At Best Startup UK we track over 130,000 UK startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top London based COO’ operating in the Venture Capital space. If you think a COO’ is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.co.uk.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Companies House UK, Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Ian Woods
General Counsel and COO of Virgin Group
Ian is the General Counsel and COO at Virgin Group. Ian has been with Virgin since 2005 and has responsibility for various functions within Virgin Management including Legal, People, Company Secretarial, Facilities and IT as well as for advising Virgin companies on a broad spectrum of legal issues across different business sectors and jurisdictions. Ian sits on the Board of various Group companies including Virgin Management, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Limited Edition and Virgin Enterprises. Ian previously worked for leading international law firm Slaughter and May and holds an LLB from Sheffield University.
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About Virgin Group: Virgin Group is an investment company focused on leisure, travel, tourism, mobile, broadband, TV, radio, music, finance, and health sectors.
Jonathan Biggs
COO & CFO — London of Accel
Jon Biggs joined Accel in 2001 and is Accel London’s chief operating officer. Jon runs the operations of the London office. He sits on the judging panel of the UK Private Business Awards and was instrumental in working with NACUE in its efforts to champion employment in early stage companies for new graduates. Prior to Accel, Jon worked at AXA Investment Managers, and before that worked at Deutsche Bank and Mirabaud & Cie in London. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant at PWC. Jon is from the South of England and graduated from the University of Bristol.
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About Accel: Accel is an early and growth-stage venture capital firm that helps a global community of entrepreneurs.
James Hatchley
Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer (Europe) of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts
James Hatchley (London) is a Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer (Europe) for KKR with local responsibility for the operations of KKR’s businesses across the MENA region. Mr. Hatchley joined KKR as Co-Chief Executive of Avoca Capital in 2014 where he has responsibility for business strategy, strategic fund raising and oversight of non-investment functions. He joined Avoca in May 2012. Previously, he spent 23 years working in the City of London as an investment banker with Schroders, Greenhill and Freeman & Co. Mr. Hatchley established Freeman & Co.’s European business in 2006. During his time as a banker he provided independent strategic and financial advice to a wide range of banks, insurance companies and selected institutional investors. Mr. Hatchley qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur Andersen. He has a first class B.Sc (hons) Degree in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Surrey in the UK.
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About Kohlberg Kravis Roberts: Kohlberg Kravis Roberts is a global alternative asset manager focusing on private equity, fixed income, and capital markets.
Chris Barnes
Partner and Chief Operating Officer of Atomico
Chris is Partner & Chief Operating Officer at Atomico. Based in London, he works across all aspects of Atomico’s operations. He oversees portfolio management, fund management, investor relations, resource allocation, finance, legal and HR. Chris joined the company after thirteen years at private equity company Terra Firma, where he was CFO and a member of the Investment and Management Committees. While at Terra Firma, Chris was involved in the structuring, funding and execution of all of the portfolio investments, as well as the management of the firm’s operations. Prior to Terra Firma, Chris worked in the Private Equity group at Arthur Andersen for 10 years. Chris is a Chartered Accountant and has a Double First in Economics and History from Cambridge University. He ran his first (and last) marathon at age 12, which may explain why he now has a titanium hip and the knees of a ninety year old. A talented footballer in his youth, Chris gave up the chance of a playing career in the top flight to follow his dream of becoming an accountant.
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About Atomico: Atomico is an international investment firm that focuses on helping disruptive technology companies scale globally.
Richard Matthews
COO and Partner of Augmentum Fintech
Richard has 17 years venture capital and private equity experience in the technology, retail and leisure sectors on both sides of the fence. Having studied economics at the University of Manchester, Richard started his career as a Chartered Accountant at Coopers & Lybrand before leaving in 1999 to join Tim at Flutter.com (now Betfair) as CFO. In 2002 following the merger with Betfair he left to join Benchmark Capital Europe (now Balderton Capital), one of the early investors in Betfair. At Benchmark he worked on early stage technology investments both in the investment phase and assisting the investee companies post funding. He then joined Manzanita Capital in 2005, where he spent 5 years investing in the retail and leisure sectors globally before leaving to form Augmentum Capital. In 2018 Richard and Tim successfully launched Augmentum Fintech on the main market of the London Stock Exchange, in the process becoming the first Fintech focused public VC in Europe. Away from the office Richard enjoys spending time with his family, watching Arsenal and playing golf, though in the case of the latter 2 the word “enjoys” is used in its loosest sense.
