A little bit about myself; I am currently the Chief Strategy Officer at KLYM, looking at M&A, expansions (including new funding sources) and partnerships. I have expanded KLYM to Brazil and Mexico, managed the full JP Morgan relationship, and developed numerous funding sources (Including raising equity, debt and building securitized vehicles). Previously I was at Transcard, a payments technology platform looking at improving and creating a closed payment network in the USA, UK and EU; I ran their sales operations and Mastercard partnership. Prior to Transcard I was at Greensill where I gained wider experience establishing new businesses and M&A in South Africa, Netherlands, Italy, and developing new financial products for the USA. I worked at Citi for four years within their investment banking technology department and led my own innovation projects within Citi Ventures.
I also had a varied and successful career in the British Army with the Royal Engineers (The Queen’s Gurkha Engineers), leaving after almost eight years as a Captain. I led troops on operations in the UK, Afghanistan, Africa and the Middle East.
I am a highly motivated and results-driven Fintech & Banking professional seeking a senior/C-suite position within a dynamic organization.
Experienced global leader
Throughout my career, I have acquired a wealth of experience as a seasoned global leader, demonstrating my ability to navigate diverse environments and deliver successful outcomes. I served as a captain in British Army for nearly 8 years with the Royal Engineers (The Queen's Gurkha Engineers). During this time, I had the privilege of leading UK and international troops on challenging operations in the United Kingdom, Afghanistan, Africa, and the Middle East. These experiences exposed me to a multitude of cultures, languages, and operational complexities, sharpening my adaptability, strategic thinking, and cross-cultural communication skills.
Building upon my military background, I have also amassed extensive international experience in the corporate world. Working across the financial and Fintech industry, and collaborating with teams from around the globe, I have consistently demonstrated my leadership capabilities in diverse and dynamic settings. From overseeing global projects and managing cross-functional teams to driving business expansion in international markets, I have successfully navigated the complexities of operating on a global scale.
I have extensive experience in payments and trade finance in the USA, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Brazil, UK and EU. With more limited trade-focused experience in South Africa, India, China and Singapore
Thought leader, senior representative and lead collaborator able to motivate and align teams across any size organization
As a lead collaborator, I possess the necessary qualities to motivate and align teams effectively across any organization. My experience in M&A and post-merger integration, specifically with Earnd, Omnilatam, and Antecipa, has allowed me to lead the entire acquisition process, managing diverse workstreams such as Legal, Finance, HR, Product, IT, Sales, and Operations. This experience has equipped me with the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and drive alignment towards shared goals.
My involvement in country expansions has honed my skills in influencing without direct authority. I understand the complexity and timing sensitivity of such projects, which has strengthened my ability to motivate teams and foster collaboration in challenging situations.
In addition, my background in enterprise sales has instilled in me a strong focus on flawless execution across various functions, including legal, product, IT, and operations. I recognise the importance of aligning teams to deliver exceptional results throughout lengthy sales cycles.
Moreover, my leadership skills, honed during my time in the military, are a unique selling point. I have the ability to inspire individuals, creating a sense of purpose and commitment to our shared objectives.
Experienced Partnership Manager with a strong Relationship management background
I have extensive relationship experience with the following banks JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Citi, BNY Mellon, US Bank, Wells Fargo, Lloyds, HSBC, Santander, Itau, XPI, Morgan Stanley, Main Street Bank, RockPoint Bank, Florida Capital, First Bank of Hawaii, Fifth Third and other financial institutions such as Blackrock, Grammercy, IFC, Mastercard, American Express, Jack Henry systems. I have very strong relationships at Citi and JP Morgan payments globally which will I see allowing me to be very successful in this role.
I have also originated and led a few strategic partnerships with Mastercard, Citi and JP Morgan. Both Transcard and KLYM connected and worked closely with ERPs and other treasury management systems, I have gain experience with working with multiple ERP systems and in some cases building strong relationships with these technology providers (SAGE, ORACLE, SAP, Taulia, C2FO, OpenText, ADOBE, to name a few)
Fundraising
I have a proven track record of success in securing significant funding, leading the raise of $100 million in debt from Grammercy, Carlyle, IFC, and IDB. Additionally, I played a pivotal role in raising $11 million in equity during KLYM's MBO and $27 million Series B round. I have also demonstrated my ability to create tailored funding vehicles, including trusts, PE LP vehicles, securitizations, and fixed-income bonds, managing an impressive AUM of $160 million in 2022 across multiple countries. Throughout these endeavours, I have effectively managed FX and interest rate risks through complex emerging market derivatives. My experience and expertise position me perfectly to drive successful fundraising efforts for the company's Series A funding.
