FactSet Announces Appointments of Chief AI Officer and Chief Technology Officer to Accelerate Enterprise AI and Platform Strategy
MWN-AI** Summary
On March 4, 2026, FactSet (NYSE:FDS | NASDAQ:FDS) announced the strategic appointments of Kate Stepp as Chief AI Officer and Bob Stolte as Chief Technology Officer, effective March 2, 2026. These leadership changes underscore FactSet's commitment to leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and enhancing its technology platform to deliver increased value to clients.
Kate Stepp steps into her new role as Chief AI Officer, having previously served as Chief Technology Officer since September 2022. In her new position, she will oversee the development and integration of AI capabilities into FactSet’s products and client solutions, reporting directly to CEO Sanoke Viswanathan. Her focus will be on accelerating the deployment of AI solutions tailored to various client segments, which aligns with FactSet's vision of embedding AI in its innovation processes.
In parallel, Bob Stolte has been appointed as Chief Technology Officer, where he will lead FactSet’s global technology organization. His responsibilities will include driving platform modernization, overseeing cybersecurity, ensuring operational resilience, and developing enterprise technology strategies. Stolte's extensive experience in managing large-scale technology transformations in the financial sector positions him well to strengthen FactSet's technology foundation.
CEO Sanoke Viswanathan emphasized the critical role of AI in FactSet’s innovation strategy, citing both Stepp's and Stolte’s technical competencies and leadership abilities as key to translating new AI capabilities into concrete value for clients. Together, these appointments are expected to fortify FactSet's capabilities in the competitive global financial technology landscape, enhancing its digital platform and innovative solutions for over 9,000 clients worldwide.
FactSet continues to focus on delivering integrated financial data solutions that empower clients across various financial markets, reinforcing its status as a leader in the financial digital platform sector.
MWN-AI** Analysis
FactSet's recent strategic appointments of Kate Stepp as Chief AI Officer and Bob Stolte as Chief Technology Officer emphasize the firm’s commitment to leveraging artificial intelligence for enhancing its offerings in the highly competitive financial technology landscape. This robust leadership shift, effective March 2, 2026, is crucial as it signals FactSet’s intent to drive innovation and operational efficiency through advanced technology.
Given FactSet’s strong market positioning—with over 9,000 clients and a long history of delivering comprehensive financial solutions—investors should consider these changes a positive indicator of future growth potential. Kate Stepp’s expertise in AI will likely ensure that the company remains at the forefront of AI-driven financial services, an area that is rapidly evolving and gaining critical importance in the financial sector. The strategic vision offered by Stepp, combined with Stolte’s technological acumen, reflects a solid plan to enhance FactSet's platform modernization and operational resilience.
For investors, FactSet presents a compelling opportunity given its focus on AI, which is anticipated to drive efficiencies and differentiated client solutions. The firm’s ability to integrate proprietary financial data with cutting-edge technology positions it well for long-term competitive advantage. Positive sentiment surrounding these appointments coupled with the rising demand for AI solutions in finance indicates that FactSet’s stock, currently trading at approximately 27 times earnings, may offer favorable growth prospects as AI capabilities continue to unfold.
However, prudence is warranted. Investors should monitor the execution of these strategic initiatives and their impact on profitability. Additionally, keeping an eye on market trends in AI and financial services will be essential for assessing ongoing investment viability. Overall, FactSet's focus on innovation positions it favorably within the evolving financial technology landscape.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
NORWALK, Conn., March 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FactSet (NYSE:FDS | NASDAQ:FDS), a global financial digital platform and enterprise solutions provider, today announced the appointments of Kate Stepp as Chief AI Officer and Bob Stolte as Chief Technology Officer, effective March 2, 2026. These appointments reinforce FactSet’s continued focus on harnessing artificial intelligence capabilities to enhance client value across its global technology platform.
Chief AI Officer
In her new role as Chief AI Officer, Kate Stepp will lead FactSet’s AI services for clients, reporting to Sanoke Viswanathan, Chief Executive Officer of FactSet. She will focus on driving the development and deployment of AI capabilities across the company’s products and client solutions, and partner across the organization to further accelerate the roll out of AI solutions in each client type.
