Fintech growth organization, the Centre for Finance, Innovation and Technology (CFIT), has appointed Anna Wallace, the former head of innovation at the FCA, as its new CEO.
Wallace will guide CFIT into its next phase, focusing on advancing smart data, digital identity, financial inclusion, digital assets, and artificial intelligence. She will assume her role on September 1, 2025, joining from the Gates Foundation, where she serves as a senior program officer for consumer protection and RegTech, emphasizing financial inclusion and regulatory technology.
Previously, Wallace led the innovation efforts at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), overseeing key initiatives such as the FCA’s Innovation Hub, Advice Unit, and Regulatory Sandbox. She has direct experience investing in scale-up technology businesses, having been an early-stage backer of companies like FNA, Proto, and Regnology, which tackle customer complaints, fraud, and regulatory reporting.
Established in 2023 with support from HM Treasury and the City of London Corporation, CFIT aims to diversify its revenue through a blend of public and private research and development projects. The organization has facilitated multiple industry-wide coalitions centered on significant themes and emerging technologies in fintech.
In March, CFIT released its blueprint to combat economic crime with the introduction of Digital Company ID. Three industry-led working groups are constructing a prototype Digital Company ID, focusing on use cases and establishing trust and governance standards.
In June, CFIT announced its upcoming coalition, which includes Mastercard, Lloyds Banking Group, and HSBC, aimed at developing technology solutions to address the UK’s SME credit gap.
As CEO, Wallace will leverage her experience as co-founder and funder of the SupTech Lab at the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, which supports regulators and the private sector in developing new minimum viable products.
She expressed enthusiasm about driving initiatives forward by delivering prototype solutions, roadmaps, and policy proposals, while also expanding efforts to tackle other fintech challenges such as AI, tokenization, and digital assets. Wallace noted that CFIT’s achievements have been rooted in strong partnerships with government and industry, and she looks forward to continuing this collaboration.