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About Augmentum Fintech: Augmentum Fintech is a FinTech fund that invests in early and later-stage FinTech companies.
Michael Odai
Chief Operating Officer / General Counsel of Mosaic
Michael Odai joined Virgin Green Fund in 2006. As General Counsel, Michael advises on all legal aspects concerning VGF, its business and investments, and works closely with the investment team evaluating opportunities and overseeing investments, from term sheet negotiation to deal execution and exits. As Chief Operating Officer, Michael leads VGF’s administrative and operational efforts including finance, investor relations, information technology and human resources. Prior to VGF, Michael was General Counsel of Virgin Money Australia, where he led that company’s joint venture transaction with Macquarie Bank and subsequent launch of co-managed investment products. Prior to joining Virgin, Michael was Assistant General Counsel of Credigy Solutions Inc. and General Counsel of Franklin Square Technologies Inc., a software company which he co-founded. Michael began his legal career in New York City as a Corporate Associate with Battle Fowler and then Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, where he spent over six years focusing his practice on mergers, acquisitions and private equity transactions in a wide-range of industries. Michael has a BA in Economics from the University of Rochester and a JD from Albany Law School of Union University, New York.
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About Mosaic: We back founders who are reimagining the world. We invest $1-10m early, in those building daring adventures across Europe.
Ralf Gruss
Partner and Chief Operating Officer of Apax Partners
Ralf Gruss is Chief Operating Officer. He is a former member of the Financial & Business Services team and is based in London. Ralf’s deal experience includes: Kabel Deutschland, LR Health and Beauty Systems, IFCO Systems, and Netrada Holding where he also served as advisor and board member. Prior to joining Apax Partners Ralf was a consultant with Arthur D. Little International Inc, where he specialised in advising clients in the Financial Services sector. Ralf holds a diploma in industrial engineering and business administration from the Technical University in Karlsruhe. He also studied at the University of Massachusetts and the London School of Economics.
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About Apax Partners: Apax Partners is an independent global partnership focused solely on long-term investment in growth companies.
Filippo Cardini
Managing Director, COO and General Counsel of TowerBrook Capital Partners
Filippo Cardini is COO, General Counsel and a Managing Director of TowerBrook. He is a member of the Management Committee as well as being responsible for investor relations for the firm. He was previously a Partner, COO and General Counsel at Soros Private Equity. He focuses on the Italian market and is extensively involved in structuring and executing all of TowerBrook’s transactions. Previously, he was a senior solicitor at the London-based law firm, Ashursts, in the Private Equity Group in London and Milan. He earned his LLB from Brunel University and completed his Law Society Finals at the College of Law in London. He holds the Series 7, 24, 63, 79 and 99 licenses.
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About TowerBrook Capital Partners: TowerBrook Capital Partners is a London-based investment management firm that funds European and North American companies.
Filip Coen
COO of Force Over Mass Capital
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About Force Over Mass Capital: Force Over Mass Capital is a London based venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology investments.
Mark McDonald
COO of Concentric
Mark M. McDonald is the Financial Director of TLcom and joined the firm in January 2002. Prior to TLcom, Mark was the Finance Director at Digital Networks Global Ventures Limited, an early stage Pan-European technology venture capital firm based in London. Before joining Digital Networks, Mark was a Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers for six years, in the London and Toronto offices, where he served as a statutory and regulatory (FSA) consultant specialising in private equity. Mark qualified with Ernst & Young, Montreal, Canada. Mark is a qualified Chartered Accountant and has a Graduate Diploma in Chartered Accountancy from McGill University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Finance from the University of Western Ontario.
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About Concentric: Concentric invests in software technology business in the financial services, mobility, real estate, industrial, and logistics sectors.
Peter Harris
Partner & COO of Generation Investment Management
Peter is a Founding Partner and Chief Operating Officer of Generation Investment Management. Previously, Peter was part of Goldman Sachs Global Operations Division, where he was responsible for global operations infrastructure projects, and management of the North American operations and latterly international operations for Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Prior to that, Peter established the Marketable Securities Division Operations Department at CIN Management Ltd, before it was acquired by Goldman Sachs in 1996.Peter is qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant.
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About Generation Investment Management: Generation Investment Management is a private equity firm focused on integrated sustainability research and client alignment.
