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 10 companies, including Oportun, Lendistry and Block, based on profile data retrieved on October 26, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach heads of AI in financial technology?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. The offer is what the person receives, and Instant Expert's fee is added on top, so a $100 offer costs you $125. The fee is 20% of what you pay. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
Can an AI agent ask one of these heads of AI in financial technology a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. Claude and ChatGPT can do the same through the Instant Expert connector: setup is at /docs/mcp for Claude and /docs/chatgpt for ChatGPT. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.