I have a Strong and deep relationships in several boutique advisory firms such as Moelis, FT Partners and PJT Partners.
Strategy & Product Experience
With my diverse experience in strategy and product development, I have successfully implemented various initiatives that have driven growth and enhanced market presence. At KLYM, I spearheaded country-specific go-to-market strategies for Brazil, Mexico, Peru, and the USA, enabling successful market entry and expansion. Additionally, I played a pivotal role in the launch of a new product, Earnd, with Greensill, introducing early payment solutions to the US market.
I have a strong track record of developing innovative lending products, such as the full turnover lending product at KLYM, and collaborating with partners like Mastercard to create merchant cash advance solutions. Adapting to regulatory changes in Brazil, I crafted a treasury-as-a-service strategy for institutional investors utilizing FIDCs and leveraged new opportunities arising from Duplicatas Escrituradas' new regulations through the development of middleware.
Furthermore, I have actively led KLYM's M&A strategy, identifying and executing strategic acquisitions to drive business growth and expand market reach. Through my strategic mindset and expertise in product development, I have consistently delivered impactful solutions and achieved remarkable results in the financial services industry.
Payments & Technology Experience
I have extensive payments and technology experience, particularly in the US and UK markets. I am well-versed in various payment methods, including virtual cards, physical cards, RTP, Same Day ACH, Next Day ACH, domestic wire transfers, Swift, BACs, and CHAPS. Additionally, I have hands-on experience with alternative payment solutions such as Payall, Mastercard Send, and Crypto exchanges for FX payments, as well as virtual cards in the EU.
In terms of the Brazilian market, I have exposure to the payment industry with PIX and TED. Moreover, I bring valuable expertise in integrating ERPs and bank APIs during client implementations, ensuring seamless connectivity and efficient processes. Lastly, I have collaborated with data scientists to develop enhanced credit underwriting strategies, leveraging technology and data analysis to drive improved outcomes.
Solution Sales Experience
Below are a few examples of payment products I sold or managed the team selling during my time leading the Transcard sales team both in the UK and USA:
- Rebate Administration to Pharmacies or Providers: Patients received financial rebates for pharmaceutical prescriptions, credited to the patient's account at the time of check-out. The application delivered a specific dollar value to the pharmacies or providers on behalf of the patients, lowering costs and streamlining the administration and delivery.
- Rebate Administration to Patients: Patients were paid directly for certain rebates through direct deposit to their bank account or instant payments, like Mastercard Send, to their debit card. In both instances, funds were delivered in seconds. Patients had a better customer experience, and unclaimed rebates and escheatment were eliminated.
- Accounts Payable: Companies could move away from costly check disbursements and optimize payables through our accounts payable solution that supported multiple payment types, provided direct ERP integration, and improved working capital.
- Accounts Receivables: Third-party administrators could receive invoice payments, commissions, and claims through our accounts receivable solution. Customers had a simple, easy-to-use online experience to review their bills and make timely payments.
- Security Deposit Refunds: Tenants could quickly and securely receive their security deposits through a self-service portal after reviewing documents, submitting digital signatures, and selecting their payment preference from either a direct deposit or Instant Payment, like Mastercard Send, streamlining the process for all.
- Claims Payouts: Policyholders could quickly receive responsive service and payment on their claims after a loss occurred. From a single platform, insurance providers could incorporate important documents, approvals, payment processing, and multiple settlement options.
- Expense Management: Companies could eliminate overspending and internal misuse with spend management cards that provided an effective way to manage discretionary business expenses.
- Special Purpose Gift Cards: Large hotels and malls could distribute special-purpose, on-property gift cards that could only be used at a limited number of designated locations, lowering costs and increasing sales.
- Emergency Funding Cards: Rescue workers and policyholders could have access to essential services in the event of a catastrophic event, emergency rescue, or weather damage through our emergency funding cards. Cards could easily be loaded and activated for people who needed them.
- Payroll & 1099 Payments: Contract and gig workers could be paid instantly through payroll and 1099 payments to reloadable debit cards, and funds were available for use immediately. Documents, like pay stubs, could be attached directly to the payment.
- Gift & Incentive Cards: Workforces could become more engaged, and employee retention increased through incentive programs and on-the-spot bonuses that used financial gift or incentive cards to reward achievement and travel cards programs for holidays and other special occasions, employee rewards programs, and vacation travel.
- Co-Pay Debit Cards: Patients could receive co-pay debit cards to assist with some or all of the co-payment amounts for pharmaceutical prescriptions. The physical cards could be presented at check-out by patients, or virtual cards could be held on file at the pharmacies. These cards had restricted acceptance at authorized locations.