Jonathan Kestenbaum
Chief Operating Officer of RIT Capital Partners
Jonathan Kestenbaum is the Chief Operating officer. Until 2011 he was Chief Executive of Five Arrows Limited. He is also an adviser to the philanthropic foundations connected to Lord Rothschild. He was previously Chief Executive of NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts). Prior to this he was Chief of Staff to the Chairman of Apax, Sir Ronald Cohen. In January 2011, Jonathan Kestenbaum was appointed to the House of Lords and became Lord Kestenbaum of Foxcote.
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About RIT Capital Partners: RIT Capital Partners plc is an investment trust listed on the London Stock Exchange with net assets of some £1.9 billion.
Matthew Reed
Chief Operating Officer of Business Growth Fund
Matthew Reed joined the Business Growth Fund in March 2011 and is responsible for BGF’s regulatory, finance and operational functions. Matthew’s role will also encompass risk and corporate governance oversight. Matthew Reed was educated in Australia where he obtained his Chartered Accountant qualification. Matthew has held a number of Chief Financial Officer roles with private equity firms including, CCMP Capital Partners UK, Trilantic Capital Partners and Santander Infrastructure Capital. Prior to commencing his Private Equity roles, Matthew worked for JP Morgan Chase for six years, performing numerous roles during that time including Financial Controller positions in both Luxembourg and London, and later as a Global Product Controller in the bank’s Worldwide Security Services business.
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About Business Growth Fund: Business Growth Fund is an influential investor in small and mid-sized businesses.
Tony Lissaman
Chief Operating Officer Private Equity of 3i Group
Tony Lissaman In his role as Chief Operation Officer (COO), Tony is responsible for the operational running of 3i’s international Private Equity business. His responsibilities include the strategic development of the business, financial planning and reporting, business processes and systems, resource management, portfolio monitoring and valuations. Having previously qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG, Tony joined 3i in 1998 initially working in 3i’s Group Finance team. Over his career at 3i, Tony has been involved in the reshaping of 3i’s Private Equity business, including its international development and integration. Tony has a Geography degree from Loughborough University and is a qualified chartered accountant.
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About 3i Group: 3i is an international investment manager focused on mid-market Private Equity, Infrastructure & Debt Management.
Angelika Burawska
COO of SFC Capital
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About SFC Capital: Early-stage investor combining its own angel syndicate & seed funds to provide investors with diversified exposure to SEIS/EIS businesses.
Jasel Mehta
Partner & COO of Forward Partners
Jasel runs the team delivering value-added services to their partner companies, from early-stage idea through to launch and anywhere in between. This includes product strategy, customer experience, brand development, technology services, growth marketing, talent, PR and more (breathe). He has a background in building and running teams developing innovative products and experiences for some of the world’s most celebrated brands. This included 13 years at AKQA on clients including Audi, Coca Cola, Nike and Nissan. When not working, J’s a proud father of two, loves to travel and watching his favourite football team. What J loves about FP: “Being part of a sufficiently crazy, yet talented, team that help ambitious entrepreneurs create and shape great businesses.”
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About Forward Partners: Forward gives founders their best shot at success.
Ameerul Miah
Partner and COO of MMC Ventures
Ameerul joined MMC in 2014. He is responsible for finance and operations and supervises MMC’s fund structures. Before joining MMC, Ameerul worked as the overseas entity controller for the Ashmore Group and James Caird Asset Management where he was responsible for finance, tax and regulatory reporting for both onshore and offshore entities. Ameerul qualified as an accountant with Ernst and Young and graduated from University College London with a BSc in Economics.
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About MMC Ventures: MMC Ventures is an investment firm that invests in technology companies at Seed and Series A.
Henry Obi
COO, Partner, Public & Regulatory Affairs, Member of Investment Committee of Helios Investment Partners
Mr Obi has 21 years of relevant professional experience, and is head of Public & Regulatory Affairs. He was previously the firm’s COO. Prior to joining Helios in September 2006, Mr Obi was a Partner and Investment Committee member at Aureos Capital Partners Ltd., a manager of private equity funds in Africa and other emerging markets. At Aureos, he was responsible for monitoring the performance of the firm’s funds in Africa and Central America and their compliance with investment policy. Prior to Aureos, he was a Senior Investment Executive in the Assets Group at Actis, before which he was an Investment Executive in that firm’s Infrastructure Group. He started his investment career in the power investment team at CDC Group, the UK’s Development Finance Institution, and also worked at Dynegy, a US energy trader. Mr Obi serves on the Board of Directors of Eland Oil & Gas, and has also served on the Boards of Directors of Zambia Capital Partners, Central America Investment Managers (Mauritius) and Zuami Limited (Kenya). He is a member of the Emerging Market Private Equity Association’s Africa Council, a board member of the African Private Equity & Venture Capital Association, a board member of Advanced American Style, Inc., and sits on the Advisory Board of Maris Capital. Mr Obi, a Nigerian and Irish national, received a BS and MS in Architecture from the University of Nigeria, a BArch from University of Nottingham and an MBA in Finance from the London Business School. He is a fluent Igbo speaker.
