More than half of all new board appointments at UK financial services firms over the past year brought technology expertise, as companies respond to rapid advances in AI and emerging technologies.

According to the latest EY UK Financial Services Boardroom Monitor, 52% of directors appointed in the twelve months to June 2025 had technology experience. This marked a sharp rise from 36% the year before and placed the UK well ahead of its European peers, where only 35% of new board appointees brought similar expertise.

The findings reflect a wider trend of digital transformation at the highest levels of governance. Ninety-four per cent of UK boards now include at least two directors with technology backgrounds, and half have at least four. In comparison, only 71% of boards across Europe have at least two tech-skilled directors and just 35% have four or more.

Breaking down the UK figures, 28% of new board members in the past year have experience leading a technology-focused team or holding a senior role in technology delivery. A further 28% bring fintech experience, while 8% have IT systems and operations backgrounds and 4% have previously worked in cyber security.

Martina Keane, EY UK and Ireland financial services leader, said: “Our new findings clearly demonstrate that technology expertise on UK financial institution boards has shifted from ‘nice to have’ to strategically critical. In the AI era, data and digital infrastructure will increasingly define both competitive advantage and sustainable growth, making directors with working knowledge and hands-on tech experience more important than ever.

“Innovation brings both opportunity and challenge in financial services, so it is critical that firms implement the right capabilities to support ethical and responsible governance that works now and in the long-term.”

The research also found that women accounted for a majority of new board appointees with technology expertise. Over the past year, 62% of new directors with tech skills were women, up from previous years, compared with 38% men. Overall, the gender split of tech-experienced board members now stands at 45% female and 55% male, compared with 43% female and 57% male the year before.

Among UK financial services sectors, insurers have made the most significant push to recruit tech-skilled board members. Two-thirds (67%) of new insurance board appointees in the past year brought technology expertise, up sharply from 30% a year earlier.

Despite the rapid growth of board-level technology expertise, many financial services leaders are still worried about their organisation’s ability to manage the risks associated with AI.

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