Chief Technology Officer (CTO) - Quant, Data & AI

Position: Chief Technology Officer (CTO) - Quant, Data & AILocation: Dubai, United Arab EmiratesCompensation: Competitive salary plus performance-based incentives and benefitsOverviewGateworth Group is partnering with a leading investment and financial services organisation seeking to appoint a highly commercial, data-driven Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to lead the next phase of growth across quantitative analytics, data infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and technology innovation.This is a strategic executive leadership position responsible for defining and delivering a technology vision centred on data, quantitative modelling, AI enablement, and scalable digital platforms. The successful candidate will possess deep expertise in data architecture and tagging frameworks, quantitative research, risk analytics, machine learning, and commercially applied AI, with a demonstrated ability to deploy these capabilities successfully across multiple industries and business environments.The role requires a leader who can bridge technology, investment strategy, risk management, and commercial decision-making while creating a modern, data-centric organisation capable of leveraging advanced analytics and AI as competitive differentiators.Main Responsibilities

• Define and execute the organisation's long-term technology, data and AI strategy, ensuring alignment with commercial growth objectives and investment priorities.
• Establish a world-class data ecosystem, including data architecture, governance, taxonomy, tagging structures, metadata standards, data quality frameworks, and enterprise-wide accessibility.
• Lead the development and implementation of quantitative models supporting investment decisions, portfolio optimisation, forecasting, risk management, and business performance analysis.
• Build and oversee advanced analytics and AI capabilities, including machine learning, predictive analytics, large language models (LLMs), generative AI applications, and intelligent automation initiatives.
• Develop scalable cloud-native platforms capable of supporting complex data processing, quantitative research, model development, and AI-powered business services.
• Partner closely with investment, risk, finance, operations, and commercial teams to transform data into actionable intelligence and measurable business outcomes.
• Establish robust frameworks for model governance, validation, AI ethics, regulatory compliance, and risk management across all analytical and AI-driven initiatives.
• Drive digital transformation programmes by identifying opportunities to automate processes, improve operational efficiency, and enhance decision-making through data and AI.
• Evaluate and implement emerging technologies, ensuring the business remains at the forefront of innovation in quantitative analytics and artificial intelligence.
• Build, mentor and lead high-performing teams across data engineering, quantitative research, machine learning, software engineering, cyber security and cloud infrastructure.
• Manage technology budgets, strategic vendor relationships, and external partnerships with technology providers, data vendors, research institutions, and AI specialists.
• Act as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and stakeholders on technology trends, AI opportunities, data strategy, and competitive market developments.Qualifications
• 15+ years of technology leadership experience, with significant exposure to data-centric, quantitative, and AI-driven organisations.
• Proven experience developing and scaling enterprise data platforms, analytics functions, and AI capabilities within financial services, investment management, fintech, consulting, technology, or similarly data-intensive sectors.
• Deep expertise in data architecture, data governance, metadata management, taxonomy design, and enterprise-wide data tagging frameworks.
• Strong background in quantitative modelling, statistical analysis, forecasting, algorithm development, risk analytics, and decision-science methodologies.
• Demonstrated experience commercialising AI solutions and machine learning technologies to drive measurable business outcomes.
• Strong understanding of modern AI technologies, including generative AI, large language models (LLMs), machine learning operations (MLOps), and responsible AI governance.
• Experience managing large-scale cloud environments and data platforms utilising AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
• Proven ability to operate at executive level, engaging effectively with boards, investors, regulators, and senior stakeholders.
• Experience leading global or multi-regional teams and managing technology transformation programmes in high-growth environments.
• Strong understanding of cybersecurity, data privacy, and regulatory frameworks relevant to data-intensive organisations.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Quantitative Finance, Statistics, or a related discipline.
• Advanced degree (Master's, MBA, PhD, or equivalent) highly desirable.Preferred Experience (Not Essential)
• Experience within investment management, hedge funds, asset management, private equity, fintech, trading, or quantitative research environments.
• Exposure to alternative data, financial modelling, market analytics, portfolio optimisation, and risk management platforms.
• Track record of successfully implementing AI and data strategies across multiple industries and business sectors.
• Experience building organisations where data and AI serve as core revenue drivers and sources of competitive advantage.ApplyApplicants meeting the above criteria and seeking a progressive leadership opportunity at the forefront of data, quantitative analytics, and artificial intelligence are encouraged to apply via the application link.For further information, please contact apply@gateworth.com quoting reference GWG #34416.