Dr. Maria Azua Himmel is a seasoned technology executive, board leader, and recognized thought leader with over twenty-five years of experience driving digital transformation across global financial institutions and the technology sector. Her career includes senior leadership roles such as CTO and CIO of IBM’s Global Process Outsourcing division and Managing Director positions at Bank of America, Barclays, and Fidelity Investments. Most recently, she led Data Platforms and Services at Bank of America, where she played a key role in advancing enterprise-wide cloud adoption and data modernization initiatives. She currently serves as an Independent Board Director at Pan-American Life Insurance Group.

Maria is widely recognized for her expertise in data, AI, and technology governance, having led large-scale initiatives spanning digital strategy, compliance, and enterprise innovation. She is the author of The Social Factor: Innovate, Ignite, and Win Through Mass Collaboration and Social Networking, which explores how organizations can harness collaboration and networked intelligence to drive innovation and competitive advantage. As a Senior Executive Fellow in Applied Artificial Intelligence at The Digital Economist, Dr. Azua Himmel contributes her deep expertise in AI and data governance to research and policy initiatives. Her work focuses on enabling responsible, strategic AI adoption through robust governance frameworks, supporting institutions and policymakers in building human-centered, resilient, and sustainable AI ecosystems.