Chief Digital Officer and Technology Leader of the Year in the Middle East is Pedro Sousa Cardoso, Chief Digital Officer for Retail Banking & Wealth Management at Emirates NBD

The Financial Technology Leadership Achievement Award is one of the most exclusive recognition programmes for individuals in the field of banking and financial technology. It honours the achievements of an outstanding leader who has significantly transformed their institution and made a strong impact on the industry and region they’re in. The award also recognises significant achievements over the individual’s career, their inspirational leadership, and their efforts to champion innovation, operational excellence, and human capital development. 

Very few candidates qualify for this prestigious career-recognition award. 

For this year’s awardee, the Council of Advisors unanimously recognised his exceptional leadership in a multi-year digital transformation that strengthened Emirates NBD’s position as one of the most competitive and customer-focused financial institutions in the Middle East. With over 20 years of expertise in strategy, product innovation, digital technology, and data across global institutions, he has consistently championed technology as a key driver for digital product innovation and enhancing customer experience. 

Over the last three years as chief digital officer, he restructured Emirates NBD’s digital operating model by spearheading a multi-year digital acceleration programme focused on retail banking and wealth management.    

He aligned distribution models with evolving customer needs, while also expanding the bank’s digital presence in the region.  At the same time, he supported Emirates NBD’s transition to a cloud-native infrastructure, enhancing operational efficiency and enabling seamless integration with fintech solutions.  

He was also instrumental in launching the ENBD X app and achieving a digital adoption rate above 91%, setting a regional standard. Additionally, the revitalisation of Liv, Emirates NBD’s digital-only initiative, attracted younger customers through unique offerings.  Under his leadership, a new platform for wealth management was also established, leading to a 1,600% growth in wealth clients. All these achievements make Emirates NBD a global benchmark for digital innovation. 

We are proud and honoured to announce that the award for Chief Digital Officer and Technology Leader of the Year in the Middle East is Pedro Sousa Cardoso, Chief Digital Officer for Retail Banking & Wealth Management at Emirates NBD.