Head of Innovation

Head of Innovation & Digital Partnership - Hang Seng Bank (HK) Join to apply for the Head of Innovation & Digital Partnership - Hang Seng Bank (HK) role at Hang Seng Bank. Some Careers Have More Impact Than Others. If you’re looking for a role where you can continue to make an impression, take the next step at Hang Seng where your contributions will always be valued. Chief Information Office In Hang Sang Technology, we continually improve our capabilities through innovative technologies, delivering a comprehensive range of products and services in meeting changing customer needs. We enhance customer experience, convenience and choices across our distribution channels, providing secure and engaged offering at individual's preference and lifestyle expectation. We advocate creativity and collaboration to unlock the potential of our people, creating an open and progressive workplace. We develop deep expertise in financial technologies, consulting and partnering with our business in delivering customer centric propositions in an agile manner. We are seeking a visionary and externally-focused leader to become our Head of Innovation and Partnership. Reporting directly to the Chief Information Officer (CIO), this senior role is pivotal in shaping our technology future. You will be the primary external face of Innovation for Hang Seng Bank to the market, responsible for establishing and nurturing a world‑class portfolio of strategic technology partnerships. This includes forging alliances with both established traditional technology firms and pioneering fintechs. Your leadership will be key to identifying and integrating novel technologies that solve business challenges and enhance our customer experiences and offerings. Critically, you will provide strong external thought leadership, responsible for representing Hang Seng Bank’s innovation agenda and technology partnerships to regulators and industry bodies, ensuring our initiatives are advanced responsibly and within the evolving regulatory framework. Principal Responsibilities Innovation Leadership. Develop and implement a holistic innovation strategy aligned with the bank’s business goals, such as digital banking and emerging technologies (e.g., AI, open banking). Lead the ideation, validation, and scaling of innovative products, services, and business models, from concept to market launch. Establish and manage an innovation pipeline, prioritizing initiatives that drive customer value, operational efficiency, or revenue growth. Oversee the patents portfolio and commercialisation strategy, fostering a community of inventors with designations, rewards, and recognitions. Strategic Innovation & Digital Partnership. Define and execute the technology innovation partnership strategy. Proactively scout and source a high‑potential partnership opportunities across traditional IT providers and disruptive fintechs. Identify, cultivate, and manage strategic partnerships with fintech startups, technology providers, industry consortia, academic institutions, and other ecosystem players to co‑create solutions or access cutting‑edge capabilities. Foster long‑term relationships with key partners, driving collaboration on joint projects, pilots, and go‑to‑market strategies. Strategize, sponsor, and execute external innovation events in leading innovation hubs. Coordinate group‑wide technology research efforts with the partners, with specific focus on China and Hong Kong‑based partners. Innovation Culture, Talent and Stakeholder Engagement. Champion a culture of Innovation, establish and support practices that define measurable culture of innovation boost internal innovation commercialisation impact, aligning with business priorities and funding cycles. Work closely with senior leadership (C‑suite, Heads of Businesses) to secure buy‑in for innovation initiatives, drive emerging technology adoption and allocate resources effectively. Bridge the external market with internal C‑suite stakeholders, translating technology innovation into clear business value. Build and lead a high‑performing team of innovation and partnership professionals, fostering a culture of creativity, agility, and collaboration; bring the HSBC Group innovation capabilities to Hang Seng Bank. External Representation & Thought Leadership. Act as Hang Seng Bank’s key ambassador and a visible thought leader at major industry conferences, roundtables, and in publications. Stay abreast of global fintech trends, regulatory changes (e.g., open banking, digital assets), and business needs to identify new innovation opportunities. Conduct market research and competitive analysis to benchmark the bank’s innovation efforts against peers. Articulate Hang Seng Bank’s vision for the future of technology in financial services, influencing market trends and positioning Hang Seng Bank as a forward‑thinking leader. Regulatory Engagement. Proactively represent Hang Seng Bank’s technology innovation and partnership portfolio to regulators, building trusted relationships. Clearly communicate the value and risk mitigation strategies of new initiatives, ensuring alignment with regulatory expectations and contributing to the development of a supportive policy environment. Deal Execution & Negotiation. Lead end‑to‑end partnership engagements, from initial relationship building and due diligence to structuring and negotiating complex commercial and technology agreements. Negotiate partnership agreements, ensuring alignment with the bank’s risk, compliance, and commercial objectives. Qualifications Proven senior‑level experience in an innovation or strategic partnership role within a large, complex, and globally regulated organisation (financial services or technology preferred). A demonstrable track record of building and scaling strategic technology partnerships with both large‑scale enterprises and agile fintech companies. Established profile as a thought leader with experience speaking at industry events and ability to shape conversations on technology trends in financial services. Proven experience engaging with financial regulators. Deep understanding of Hong Kong’s banking landscape, regulatory environment (HKMA, SFC), and GBA financial integration trends; familiarity with digital banking, fintech ecosystems, and open banking frameworks. Exceptional relationship‑building, influencing, and negotiation skills, with the credibility to represent a world‑class organisation at the most senior levels externally and with regulatory bodies. Strong leadership skills to inspire cross‑functional teams; excellent verbal and written communication abilities to engage stakeholders, present to senior leadership, and interact with regulators/partners. A strong existing network within the technology, fintech, and regulatory communities is highly desirable. A Bachelor's degree is essential; an MBA or other advanced degree is preferred. Professional qualifications such as Enhanced Competency Framework (ECF) and/or Certified Banker (CB) under Hong Kong Institute of Bankers (HKIB) would be an advantage. You’ll achieve more when you join Hang Seng Bank Limited. Hang Seng is committed to service excellence. Our people are our most important asset and play a vital role in our efforts to continually enhance our performance for customers and provide best‑in‑class products and services. We seek to attract high‑calibre talent by offering a dynamic working environment, good career development opportunities and competitive compensation packages. Issued by Hang Seng Bank Limited #J-18808-Ljbffr