Mike Dargan
About Mike Dargan
Mike Dargan serves as the Group Chief Operations and Technology Officer at UBS, overseeing the firm's digital assets strategy and leading initiatives in emerging technologies. He has extensive experience in the financial services sector, having held senior roles at UBS, Standard Chartered Bank, and Merrill Lynch.
Current Role at UBS
Mike Dargan currently serves as the Group Chief Operations and Technology Officer at UBS, a position he has held since 2023. He is a member of the Group Executive Board of UBS Group AG and UBS AG, contributing to the strategic direction of the organization. Dargan oversees UBS's digital assets strategy, focusing on distributed ledger technology, central bank digital currencies, and crypto assets. He also leads UBS's emerging technologies and UBS Next team, which invests in and partners with early-stage fintech and tech start-ups.
Previous Experience at UBS
Prior to his current role, Mike Dargan worked at UBS as the Chief Digital and Information Officer from 2021 to 2023. He also held the position of Group Chief Information Officer from 2016 to 2021. During his tenure at UBS, he focused on enhancing the company's digital capabilities and information technology infrastructure, contributing to the organization's overall operational efficiency.
Career at Standard Chartered Bank
Mike Dargan has extensive experience at Standard Chartered Bank, where he held multiple senior roles. He served as Managing Director and Head of Strategy for Global Markets from 2009 to 2013. He also worked as CIO for Financial Markets for a brief period in 2013 and as Chief Information Officer for Corporate and Investment Banking from 2015 to 2016. His responsibilities included leading complex technology and operations functions, reflecting the growing reliance on technology in the financial services sector.
Education and Expertise
Mike Dargan studied at the University of Oxford, where he earned a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) from 1996 to 1999. He also attended the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle. His educational background supports his expertise in corporate mergers and acquisitions, strategy, and technology management, which he has applied throughout his career in various senior roles within the financial services industry.
Experience at Oliver Wyman and Merrill Lynch
Before joining UBS, Mike Dargan worked at Oliver Wyman as Head of Corporate and Investment Banking for the Asia-Pacific region from 1999 to 2005. He then transitioned to Merrill Lynch, where he served as Managing Director and Head of Corporate Strategy and M&A for EMEA and PacRim from 2005 to 2009. His roles in these organizations provided him with significant insights into corporate strategy and market dynamics.