Why Banking Titans Are Backing Cognitive AI Compliance

A signal from the boardroom that reflects a new era of risk, innovation and trusted financial systems.

In a financial world marked by accelerating complexity and rising expectations, trust has never been more vital—or more difficult to earn.

Today, institutions are measured not only by their balance sheets, but by their resilience, responsiveness, and integrity. And increasingly, those qualities are being tested at the intersection of compliance and innovation.

That’s why I’m proud to announce the appointment of three highly respected leaders to ThetaRay’s Advisory Board: Dame Alison Rose, Ilan Kaufthal, and Marshall Lux.

This is far more than a badge of honour for us. It’s a meaningful signal to the wider financial community. A signal that those who’ve helped steer global banking at the highest level are choosing to align with a company that’s pushing the boundaries of what compliance technology can—and should—achieve.

Why this Advisory Board matters

Each of these leaders brings formidable experience and judgement to the table:

Dame Alison Rose, former CEO of NatWest, is a trailblazer in purpose-led banking and inclusion, with a career dedicated to responsible and inclusive finance. Ilan Kaufthal, Chairman of IDB Bank, is a strategic operator who has helped scale and steward some of the world’s most respected financial institutions. Marshall Lux, former Chief Risk Officer at JPMorgan Chase Consumer Products, has spent four decades helping banks balance innovation with risk discipline.

They join us at a critical juncture for the industry.

The financial crime landscape is evolving at pace—and the tools institutions rely on must evolve just as swiftly. But this isn’t about placing a bet on any single technology. At ThetaRay, we are delivering a comprehensive, end-to-end platform that empowers compliance teams across the entire lifecycle: from onboarding and customer risk rating, to transaction monitoring, case management, investigation and reporting.

Cognitive AI plays a powerful role in that journey. But more importantly, it’s the integration of intelligent, context-aware tools into a seamless platform that allows our customers—banks and fintechs alike—to act with clarity, confidence and speed.

That’s the vision this Advisory Board supports.

From defensive posture to strategic confidence

For too long, compliance has been viewed primarily through the lens of risk containment. What we’re seeing now, particularly in the corridors of leadership, is a reappraisal: institutions are recognising that with the right technology and governance, compliance can drive strategic clarity, not just shield against failure.

When compliance systems are intelligent, adaptive, and connected end to end, they do more than mitigate risk. They empower growth. From enabling access to underserved markets and accelerating correspondent relationships, to responding to regulatory change with agility and cutting through alert noise to focus on true threats, smarter compliance empowers institutions to act faster, expand with confidence, and compete more effectively. 

That shift requires innovation, but also wisdom. The experience our new Advisory Board members bring will ensure our platform continues to meet the highest standards of both.

What this means for our customers

For our clients—whether global banks modernising complex systems or fintechs navigating fast-paced expansion—this moment reinforces our commitment to partnership.

You aren’t just buying a product. You’re engaging with a company whose approach is being guided by leaders who understand your reality—because they’ve lived it.

Dame Alison, Ilan and Marshall share our belief that the future of compliance isn’t about choosing between trust and growth. It’s about advancing with the best technology available, guided by experienced hands, to achieve both.

At ThetaRay, we’re building exactly that. With their support, we’ll continue to push the boundaries of AI to help financial institutions thrive with confidence, clarity and resilience, while exposing criminal threats.