Kate was most recently Chief Technology Officer at FactSet, a role she held since September 2022. During her time in the role, Kate brought a client-focused lens to technology development and led the expansion of enterprise solutions to key clients amid increasingly complex technical requirements and a rapidly evolving AI landscape.
“AI is central to how we innovate, serve clients, and operate,” said Sanoke Viswanathan, Chief Executive Officer at FactSet. “Kate brings the strategic vision, technical knowledge, and leadership needed to translate emerging AI capabilities into meaningful outcomes for our clients and our business.”
Chief Technology Officer
Bob Stolte has been appointed Chief Technology Officer, effective March 2, 2026, reporting to Sanoke Viswanathan. In this role, he will lead FactSet’s global technology organization, with responsibility for platform modernization, engineering execution, operational resilience, including system reliability, cybersecurity, IT business continuity, and enterprise technology strategy. Bob brings extensive experience leading large-scale technology organizations and complex transformation programs across global financial institutions.
“Bob brings deep expertise in technology transformation, engineering scale, and platform modernization,” said Sanoke Viswanathan, Chief Executive Officer at FactSet. “His leadership will help ensure our technology foundation continues to support innovation, resilience, and long-term growth.”
Strengthening FactSet’s Innovation and Technology Leadership
Together, these appointments reinforce FactSet’s commitment to advancing AI-driven innovation, strengthening its technology platform, and delivering differentiated capabilities for clients across the global financial ecosystem.
About FactSet
FactSet (NYSE:FDS | NASDAQ:FDS) supercharges financial intelligence, offering enterprise data and information solutions that power our clients to maximize their potential. Our cutting-edge digital platform seamlessly integrates proprietary financial data, client datasets, third-party sources, and flexible technology to deliver tailored solutions across the buy-side, sell-side, wealth management, private equity, and corporate sectors. With over 47 years of expertise, offices in 19 countries, and extensive multi-asset class coverage, we leverage advanced data connectivity alongside AI and next-generation tools to streamline workflows, drive productivity, and enable smarter, faster decision-making. Serving more than 9,000 global clients and over 239,000 individual users, FactSet is a member of the S&P 500 dedicated to innovation and long-term client success. Learn more at www.factset.com and follow us on X and LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on management's current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about future events, trends, contingencies, and circumstances, industries in which FactSet operates and the beliefs and assumptions of management. All statements that address expectations, guidance, outlook or projections about the future, including statements about the Company's strategy, product development, revenues, future financial results, anticipated growth, market position, subscriptions, expected expenditures or investments, trends in FactSet’s business and financial results, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "may," "might," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "intends," "projects," "indicates," "predicts," "potential," or "continue," the negative of those terms, and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, outcomes, events, or actions and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Many factors, including those discussed more fully elsewhere in this release and in FactSet's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly its latest annual report on Form 10-K, including Item 1A, Risk Factors, and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as well as others, could cause results, performance, achievements, or activities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, the Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. FactSet assumes no duty to and does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which it is made, except as required by applicable law. Future results could differ materially from historical performance.
Investor Relations:
Kevin Toomey
+1.212.209.5259
kevin.toomey@factset.com
Media Relations:
Kelsey Goldsmith
+1.207.712.9726
Kelsey.Goldsmith@factset.com
FAQ**
How do the recent appointments of Kate Stepp as Chief AI Officer and Bob Stolte as Chief Technology Officer at FactSet Research Systems Inc. FDS position the company to further its AI-driven innovations in the financial sector?
What specific strategies will FactSet Research Systems Inc. FDS employ under the new leadership to enhance its AI capabilities and client solutions in a rapidly evolving technological landscape?
In what ways does FactSet Research Systems Inc. FDS plan to leverage the extensive experience of its new CTO in platform modernization and operational resilience to improve services for its global client base?
How will the leadership change at FactSet Research Systems Inc. FDS support the company's commitment to delivering differentiated capabilities across various sectors of the financial ecosystem?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE: FDS).
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