FinTech聽expert Mike Woods聽has joined聽the team at Hampleton Partners as sector principal FinTech聽to help the firm boost its expertise in the fast-growing sector.
Woods joins聽the international technology M&A advisor from his role as CEO of digital payments company Proxama, which merged with Aconite, the software company Woods founded and built into a global payments software solutions business.
Backed by Venture Capital and institutional investors, Woods鈥� leadership at Aconite exposed him to all aspects of a software and services company, including strategy and planning, marketing, product development and international expansion into the USA and Europe. Woods also chaired the Aconite Board of Directors.
Woods鈥� pedigree includes seven years at the Royal Bank of Scotland, where one of his achievements was the formation of a cross-bank business initiative for eCommerce digital transformation and 10 years at Marks & Spencer, where he was responsible for the European Retail Point of Sale rollout to 350 stores.
鈥淭he fast and furious pace of FinTech innovation makes it essential to have a highly experienced and entrepreneurial sector leader in place, who also works successfully with the corporate giants of the financial world,鈥� said Hampleton Partners founder and principal partner Miro Parizek.
鈥淢ike is that leader and I鈥檓 thrilled to make him part of the Hampleton team as we expand our international deal-making capabilities in FinTech.鈥�
Wood said: 鈥淗aving known Miro for more than 15 years and admired what he鈥檚 achieved in a short time at Hampleton, I鈥檓 excited to be joining this team of hands-on entrepreneurs and tech sector experts to help guide both buyers and sellers to achieve the maximum value out of the M&A process.
鈥淭here is no more compelling, and potentially profitable, area than FinTech right now.
鈥淭he convergence of digital transformation, open banking and changing customer-demands are driving mega-valuations, as we saw in the second half of 2017, with Worldpay鈥檚 acquisition of Vantiv for $10.4bn and the 20 plus deals above the $100m mark.鈥�
As part of his role Woods will head up Hampleton鈥檚 regular series of FinTech M&A Reports, events and webinars. The next Hampleton Fintech M&A webinar is on 13 June.