ADVISORY BOARD

NATHALIE GAVEAU

Serial Tech Entrepreneur

  • Nathalie started out in M&A at Lazard before co-founding French Amazon Marketplace competitor PriceMinister, which was successfully sold to Rakuten for $250 million. She then cofounded Shopcade, a data/AI-driven social marketplace operating in the UK, USA and France, subsequently acquired by Lagardère Active.

    Nominated among the Top 50 women in technology in Europe by Forbes, Nathalie backs high caliber companies in marketplaces/D2C, AI/Impact, as well as venture funds.

    She sits on the boards of Lightspeed Commerce (NYSE: LSPD), Coca-Cola EuroPacific Partners (NASDAQ: CCEP), Sonepar and PortAventura World, with a focus on ESG, M&A Transactions, GTM/Growth and Digital transformation.

    Nathalie has extensive international experience, including 6 years in Asia Pacific, and is a Senior Advisor to BCG Technology group (BCG X).

BOARD MEMBER & ADVISOR

DAVID CRAIG

Refinitiv Founder and CEO, TNFD Co-Chair

BOARD MEMBER & ADVISOR

  • David has 30 years experience in data and technology in financial services and is a hands-on operator having built several global businesses and brands in financial and risk software and data services. Most recently, David created Refinitiv following the carve out from Thomson Reuters with Blackstone and, as CEO, led the business to significant increases in revenue and margin trajectory prior to the acquisition by LSEG

    Today, David Co-Chairs the TNFD (Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures) building on his passion and experience in ESG and sustainability data and solutions and is on the advisory board of the SMI (Sustainable Markets Initiative). David is also an Executive Fellow on Entrepreneurship and Strategy at the London Business School

    Prior to his corporate career, David was first a software developer, then a Partner with McKinsey & Co in their technology office. David has authored many articles on leading technology in global financial services

    David and Ben have worked closely together on multiple transformations and turnarounds including business builds, exits and acquisitions

Ex-CEO FTSE Russell & Head of Information Services Division, LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE GROUP

WAQAS SAMAD

BOARD MEMBER & ADVISOR

  • Waqas has a proven track-record of leading and growing global financial services information, data and analytics businesses.

    Waqas has over 25 years of hands-on experience in productising and commercialising financial data and analytics and has run regulated businesses at scale in all the major financial markets across the world

    Waqas' commercial and technical domain of expertise is broad and deep, encompassing financial markets, data/analytics and technology, applied to both buyside investment workflows and sell side transaction processes. In addition, he is recognised as a leader in the index and risk analytics space

    In the CEO roles that he has undertaken, Waqas has garnered considerable experience in developing and successfully executing transformational business strategies for growth, whether organic or through M&A

    His experience of inorganic business development is extensive having lead on a number of acquisitions and integrations across the full spectrum of size of business, including some of the largest in the industry

    Today, Waqas acts as a strategic advisor to a number of firms and is also a Senior Advisor with Oliver Wyman

    Mads and Ben have worked closely with Waqas over the last 10 years on multiple transactions and projects and have sat on several ExCos together.

JOHAAN WIGGINS

Head of Digital, Technology & Analytics, Senior Partner, OLIVER WYMAN

BOARD MEMBER & ADVISOR

  • Johaan has forged a successful career advising companies and coaching senior leaders predominantly in the financial service tech, data, and digital segments, including establishing and leading Oliver Wyman’s Digital, Technology & Analytics Practice globally

    With over 25 years of experience combining technology, financial services, business and capability building, Johaan is highly respected as a trusted advisor. He has worked with companies across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the US, working on all aspects of business and operational performance improvement strategies ranging from cost efficiency, business growth, M&A, transformations and turnarounds, as well as new business launches

    Johaan is passionate about helping clients lead with, and leverage, advanced technology and data solutions while ensuring successful employee and customer adoption. In addition, Johaan is a seasoned private investor in the technology sector

    Ben has worked closely with Johaan for nearly 20 years and considers him a personal mentor

PAUL SPANSWICK

Senior Financial Services ‘C suite’ Executive

BOARD MEMBER & ADVISOR

  • During a 35 year career in financial services, where be held a number of CFO, COO and CAO positions, Paul has earned a reputation for building high performing global teams and for using data and technology to transform businesses.

    Before embarking on a portfolio career, Paul sat on the Group Executive Committee of Nomura Holdings Inc. and as Group CAO, had responsibility for the strategic direction and day to day execution, for the firm’s global support functions, including IT and Operations.

    Paul currently chairs a number of regulated financial services companies in the UK and Europe and also chairs a recruitment and consultancy business with operations in the UK and India.

    Paul has previously worked with Ben on a number of strategic projects, including a firm-wide cost transformation programme, the sale of non-core IT assets and a global data governance programme aimed at improving decision making and efficiency.

JOHN ROMEO

Managing Partner and CEO of the OLIVER WYMAN FORUM

BOARD MEMBER & ADVISOR

  • John is Managing Partner and CEO of the Oliver Wyman Forum, the firm’s platform for engaging key business, public policy and societal leaders to act on shared challenges. He also founded and continues to lead Oliver Wyman’s Private Capital business, working with leading Private Equity funds, family offices and alternative asset managers on business model strategy, deal generation, diligence and value creation. Prior to these roles, John served as Head of the Americas for Oliver Wyman and has over 30 years of consulting experience, advising the boards and senior executives of the world’s leading private and public sector organizations on strategy, organizational effectiveness, risk management and M&A. Ben and John have worked together for over two decades and John’s senior counsel, insights and thoughtful considered approach have proved invaluable.

    John is a board member of Safe Horizon (the largest victims’ services agency in the United States) and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), Chair of the London Data Commission, a member of Young Presidents’ Organization, Wall Street Journal CEO Council, MMC Advantage Advisory Council and the Investment Committees of Duke Royalty and Asta Capital Partners. He previously served on the boards of the Partnership for New York City, MMC Securities Limited and the European IPO Taskforce.