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About Helios Investment Partners: Helios Investment Partners is a private equity and venture capital firm that focuses on African companies.
Christina Drews
Partner, Chief Operating Officer, Member of Executive Committee of Helios Investment Partners
Ms Drews has 27 years of professional experience; and has overall responsibility for the operations of the firm, including oversight of finance, administration, human resources and compliance, as well as development and implementation of the firm’s agreed strategy. Prior to joining Helios in October 2018, she spent 25 years at Goldman Sachs, most recently as a Managing Director and Global CAO for the Investment Banking Division (IBD), spending two years in the New York office, as well as COO and CFO for IBD in EMEA. She worked in M&A in London for seven years, after which she moved to the Executive Office as Chief of Staff to the co-heads of EMEA, before returning to IBD. She began her career as a management trainee at Bayer AG. Ms Drews holds an MA in Social & Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge and speaks German and French.
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About Helios Investment Partners: Helios Investment Partners is a private equity and venture capital firm that focuses on African companies.
Steven Batchelor
COO and Partner of Hg
Steven Batchelor is a Partner at Hg. He is the Partnership’s COO and a member of Hg’s Operating and Realisation Committees, with oversight of Client Services and other non-investment related functions. Steven is also a member of the Hg board. Steven joined Hg in 2003, having previously worked at Morgan Stanley, where he was involved in a number of M&A and capital market related transactions. His current responsibilities at Hg include managing the day to day activities of the partnership, firm strategy, fundraising, co-investments and ongoing investor coverage. He also sits on the firm’s Valuation Committee. Steven holds a degree in History from the University of Bristol.
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About Hg: Hg is a private equity firm that invests in software and services, focused on backing businesses.
Kathy Samii
Chief Operating Officer of Parkwalk Advisors
Before joining Parkwalk in 2016, Kathy held COO, CFO and Compliance roles at a large event-driven hedge fund. Kathy previously worked at Schroder Salomon Smith Barney / Citigroup and Merrill Lynch.
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About Parkwalk Advisors: Parkwalk is an investment management firm focused on UK-based technology companies that are spun out of UK university and research centres.
Parag Gandesha
COO of Kreos Capital
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About Kreos Capital: Kreos Capital is a growth debt firm that provides financing solutions for high-growth companies across Europe and Israel.
Parag Gandesha
COO of Kreos Capital
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About Kreos Capital: Kreos Capital is a growth debt firm that provides financing solutions for high-growth companies across Europe and Israel.
Hanna Johnson
Chief Operating Officer of Public
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About Public: Public is a venture capital firm that supports technology startups aiming to work more deeply with the UK’s public services.
Steve Morrison
Partner and Chief Operating Officer of Bridges Fund Management
Steve is a Partner & Chief Operating Officer at Bridges Ventures, having joined in 2013. Prior to his current role, Steve had a successful 25 years in banking where he spent 14 years in Leveraged Finance with Bank of Scotland, culminating in leading this business as Head of Structured Finance. Other Key Executive roles included Strategy & Planning for Private Equity/Investing, Credit Risk and more recently as Head of Credit Risk for Lloyds Banking Group’s Business Support Unit where he supported corporate restructures in the UK, Europe and the Middle East. He has a wide range of experience across industries and supports the various funds within Bridges. Steve is a Non-Executive Director of Charity Bank and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland. He was also a founding member of the Board at Big Society Capital, where he stepped down in 2013. In 2009 Steve attended the INSEAD Social Entrepreneurs Programme (ISEP) and supports a number of charities and social enterprises on a pro-bono basis.
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About Bridges Fund Management, CredentialEnvironmental: Bridges Fund Management is a specialist fund manager dedicated to sustainable and impact investment.
