UK Fintech Envoy and chair of Innovate Finance has been appointed chair of the board of directors for Stripe Payments UK Limited.
Stripe’s presence in the UK is approaching a decade, making Smith’s appointment timely, especially as the company now counts some of the country’s largest organizations among its clients, including Depop, Deliveroo, Hargreaves Lansdown, Frasers Group, the Natural History Museum, and the Church of England.
Smith previously served as the first chief digital officer at Lloyd’s of London, where she spearheaded efforts to transform the company into a cutting-edge digital insurance marketplace supported by data. She also has over 15 years of retail banking experience at the Royal Bank of Scotland (now NatWest) and Barclays, where she developed digital services for consumers and businesses and implemented artificial intelligence and data technologies for more efficient operations.
Commenting on her new role, Smith said: “I’ve always been fascinated by the potential for tech infrastructure to help businesses adapt and grow. Stripe provides a platform for everyone from first-time founders to seasoned FTSE executives to build a more efficient, more profitable business. We are only scratching the surface of what’s possible in the digital economy, and I look forward to supporting Stripe as it builds the infrastructure to unlock these opportunities.”
Max Roberts, UK country lead at Stripe, expressed enthusiasm about Smith’s appointment: “We are thrilled to welcome Louise to our UK board. From her work to help traditional enterprises adopt digital infrastructure to her support for early-stage fintechs and startups, Louise’s ethos and experience align closely with Stripe’s.”
For those interested in exploring more fintech opportunities, visit the Finextra Job Board for hundreds of roles and remember to bookmark the link for regular updates.