FinTech Wales names Confused chief as new chairperson
FinTech Wales has named Louise O’Shea, chief executive of Confused.com, as its new chairperson, amid a number of other board and panel changes.
Two new directors – Ben Joakim, head of strategy at Principality Building Society and Eamon Tuhami, founder and chief executive of X8IQ – were also added to the board during the membership body’s annual general meeting earlier this week.
Several new panel members were also voted in during the meeting, including Ella Hastings, chief marketing officer at Wagonex, James Rudolf, chief commercial officer at Acquis Insurance, and Sarah McQuaid, senior director, marketing, at LexisNexis Risk Solutions.
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Sarah Williams-Gardener, chief executive of FinTech Wales, said that the board-level changes and new appointments come at a time of “massive potential” for the fintech sector in Wales.
“2021 has been an exceptional year for FinTech Wales and I’m immensely proud of the work that we have achieved,” said Williams-Gardener.
“There have been so many exciting firsts this year – launching The FinTech Wales Foundry, Wales’ first accelerator programme for fintech businesses across the globe, as well as hosting a number of key events, bringing together a real business community across Wales.
“We have a very special business ecosystem in Wales, and we are immensely proud to be the voice of the Welsh fintech sector. We know it’s still early days for the organisation and we still have a lot to do, but the strengthening of our board with such key people in the sector, together with the clear vision we have in place for 2022, means that we are in a good place to build on the achievements of this year.”
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FinTech Wales was established in 2019 to help promote the growing fintech industry in Wales. Earlier this year, the Kalifa Review named Wales as one of ten emerging fintech hubs across the UK.
O’Shea said that her appointment as chairperson for the organisation is “an honour.”
“We have made significant progress in the last 12 months and have big, albeit realistic, ambitions for the future,” she added. “Working with Sarah, the board and panel to deliver these on behalf of all of our members is something I am very much looking forward to.
“We are a collaborative, open organisation keen to welcome new members and work with other organisations across our ecosystem for the benefit of all. Please do get in touch and get involved!”