FinTech NI announces the appointment of Chris Jessup as Chairman
FinTech NI, the not-for-profit trade association representing the £392 million fintech sector in Northern Ireland, has announced the appointment of Chris Jessup as Chair.
Chris comes to the helm after serving three years on the board of the FinTech NI Association, succeeding outgoing chairman and Northern Ireland FinTech Envoy Andrew Jenkins. He is a partner in the leading corporate law firm A&L Goodbody, and has a background in financial services and many years of experience advising fintech companies and financial institutions on regulatory issues in the UK and EU.
The appointment will strengthen the organisation’s work in showcasing Northern Ireland’s excellence in fintech on the world stage. FinTech NI, a not-for-profit trade association, represents the workforce of over 7,000 individuals and 75 companies, and exists to champion the ecosystem at a local, national and international level.
Chris’ term as Chairman of the Association will drive the implementation of the three-year Northern Ireland FinTech Strategy and Roadmap. Published last year, it validated the Treasury’s identification of Northern Ireland as one of ten leading UK fintech clusters and estimated the creation of 25 new fintech companies, the attraction of £25m in additional foreign direct investment and the generation of thousands of new jobs in the next three year.
In working to implement the strategy, FinTech NI is focused on attracting young people into the sector, connecting SMEs to investors and large institutions, and promoting Northern Ireland on the world stage.
Following the appointment, Chris Jessup said: “I am delighted to take up the position of Chair of FinTech NI at such an important time for the sector. The opportunity for growth in Northern Ireland is very clear, yet strong leadership is required from all stakeholders to ensure that the companies that make up our dynamic ecosystem are represented on the local and international stage.”
– We are facing turbulent times on several fronts. It has never been more important for the Northern Irish economy to support our SMEs, build a sustainable talent pipeline and encourage scaling among entrepreneurs so we can reach our full potential.”
“These are the areas I intend to focus on as I embark on my term as Chairman. I would like to thank my fellow Board members for their ongoing cooperation and support and pay tribute to outgoing Chairman Andrew Jenkins for leading us through another hugely successful year at FinTech NI. The depth of expertise on the board, as well as the quality of our ecosystem, will undoubtedly help us achieve our key goals and cement Northern Ireland’s position as a world leader in fintech.”
