Polish retail broker XTB has lost its head of artificial intelligence after Tomasz Gawron left 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.

XTB AI Head Departure Caps Two-Year Technology Push

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.

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.