Polish
retail broker XTB has lost its head of artificial intelligence after Tomasz
Gawron departed last month to join a government-backed research institute,
marking another high-profile departure in the competitive race for AI talent.
Gawron
announced his departure from XTB in late August after nearly two years leading
the broker’s AI research and development team. The automation expert, who holds
a PhD in Automation and Robotics, has taken a position as Head of AI
Development Section at Łukasiewicz – Poznań Institute of Technology, a state
research organization.
The
executive’s exit comes after XTB invested heavily in building its AI
capabilities from scratch. Gawron
joined the Warsaw-listed company in October 2023 to launch a dedicated AI
division focused on what the broker called “responsible adoption” of
artificial intelligence across its trading platforms and business operations.
“After
2 years of work in a fast-paced environment with lots of challenges, I have
decided to move on to new opportunities,” Gawron wrote in a LinkedIn post
announcing his departure. “We were successful in our AI adoption and built
an AI RnD team from the ground up.”
The AI team
developed solutions ranging from customer support automation to data analysis
tools designed to improve trading experiences for XTB’s retail clients across
multiple markets.
Industry Brain Drain
Accelerates
Gawron’s
departure highlights broader challenges facing financial services companies
trying to retain specialized AI talent. For example, HSBC lost its head of
artificial intelligence for markets and securities services, Ash Booth. Goldman
Sachs has been particularly hard hit, experiencing a net outflow of 60 AI
professionals.
OpenAI,
while not a traditional financial firm, has seen massive talent exodus that
affects the broader AI ecosystem. The company lost key executives including CTO
Mira Murati, Chief Research Officer Bob McGrew, and VP of Research Barret Zoph.
This brain drain has benefited competitors like Google DeepMind and Meta, which
are offering signing bonuses up to $100 million to lure top AI talent.
Gawron had
no prior experience in financial services before joining XTB, having previously
worked in academic research and technology consulting roles. His return to the
research sector reflects a pattern where AI specialists move between industries
as demand for their expertise outpaces supply. The Poznań-based institute where
Gawron now works focuses on industrial technology development and innovation.
Technical Team Remains
Vulnerable
The broker
has not announced Gawron’s replacement or detailed plans for maintaining
momentum in its AI initiatives. His departure leaves behind a team of nine AI
specialists who worked on projects ranging from automated trading tools to
customer onboarding improvements.
Adam Dubiel, Chief Product & Technology Officer at XTB
In the
meantime, the company appointed former Polish financial regulator Bartosz
Osiński to its Management Board. He brings 17 years of risk management
experience from the KNF and major brokerage firms.
XTB’s Chief
Product & Technology Officer Adam
Dubiel had previously emphasized the importance of AI to the company’s
strategy, telling FinanceMagnates.com that artificial intelligence would help
“democratize access to data and personalize user experience” for the
broker’s global customer base.
XTB employs
over 1,000 people globally, with more
than 40% working in technical roles including programming and IT
development. The company serves retail traders across Europe and has expanded
its AI efforts as part of broader technology investments aimed at competing
with larger international brokers.
Polish
retail broker XTB has lost its head of artificial intelligence after Tomasz
Gawron departed last month to join a government-backed research institute,
marking another high-profile departure in the competitive race for AI talent.
Gawron
announced his departure from XTB in late August after nearly two years leading
the broker’s AI research and development team. The automation expert, who holds
a PhD in Automation and Robotics, has taken a position as Head of AI
Development Section at Łukasiewicz – Poznań Institute of Technology, a state
research organization.
The
executive’s exit comes after XTB invested heavily in building its AI
capabilities from scratch. Gawron
joined the Warsaw-listed company in October 2023 to launch a dedicated AI
division focused on what the broker called “responsible adoption” of
artificial intelligence across its trading platforms and business operations.
“After
2 years of work in a fast-paced environment with lots of challenges, I have
decided to move on to new opportunities,” Gawron wrote in a LinkedIn post
announcing his departure. “We were successful in our AI adoption and built
an AI RnD team from the ground up.”
The AI team
developed solutions ranging from customer support automation to data analysis
tools designed to improve trading experiences for XTB’s retail clients across
multiple markets.
Industry Brain Drain
Accelerates
Gawron’s
departure highlights broader challenges facing financial services companies
trying to retain specialized AI talent. For example, HSBC lost its head of
artificial intelligence for markets and securities services, Ash Booth. Goldman
Sachs has been particularly hard hit, experiencing a net outflow of 60 AI
professionals.
OpenAI,
while not a traditional financial firm, has seen massive talent exodus that
affects the broader AI ecosystem. The company lost key executives including CTO
Mira Murati, Chief Research Officer Bob McGrew, and VP of Research Barret Zoph.
This brain drain has benefited competitors like Google DeepMind and Meta, which
are offering signing bonuses up to $100 million to lure top AI talent.
Gawron had
no prior experience in financial services before joining XTB, having previously
worked in academic research and technology consulting roles. His return to the
research sector reflects a pattern where AI specialists move between industries
as demand for their expertise outpaces supply. The Poznań-based institute where
Gawron now works focuses on industrial technology development and innovation.
Technical Team Remains
Vulnerable
The broker
has not announced Gawron’s replacement or detailed plans for maintaining
momentum in its AI initiatives. His departure leaves behind a team of nine AI
specialists who worked on projects ranging from automated trading tools to
customer onboarding improvements.
Adam Dubiel, Chief Product & Technology Officer at XTB
In the
meantime, the company appointed former Polish financial regulator Bartosz
Osiński to its Management Board. He brings 17 years of risk management
experience from the KNF and major brokerage firms.
XTB’s Chief
Product & Technology Officer Adam
Dubiel had previously emphasized the importance of AI to the company’s
strategy, telling FinanceMagnates.com that artificial intelligence would help
“democratize access to data and personalize user experience” for the
broker’s global customer base.
XTB employs
over 1,000 people globally, with more
than 40% working in technical roles including programming and IT
development. The company serves retail traders across Europe and has expanded
its AI efforts as part of broader technology investments aimed at competing
with larger international brokers.
