THE independent not-for-profit industry association representing the north’s rapidly growing financial technology community, has appointed Andrew Jenkins and Bo Brustkern to its board of directors.
It comes as part of FinTechNI’s objective to establish a long-term strategic plan to build on its existing strengths to support fintech entrepreneurs and scale-ups and see the region continue to prosper and bolster its reputation as a leading global fintech hub.
It is also in line with the recently released Kalifa Review, which identified Northern Ireland as one of the top 10 fintech clusters in the UK.
FinTechNI chair Alex Lee said: “We are delighted to welcome Bo and Andrew to our board.
“As the UK government-appointed fintech envoy for Northern Ireland, Andrew has been working very closely with us over the last couple of years, and we are delighted to formally recognise that in this appointment.
“Bo has also been a great supporter of FintechNI since our inception back in 2018, and he brings a wealth of experience and connections to help us promote Northern Ireland’s fintech ecosystem on a global stage.”
Co-founder of LendIt Fintech, for over 20 years Bo Brustkern has set himself apart as a leader in funding, building and leading cutting-edge companies focused on fintech and financial services.
He also co-founded Arcstone Valuation (2006), Arcstone Equity Research (2010) and NSR Invest (2013). Previously, he was a venture capitalist at Rustic Canyon Partners in Silicon Valley and a private equity investor at BACE Industries in Denver, Colorado.
Bo said: “My current passion lies in working with and connecting fintech communities around the world. It is an honour to join the FinTechNI board.
“With the prominence of fintech propelled by the pandemic, we have a unique opportunity to collaborate and connect with other communities across the globe, driving the dialogue on financial services technology and ensuring Northern Ireland is at the centre of those conversations.”
Andrew Jenkins has more than 20 years’ experience in the technology sector, including financial services. He has used his position as UK Government fintech envoy for Northern Ireland to promote collaboration between the region’s large companies and start-ups, engaging with local government to drive the development of the fintech sector in Northern Ireland.
He is a director at Arity, a company founded by The Allstate Corporation. Arity is a mobility data and analytics company that provides data-driven solutions to companies invested in transportation, which enables them to deliver mobility services that are smarter, safer, and more economical.
Andrew said: “I have been working with FinTechNI for a number of years and have seen the huge value the organisation has brought to the local fintech community. I look forward to consolidating Northern Ireland’s reputation as a world class destination for fintechs.”