Gary Fraser
Chief Operating Officer of Foresight Group
Chief Operating Officer at Foresight Group LLP.
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About Foresight Group: Foresight is an infrastructure and private equity investment manager that manages funds on behalf of institutions and retail clients.
Craig Vickery
Partner and COO of Exponent Private Equity
Craig Vickery joined Exponent in January 2005. He is the firm’s Chief Operating Officer and is ultimately responsible for all financial and operational matters. Craig previously worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers. Originally from Edinburgh, Craig has an MA in Management Studies from the University of Glasgow and is a qualified chartered accountant (ACA).
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About Exponent Private Equity: Exponent is a private equity firm that believes that greater understanding to greater transformation.
Robin Bailey
Chief Operating Officer of Pantheon Ventures
Robin is a Partner and Pantheon’s Chief Financial Officer. Before joining Pantheon, Robin worked in the Investment team of Ipex Capital and for the Corporate Finance Advisory practice of Deloitte. Robin qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur Andersen and holds a BSc in Economics from Warwick University.
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About Pantheon Ventures: Pantheon is a leading global private equity fund investor. We manage regional primary investments, global secondary and infrastructure
Adam Park
Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Capital Partners
Adam Park is the Chief Operating Officer at Renaissance Capital Partners.
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About Renaissance Capital Partners: Renaissance Capital Partners invests funds in high-growth, innovative, and entrepreneurial businesses and also built environment projects.
Graham Hutchins
Chief Operating Officer of NCL Technology Ventures
Graham joined the Technology Strategy Board in 2007 and is responsible for its financial and operational management. He is an experienced commercial director with UK and international experience, including roles with FirstPoint Healthcare Ltd, Vodafone and FedEx.
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About NCL Technology Ventures: NCL Technology Ventures invests transformational equity capital in entrepreneurs who have truly innovative technologies in healthcare
Adam Shepherd
COO & Investor of TempoCap
Adam joined TempoCap from early-stage venture firm Notion Capital, where he focused on direct investments in B2B software companies. Prior to joining Notion, Adam helped fintech business CurrencyCloud raise a series C financing round, and worked with a number of other early-stage businesses – as well as establishing a successful Mexican street food business in his spare time. Adam started his career at BP, negotiating financing and structuring M&A transactions, as well as working for several years as a global macro trader and strategist in financial markets. Adam holds a BSc honours in Politics & Philosophy from the University of Bristol.
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About TempoCap: TempoCap is a growth and secondary direct venture investment firm.
Ed Bardos
MD & COO of VentureFounders
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About VentureFounders: VentureFounders is an investment platform providing HNW client base with access to highly-curated and structured investment opportunities.
Scott Haughton
COO/ Co-founder of Envestors
Since co-founding Envestors in 2004, Scott has led investments totalling over £50m in over 100 high growth companies. Having gained his degree in Economics and Business and consequently an MBA, Scott spent 16 years working in senior sales and marketing roles for multi-national blue chip FMCG corporations, including Mars Confectionery and GlaxoSmithKline. Scott then left big corporate life to set up a unique, premium quality family leisure concept, personally securing funding totalling £680,000, which included venture capital backing, business angel investment and a DTI Small Firms loan. Outside of work, he now spends most of his time either skiing in France, playing club cricket or actively watching Saracens Rugby Club.
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About Envestors: Envestors digital platform connects entrepreneurs and investors
Uruthra Kumar Sreedharan
COO of DSSC Digital Software Solutions Ltd.
Accomplished and versatile technology executive with 20+ years of experience of delivering outstanding results across the e-commerce, mobile payments, financial services, technology, telecommunications and business process outsourcing industries. A global citizen with a deep cultural empathy and ability to bring together high performing teams across organizational and temporal barriers to create innovative solutions, driving growth and delivering value based on a deep understanding of consumer needs and market opportunities. Strongly focused on leveraging networks and relationships to provide the best service capabilities to clients and partners. A technologist with a keen head for business and new opportunities. Specialties: Business Development, Client Management and Negotiations, Systems Architecture and Development, Senior Management Roles in Technology, Solutions Design, Call/Contact Center, Customer Relationship Management and Business Process Outsourcing, Financial and Banking Solutions in Remittance, Mobile and E-Wallet Platform Solutions
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About DSSC Digital Software Solutions Ltd.: DSSC is a B2B fintech software company specialising in platforms for financial ecosystem aggregation and improvement programmes.