The appointments were confirmed this week at the joint Scottish Government and industry Financial Services Advisory Board (FiSAB) meeting chaired by the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon and Chair of Scottish Financial Enterprise and CYBG, Jim Pettigrew.

Stephen Ingledew, FinTech Scotland Chief Executive set out the organisation’s ambitious vision and strategy to make Scotland a top five global fintech centre by 2020.

Encouraging Innovation and Collaboration

FinTech Scotland aims to encourage data driven innovation and collaboration activity across Scotland to deliver inclusive growth and achieve critical mass in the sector by:

• Facilitating an integrated and innovative fintech ecosystem
• Supporting innovative and entrepreneurial purpose driven fintech enterprises
• Encouraging development of fintech skills, diversity and inclusion
• Developing fintech community engagement, inclusion and collaboration
• Building international fintech engagement and collaboration

FinTech Scotland’s New Strategic Partners

To deliver this vision, FinTech Scotland has partnered with global enterprises who have a strong presence in Scotland as well as being international leaders in their fields. Its new partners include Deloitte, Pinsent Masons, Dentsu Aegis Network and Sopra Steria.

Ingledew said: “It is a privilege to be working with such world-renowned organisations which are committed to supporting Scotland’s fintech economy.”

“Following many conversations with a range of large firms over recent months, these strategic partners demonstrated their commitment and market leadership which will support our aspirations and plans. We are currently in discussions with a view to confirming additional strategic partners in the coming weeks.”

New Chairman is a Seasoned Fintech Leader

David Ferguson, the founder and Chief Executive of Edinburgh based Nucleus Financial, has been appointed to chair the board of FinTech Scotland.

In late December 2016, Ferguson was appointed by the Treasury as one of two regional fintech envoys for Scotland with a remit for building regional and national networks which seek to ensure a greater level of co-ordination and collaboration between fintech companies, government, investors and regional fintech hubs. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and insight about the Fintech sector to this new role.

A Bright and Prosperous Future

Ferguson said: “It is a great privilege to have been appointed as chair of the FinTech Scotland board. Fintech is a fantastic opportunity for Scotland and I am excited to build on the great strides we have recently made to position ourselves as a global leader.

“The country should have a bright and prosperous fintech future ahead of it and I am greatly looking forward to helping Stephen and the team drive the sector forward and deliver meaningful action to help both start-ups to flourish and the more substantial financial services establishments to modernise.”

Ingledew commented: “It was essential for us to have a highly respected fintech leader chairing our board and David, who has built one of the most successful businesses in the country managing over £14 billion on their wrap platform, ticked all the boxes and more.”