Tell us a bit about yourself!

I’m a proud father of two wonderful daughters who keep me on my toes and have a very supportive wife, Laura. Family is incredibly important to me, and I cherish the time we spend together, whether it’s exploring new places or enjoying simple moments at home. In my free time, I have a passion for travel and a particular love of France and the food. I love discovering new cultures, cuisines, and landscapes, which not only enriches my life but also provides valuable experiences that I can share with my family.

I enjoy exercising regularly and have become a big fan of my Wattbike and WaterRower. These machines have become staples in my routine, allowing me to stay active and healthy while balancing the demands of family life. When it comes to food, I appreciate great culinary experiences. Whether it’s trying out new recipes at home or dining at local restaurants during our travels, I believe that good food brings people together and creates lasting memories.

Throughout my 25+ year career in the payments and financial services sector, I’ve been driven by a passion for business growth, customer value creation, and team development. I’ve witnessed and contributed to the industry’s evolution from traditional banking to digital payments, adapting to rapid technological changes and increasing customer expectations.

My professional journey has been marked by a commitment to strategic expansion, delivering seamless payment experiences, and nurturing high-performing teams. I’ve consistently emphasized customer-centric approaches and created environments that foster team growth and innovation.

By staying ahead of industry trends and technological advancements, I’ve been able to drive business success and navigate the complex competitive dynamics of the payments landscape. My core professional values center on strategic thinking, customer focus, team empowerment, and continuous innovation, all of which have been crucial in my roles at major institutions like Barclays, Lloyds, Realex, Global Payments, and now at Acquired.com.

You’ve been at Acquired.com for four years now as Commercial Director. How has the experience been so far, and what have been some of the biggest challenges and achievements in driving the company’s commercial growth?

Joining Acquired.com during the COVID-19 pandemic presented unique challenges, particularly with remote onboarding and limited in-person interactions with the new team. Despite these initial hurdles, the company’s immense potential served as a strong motivator for joining and continues to drive enthusiasm today.

Acquired.com has successfully navigated expansion challenges while achieving some really exciting milestones. The company has secured £4m in funding from Beach Point Capital Management, reflecting three years of strong revenue growth and partnerships with major customers like Zopa Bank, Abound, and Flutterwave.

This investment will accelerate hiring, enhance product development, and fuel overall company growth. We have expanded the team, grown our customer portfolio, and increased revenue significantly. We focus on delivering a best-in-class payment experience for recurring commerce, covering Card Processing, Direct Debit, Pay by Bank, and Real-Time Payments. With the recent appointment of Eline Blomme as Chief Strategy and Product Officer, we are poised for further innovation and strategic growth in the fintech landscape.

How does Acquired.com’s commitment to empowering businesses with next generation payment solutions translate into your commercial approach and customer relationships?

As a business, we are dedicated to driving innovation with a customer-first philosophy at the core of our operations. We are positioned as a consultant to our customers, partners, and broader relationships. This means that rather than simply providing services, we actively engage with clients to understand their unique challenges and needs. This consultative method enables us to tailor solutions that effectively address specific pain points in the payments landscape.

By focusing on building a deep understanding of customer needs, we can drive value for both our business and our customers. Satisfied customers are more likely to engage in long-term partnerships and recommend us to others in their networks. Our commitment to innovation and a customer-first strategy is central to our operations, enabling us to provide exceptional value while fostering growth for both the company and its clients.

In such a rapidly evolving fintech industry, how do you stay ahead of market trends and maintain Acquired.com’s competitive edge? What advice would you give to other commercial leaders in the payments sector?

As a business, we are committed to delivering value in the fast-evolving fintech and payments industry by continuously reviewing and validating our strategy. We are working on refining our communications strategy with customers, partners, regulators, and the broader market to ensure alignment and identify areas for growth.

In my experience as a commercial leader, hiring top talent and then cultivating the right culture within your team is critical. I aim to lead by example with a passion for success, delivery, and execution. I also try to focus on continuous learning and development within my team. As a business, we also have a strong focus on cross-functional collaboration between our teams and this helps foster innovation and enhances our operational resilience.

Looking ahead, what are your priorities for the next year in terms of commercial expansion and new market opportunities for Acquired.com?

Over the next 12 months and beyond, Acquired.com is prioritising the acceleration of growth and the realisation of captured value. We will also continue to invest more resources in activating key partners and I am looking forward to delivering on the major deals in the pipeline.

In terms of people growth, we have some incredible new team members starting over the coming weeks and months which I am particularly excited about. These people are subject matter experts in payments as well as the industries and sectors we play in, they will add significant expertise and capacity as the company aims to scale more rapidly.

In addition to team expansion, Acquired.com is committed to investing in new products and services that will enhance its offerings. This focus on innovation is coupled with a strategic vision for the future, ensuring that the company remains competitive in the fintech landscape.

Exciting developments are on the horizon, with plans to share noteworthy news in the coming months. Overall, Acquired.com is poised for a dynamic period of growth and transformation.