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Highest tier of CMMI Multi-Model Version 3.0, awarded for both Development and Services in a single integrated appraisal.
Validates the software engineering system that runs 10,000+ production AI agents inside Fortune 500 enterprises and powers Ascendion's Engineering to the Power of AI™ method.
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., May 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascendion, an AI-native software engineering company, today announced it has been appraised at Maturity Level 5, the highest tier of the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI®) Multi-Model Version 3.0, for both Development and Services in a single integrated appraisal. The credential certifies the engineering discipline that includes deploying AI agents inside Fortune 500 enterprise environments.
The findings address a question every CIO and CTO is asking: can AI-native engineering meet the predictability, governance, and quality standards of production at enterprise scale? CMMI Level 5 provides an answer. It is awarded only when an organization can prove maturity through quantitative measurement, statistical process control, and continuous improvement, with consistency held to the standard the work demands.
For Ascendion clients, the appraisal corroborates what production already shows. The same engineering system delivers AI-driven access to care for 39 million Americans across all 50 states with zero downtime, running 650+ AAVA™ agents in a regulated environment. It is the same delivery system that, after a £50M failed transformation, protected 5.2 million customers at a 200-year-old UK bank by mapping the architecture in weeks and delivering 50–75% velocity gains on the rebuild. CMMI Level 5 is the discipline behind outcomes like these.
The appraisal covered Ascendion's global delivery operations and its 11,000+ engineering professionals, spanning six industry verticals, eight technology practices. Strategic development and support and testing functions were all also in scope for the assessment.
"CMMI Level 5 is the highly delivery standard in our industry, so this is incredibly meaningful for all of us and impactful for our global clients," said Radhakrishnan Rajagopalan, Chief Delivery & Technology Officer at Ascendion. "This recognition includes clients receiving services from AI agents, so this reflects the discipline and consistency with which we build and run our AI-native engineering systems. As AI becomes more deeply embedded in how we deliver, our focus is on maintaining the highest standards of execution to ensure we deliver business impact. This recognition reflects the maturity of how we deliver Engineering to the Power of AI."
CMMI is a globally recognized framework for measuring and improving organizational performance. Maturity Level 5, the highest tier, is awarded for performance managed through data, quantitative techniques applied to process management, and continuously improved systems that deliver consistency, quality, and predictability.
About Ascendion
Ascendion is the AI-native disruptor reinventing how global enterprises build software for impact. Its engineering teams, powered by AAVA™, the company's proprietary agentic AI platform, deliver measurable business outcomes: accelerating growth, unlocking capital, and de-risking transformation. With 11,000+ engineering professionals and 10,000+ AI agents working across 12 countries, Ascendion delivers the promise of AI to more than a third of the Fortune 500. Learn more at https://www.ascendion.com.
Engineering to the Power of AI™, AAVA™, EngineeringAI, Engineering to Elevate Life™, Enterprise PlatformsAI, Data & InsightsAI, ExperienceAI, GCCAI, OperationsAI, Platform EngineeringAI, ProductAI, and Quality EngineeringAI are trademarks or service marks of Ascendion®. AAVA™ is pending registration. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited.
Highest tier of CMMI Multi-Model Version 3.0, awarded for both Development and Services in a single integrated appraisal.
Validates the software engineering system that runs 10,000+ production AI agents inside Fortune 500 enterprises and powers Ascendion's Engineering to the Power of AI™ method.
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., May 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascendion, an AI-native software engineering company, today announced it has been appraised at Maturity Level 5, the highest tier of the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI®) Multi-Model Version 3.0, for both Development and Services in a single integrated appraisal. The credential certifies the engineering discipline that includes deploying AI agents inside Fortune 500 enterprise environments.
The findings address a question every CIO and CTO is asking: can AI-native engineering meet the predictability, governance, and quality standards of production at enterprise scale? CMMI Level 5 provides an answer. It is awarded only when an organization can prove maturity through quantitative measurement, statistical process control, and continuous improvement, with consistency held to the standard the work demands.
For Ascendion clients, the appraisal corroborates what production already shows. The same engineering system delivers AI-driven access to care for 39 million Americans across all 50 states with zero downtime, running 650+ AAVA™ agents in a regulated environment. It is the same delivery system that, after a £50M failed transformation, protected 5.2 million customers at a 200-year-old UK bank by mapping the architecture in weeks and delivering 50–75% velocity gains on the rebuild. CMMI Level 5 is the discipline behind outcomes like these.
The appraisal covered Ascendion's global delivery operations and its 11,000+ engineering professionals, spanning six industry verticals, eight technology practices. Strategic development and support and testing functions were all also in scope for the assessment.
"CMMI Level 5 is the highly delivery standard in our industry, so this is incredibly meaningful for all of us and impactful for our global clients," said Radhakrishnan Rajagopalan, Chief Delivery & Technology Officer at Ascendion. "This recognition includes clients receiving services from AI agents, so this reflects the discipline and consistency with which we build and run our AI-native engineering systems. As AI becomes more deeply embedded in how we deliver, our focus is on maintaining the highest standards of execution to ensure we deliver business impact. This recognition reflects the maturity of how we deliver Engineering to the Power of AI."
