PwC and NatWest senior management join FinTech West Board

FinTech West has appointed PwC’s Katharine Adlard and NatWest’s Louis Spencer to its advisory board in a strategic move to help mobilize more fintech companies in the South West. The appointment of the two new members will help FinTech West grow its sphere of influence within the financial sector, providing greater support guidance to existing FinTechs, along with the incubation of new ones.

FinTech West supports disruptive start-ups, scale-ups and established companies.

Katharine Adlard is a PwC director and head of PwC’s financial services tax team in the West and Wales with over 17 years’ experience in the financial sector. PwC has a full local FS specialist team working across tax, agreements, audit and advisory. Katharine specializes in advising and auditing established, regulated FS businesses such as insurance companies and retail banks/builders, but is increasingly called upon to advise new FS start-ups. She has been involved with FinTech West since its inception and was also involved in the recent WECA Bristol and Bath FinTech cluster strategy report.

Louis Spencer, Senior Relationship Manager and Technology, Media and Telecoms (TMT) Lead for West of England Commercial Banking has over a decade of experience in corporate and commercial banking. He has been a key contributor to various business reports and ecosystem initiatives over the past 5 years, including the WECA FinTech Strategy Review 2022 with Deloitte.

Katharine said: “I have a particular interest in FinTech and how it can disrupt and shake up traditional provision in the financial services sector and I have enjoyed facilitating sessions through PwC’s partnership already, sharing industry insights and contributing to thought leadership. I’m excited to make an impact in this sector with FinTech West and look forward to everything we can achieve together.”

Louis added: “I have both a personal and professional interest in FinTech, particularly the role it can play in driving greater financial literacy and equality and supporting disadvantaged communities – I see the positive impact of NatWest’s Moneysense program we deliver to schools locally, and I am sure that FinTechs will be an increasingly positive factor and driver in educating people about their finances. I look forward to bringing my expertise from working with the NatWest Entrepreneurship Accelerator and growing businesses into FinTech West to deliver inclusive growth for all members.

Stuart Harrison, Director of FinTech West said: “Having extremely experienced and knowledgeable board members like Louis and Katharine is fantastic for FinTech West and we are delighted to continue our journey to help advance and provide vital support to the ever-growing FinTech – the community across the South West”