Saira leads and supports the collaboration of Fintech and traditional financial services across HSBC U.K. Digital & First Direct Bank, where she leads on business model innovation, focused on areas including open banking, emerging technologies such as Data and AI and has a keen passion in driving sustainability agenda. She owns and manages key Fintech partnerships to enrich the customer digital experience.

Saira has a background of leading strategic digital innovation teams in FS, working alongside a number of business areas across the Global Retail, Wealth and Corporate bank, to drive and execute the transformation for the business to make sure the organisation survives and thrives in the digital revolution. She has experience in executing digital innovation initiatives including the development and testing of new business models, fintech partnerships, and the use of emerging technologies. Saira and her teams have promoted an inclusive culture of innovation throughout the organisation, driving engagement, thought leadership and collaboration. She is particularly focussed on driving colleague and customer/client engagement, with a special emphasis on digital inclusion, channel migration, disruptive technologies and their application and supporting vulnerable groups.