CMMI is a globally recognized framework for measuring and improving organizational performance. Maturity Level 5, the highest tier, is awarded for performance managed through data, quantitative techniques applied to process management, and continuously improved systems that deliver consistency, quality, and predictability.
About Ascendion
Ascendion is the AI-native disruptor reinventing how global enterprises build software for impact. Its engineering teams, powered by AAVA™, the company's proprietary agentic AI platform, deliver measurable business outcomes: accelerating growth, unlocking capital, and de-risking transformation. With 11,000+ engineering professionals and 10,000+ AI agents working across 12 countries, Ascendion delivers the promise of AI to more than a third of the Fortune 500. Learn more at https://www.ascendion.com.
Engineering to the Power of AI™, AAVA™, EngineeringAI, Engineering to Elevate Life™, Enterprise PlatformsAI, Data & InsightsAI, ExperienceAI, GCCAI, OperationsAI, Platform EngineeringAI, ProductAI, and Quality EngineeringAI are trademarks or service marks of Ascendion®. AAVA™ is pending registration. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited.
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
Ascendion Appraised at CMMI® Maturity Level 5 Reflecting Discipline Behind AI in Production
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, May 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hong Leong Bank ("HLB" or the "Bank") has been named the Best Managed Bank in Malaysia at The Asian Banker ("TAB") Global Leadership Achievement Awards 2026, attributed to the Bank modernizing its digital foundation, reducing dependency on legacy tech, and focusing on operational excellence and efficiency gains through its 3-5 year bankwide transformation plan.
Complementing this, Kevin Lam, HLB's Group Managing Director and CEO, was also named the Best Bank CEO in Malaysia, recognizing his pivotal role in orchestrating the Bank's transformation, including introducing a "Quantum Growth" goal that successfully transitioned HLB into a highly integrated, AI-driven financial institution. In its mission to deliver personalized banking solutions to its customers, the Bank implemented a "One Bank" strategy, eliminating legacy silos in favor of a unified, cross-functional ecosystem, which has yielded a market-leading Cost-to-Income Ratio ("CIR") that has consistently hovered below the 40% mark, a benchmark for operational efficiency in the region.
This growth was achieved alongside impeccable asset quality, where HLB continues to report a Gross Impaired Loan ("GIL") ratio of below 0.65%, significantly outperforming the industry average and demonstrating the Bank's foundation of robust credit risk management and data-centric underwriting.
Reflecting on the milestone, Kevin Lam commented, "This recognition may seem like a finish line, but for us it's a catalyst for our next phase of evolution. Our transformation journey was about building a future-ready infrastructure where AI and data-driven insights allow us to move from generic services to efficiently delivering hyper-personalized financial solutions. By integrating AI into the fabric of our bank, we are transitioning towards becoming a proactive partner. Whether through predictive wealth management or seamless digital onboarding journeys, our innovation is always anchored in our Built Around You promise, where we look for innovative solutions to cater to our customers' diversified needs. Looking ahead, we will continue to pioneer products that don't just meet market standards, but anticipate the specific, evolving needs of our customers in an increasingly complex global economy."
TAB attributed the awards to the Bank's disciplined navigation of a complex transformation, which has moved the institution from a position of stability to one of aggressive, tech-led growth. A central pillar of this recognition was the "One Bank" consolidated banking philosophy, which prioritized long-term customer outcomes through strategic branch transformation initiatives such as launching diversified branch models that cater to different segments of society, enabling the Bank to manage customers from across all segments effectively. For SME customers, HLB also offers solutions across their operations that meet the business owners' personal banking and business banking needs.
This is most evident in HLB's structured lifecycle migration model for SME banking, where growing retail SMEs are seamlessly transitioned to Commercial & Corporate Banking as they scale, ensuring the Bank retains holistic relationships by evolving alongside its clients rather than losing them to legacy institutional barriers.
The Bank has also consistently championed AI integration throughout its operations, and has recently democratised the use of AI by providing all its employees with access to AI tools, allowing employees to shift their focus from routine processing toward strategic problem-solving and high-value innovation.
HLB has recently accelerated its momentum through several strategic initiatives aimed at deepening its customer-centric ecosystem. Within the wealth management segment, HLB has enhanced its regional capabilities through a landmark strategic alliance between HLB Private Banking and Lombard Odier, blending global private banking excellence with local market insights. This was further complemented by the refresh of HLB Priority, which transitioned the affluent segment toward an advisory-led model focused on long-term stewardship. Simultaneously, the Bank elevated its Shariah-compliant offerings via the rebranding of HLB Islamic, introducing the Hayat @ HLB Islamic proposition to provide holistic, value-based financial solutions. To ensure physical accessibility remains a priority, the Bank also introduced the innovative Meet @ HLB branch concept, providing flexible banking services and specialized support within the heart of Malaysia's growing townships.
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
Hong Leong Bank Awarded Best Managed Bank in Malaysia by The Asian Banker, Group MD/CEO Kevin Lam Named Best Bank CEO in Malaysia
