FinTech Scotland Chair awarded OBE
Stephen Ingledew, foreman i FinTech Scotlandhas been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honors List for services to the UK fintech sector.
He is recognized for an “exceptional service to international trade, investment and exports” alongside other UK “exporters, innovators and business leaders”.
As well as forming FinTech Scotland in 2018, Ingledew is a founding member of FinTech National Network which facilitates collaboration across all UK regional fintech clusters.
He also sits on the UK Government’s Business Innovation Forum and the Scottish Government’s Innovation Steering Group. In addition, he is deputy chairman of University of Strathclyde Court and not the CEO of Smart Data Foundry.
In a career spanning four decades, Ingledew has also previously worked as a senior executive for companies including Standard life and Barclays.
The gong recognizes Ingeldew’s efforts to make “the financial world more open, creative and inclusive through innovative initiatives and progressive ways of working”.
He said: “I am honored to receive an OBE for services to financial technology. To be recognized for doing something I am passionate about is incredible. I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the many people who have given me valuable support.
“It is a great privilege to be at the heart of financial innovation, shaping the economy of the future and breaking down barriers and divisions across the UK, particularly with new initiatives such as the Center for Finance, Innovation and Technology and Innovation Accelerators.”
Fintech in Scotland
Scotland is home to more than 140 fintech companies. FinTech Scotland is an independent not-for-profit cluster body established jointly with the financial sector, universities and Scottish Enterprise. In August 2022, FinTech Scotland took the silver badge for Cluster Management Excellence from the European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis (ESCA).
In 2022, the body also published the UK’s first Roadmap for Research and Innovation as well as hosting the UK
FinTech Symposium that brings together the wider innovation ecosystem to foster collaboration.
It also boasts that growth in Scottish financial services recently outpaced London. There are 161,000 people working in financial and related professional services in the country.
Also honored
Alison Rose, managing director at natwest, is now a lady. The first woman to head a major British bank received the honor for her services to the financial sector.
Mali Fernando, head of digital experience and accessibility at HSBC, has received an OBE. He received recognition for services to digital accessibility in banking.
Catherine McGuinnessa City of London councilor and recent chair of its policy and resources committee, receives a CBE.