Governmental Experience
I have gained significant governmental experience throughout my career. During my time at KLYM, I played a crucial role in securing Chile's largest payments and trade finance mandate with Codelco, a prominent Spanish-speaking company in Latin America that is fully owned by the Chilean Government.
At Transcard, I led a successful pitch to transition the State of Arizona from issuing worker compensation payments via checks to Virtual Card or A2A payments. Collaborating closely with Adobe, Accenture, and Mastercard, I was instrumental in developing the RFP and delivering the final solution. I presented the payment strategy and outlined the technical integration and implementation requirements. Additionally, I partnered with Adobe to pitch the Department of Defense (DoD) to improve access to emergency funding for soldiers facing personal family welfare issues.
During my tenure at Greensill, I led a strategic partnership with Mastercard's City Possible program, focused on providing working capital for US cities' payables and receivables. I worked closely with clients to develop tailored product solutions that accelerated approved payments and facilitated faster payment for SME businesses, starting with New York City. I also collaborated with Greensill to enhance collection and payment capabilities, specifically advancing subscription payments for annual city expenses. Moreover, I played a supporting role in the collaboration between Greensill/Earnd and the National Health Service (NHS) to enable early wage access for nurses and expedite payments from the NHS to pharmacies for prescription drugs.
Overall, my experience in the governmental sector spans various initiatives and partnerships aimed at improving payment processes, facilitating financial access, and driving efficiency in public services.
Horizon Scanning Experience
Drawing upon my extensive experience and passion for the FinTech industry, I have developed a wide network of industry professionals and organizations. This network enables me to stay at the forefront of the latest developments in payments and finance, allowing me to actively engage in horizon scanning. By continuously monitoring emerging trends and technologies, I can identify potential opportunities and shape strategies that drive innovation and business growth. I thrive on being a forward-thinker and leveraging my horizon-scanning expertise to stay ahead of the curve.
Budgeting and Planning
Through my experiences with country expansions, I have acquired extensive expertise in budgeting, financial planning, and treasury management. This includes developing and executing budgeting strategies, implementing strong financial planning processes, and efficiently managing treasury operations. I am confident that my experience in these areas will be invaluable in my role in any Chief role, as it will contribute to building a financially stable company poised for future growth.
Corporate Strategy
I have actively led KLYM's M&A strategy, identifying and executing strategic acquisitions to drive business growth and expand market reach. Through my strategic mindset and expertise in product development, I have consistently delivered impactful solutions and achieved remarkable results, which include three acquisitions globally. I have a deep corporate financial expertise founded on experience and my MBA. PE Experience: Greensill - Backed by Softbank and General Atlantic Transcard - Backed by a few Family Offices KLYM - Backed by 777 partners, JP Morgan and IFC M&A Experience: Greensill - Financity, Earnd and Omnilatam Transcard - Due Diligence of 1 company no execution KLYM - Anticepa and Portal Finance
My experience with Citi Ventures included a secondment to Affiniti VC. I led the expansion of the firm's funds from North America to the UK, sourcing and evaluating opportunities in HealthTech, CyberSecurity, and FinTech sectors, particularly targeting Seed or Series A start-ups. My proactive research and analysis identified promising start-ups aligning with Affiniti VC's investment thesis. Establishing strong relationships and a robust deal pipeline within the entrepreneurial ecosystem was a crucial outcome.
Regulatory Excellence
During my tenure overseeing the expansion at Transcard, I acquired valuable regulatory experience encompassing AISP, PISP, and EMI licenses within both the UK and EU markets. This hands-on involvement provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory frameworks governing Account Information Service Provider (AISP), Payment Initiation Service Provider (PISP), and Electronic Money Institution (EMI) licenses. This experience proved instrumental in navigating and ensuring compliance with the intricate regulatory landscapes, essential for the successful operations and expansion of financial services in these regions.
Academic Excellence
I have a strong academic background with a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Bath, an MBA from the University of Manchester and a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute. With a medical doctor from my MBA, we are publishing our dissertation on the use of chatbots triaging veterans with mental health concerns.
Diversity
In an uncertain world, where nobody can accurately predict what will happen in the markets, constructing a wide parenthesis of thinking and values through a diverse team will increase your preparedness. By bringing on to your team people who are trained to be comfortable with uncertainty and who have the skills to quickly make sense of it, you will have a significant advantage. The military trains people to lead by example as well as through direction, delegation, motivation, and inspiration. Veterans understand the practical ways to manage behaviours for results, even in the most trying circumstances.
I believe that I embody this diversity a veteran brings to an organization