A new chief executive has been appointed to head the financial technology (fintech) cluster leadership organisation for Scotland.
Nicola Anderson takes on the role with Fintech Scotland after spending two years with the organisation on secondment from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
She was most recently the interim chief executive when Stephen Ingledew stepped into a new position of Executive Chair in November 2020.
Prior to joining FinTech Scotland on secondment in October 2018, Nicola was a senior regulator at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Nicola also brings experience from working for small enterprises and larger institutions, with a focus on customer experience and operational change.
The announcement comes as FinTech Scotland reaches its third anniversary helping to secure continued growth of the fintech SME community over the last twelve months by 31 firms to a total of 150 firms.
Over the three years since FinTech Scotland was formed in January 2018, the innovative fintech SME community has grown from its original number of 26 firms.
The growing strength and breadth of the fintech community and cluster has been accelerated over the past twelve months with additional milestone achievements for the FinTech Scotland cluster, including:
- Continued investment funding in Scottish fintech SME’s and on a par with 2019 levels
- Being the first UK fintech body to be recognised for cluster management excellence recognition by the European Cluster Accreditation Body.
- In collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, securing Innovate UK multi-million funding for the Global Open Finance Centre of Excellence, to enable research and innovation through financial data, another first for the UK
- Founding member of a Europe-wide fintech hubs collaboration group involving sixteen fintech centres across the continent to support international inward investment and exports.
These milestones and the growing number of fintech SME’s along with the breadth of global strategic partners supporting FinTech Scotland, continue to demonstrate the innovative, collaborative and inclusive impact of the fintech cluster.
Executive Chair of FinTech Scotland, Stephen Ingledew said: “I’m delighted Nicola has accepted the role of chief executive which is deserved recognition of her valuable contribution since joining the team. I would like to thank the FCA for their ongoing collaboration over the last two years. I am looking forward to supporting Nicola take Fintech Scotland on to the new stage of its exciting journey.” Nicola Anderson added: “I’m absolutely delighted to be appointed into this role and for the opportunity to further the great work already achieved by FinTech Scotland. Joining the team has reinforced my passion for entrepreneurial innovation and how it can benefit citizens and the economy. I’m very much looking forward to championing the fintech community and cluster through innovation, collaboration and inclusiveness.”