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AI Product & Platform Leader — Regulated FinTech
I build production-grade AI platforms that operate under real regulatory scrutiny.
At UBS Wealth Management, I lead AI product and platform strategy focused on automation that:
• Reduces cycle time
• Eliminates manual handoffs
• Embeds compliance-by-design
Patent holder in deterministic incident resolution and workflow intelligence.
50,000+ hours reclaimed
3 days → <10 mins proposal turnaround
37% delivery velocity increase • 40% cycle-time reduction
Case studies.
Proposal Workflow Automation
3 days → <10 mins • 50,000+ hours reclaimed
AI-Assisted SDLC Transformation
40% cycle-time reduction • audit-ready delivery
Compliance-by-Design DevOps
37% velocity increase • DORA/PTX embedded
[ About ]■
I operate at the intersection of regulated governance and AI-enabled automation. Across Wells Fargo, BNY Mellon, Prudential, and Capital One, I’ve led platform and operating-model transformations that modernize legacy infrastructure into scalable, audit-ready systems. My focus is replacing manual friction with AI-assisted workflows—embedding compliance-by-design into delivery so risk controls strengthen speed, reliability, and business outcomes.
11 Madison Ave. New York, New York
DIRECTOR, HEAD OF AGENTIC AI STRATEGY
UBS
At UBS Wealth Management, I lead AI product and platform strategy focused on moving from digital transformation to AI-assisted execution. The goal is simple: ship compliant automation that reduces cycle time, eliminates manual handoffs, and strengthens auditability in regulated workflows.
What I Built
I invented and launched Déjà (Patent Pending), a deterministic incident knowledge system that converts production incidents into reusable records through recurrence fingerprinting and verified fix matching—preserving institutional knowledge through code churn and team turnover.
How I Operate
I bridge engineering depth (embeddings, Python/Spark, Kubernetes) with executive delivery. I build governance-by-design into platforms and pipelines so teams can move faster without increasing risk—improving delivery velocity, operational reliability, and advisor outcomes.
666 3RD Ave, New York, New York
INTERIM HEAD OF PRIVATE MARKETS PRODUCT
Wells Fargo
Mandate
Recruited to modernize the $45B Private Equity & Hedge Fund ecosystem—migrating legacy infrastructure to a scalable, API-first cloud architecture and unifying the advisor experience for 250+ wealth teams.
Execution
Redesigned operating workflows and deployed automation that reduced processing time by 90% (from ~3 weeks to 48 hours), improving throughput and enabling the business to scale during peak market volatility without proportional headcount growth.
Governance
Established immutable data lineage to support SEC/FINRA exam readiness, reducing compliance overhead by 120 hours per quarter and strengthening auditability while maintaining delivery speed.
Flatiron district, New York, New York
SR. MANAGER, PRODUCT STRATEGY – INNOVATION LAB
CapitalOne Innovation Lab
RegTech Foundation
Led the Intelligent Asset Management pilot, partnering with Data Science and Compliance to design predictive portfolio monitoring tools. Shifted oversight from reactive auditing to proactive risk detection by embedding analytics directly into portfolio workflows.
FinTech Incubation (Patent #19/177,819)
Founded and incubated Parent, an educational fintech platform. Designed a dual-layer ledger architecture and task-credit framework that simulated credit responsibility within a compliant structure, enabling product experimentation without regulatory exposure.
Operating Philosophy
Led agile squads of data scientists and engineers to balance innovation speed with regulatory discipline—demonstrating that compliance is not a constraint, but a design requirement for scalable financial systems.
The future of finance belongs to teams that can ship quickly without compromising control. I operate at the intersection of AI product delivery and institutional governance, helping large banks move faster by embedding compliance-by-design into platforms and workflows. My focus is replacing manual friction with AI-assisted automation that improves velocity, auditability, and business outcomes.
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About Charles
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Charles Polanco is an AI product and platform leader with experience across UBS, Wells Fargo, BNY Mellon, Prudential, and Capital One. He began his career on Wall Street in fast-paced trading environments where speed, reliability, and risk controls are inseparable—an influence that continues to shape how he builds systems today.
Over the last 25 years, Charles has led platform modernization and AI-enabled automation in regulated financial services, translating complex technology into clear product roadmaps and measurable operational outcomes. He has filed patents related to deterministic incident resolution (Déjà, patent pending) and compliant financial simulation (Parent, patented), reflecting a consistent focus on building systems that hold up under real regulatory scrutiny.
He operates at the intersection of engineering depth and executive delivery—partnering across product, technology, and risk to embed governance-by-design into platforms so teams can move faster without increasing compliance exposure.
[ TESTIMONIALS ]“Charles has a rare ability to bridge strategic vision with practical execution. At BNY Mellon, he consistently transformed complex initiatives into clear, actionable outcomes—aligning teams across business, product, and technology. His leadership style is grounded in precision, empathy, and an unwavering focus on progress. Working with him elevated not just the project, but the people behind it.”
Joakim Marner, BYN Mellon
“Charles brings clarity to complexity. His ability to translate strategic ambition into measurable results sets him apart.
At Prudential, I saw firsthand how he approaches every challenge with analytical precision and creative discipline—connecting technology, people, and purpose with remarkable coherence. Charles doesn’t just deliver solutions; he builds systems that continue to learn, adapt, and lead.”
Mike Vadim Iskandaryan, McKinsey & Company
[ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ]