Stephen Ingledew

Stephen is the Executive Chair of FinTech Scotland, the independent cluster leadership enterprise focused on delivering positive economic outcomes through financial innovation.

He has led FinTech Scotland since its formation in 2018, initially as Chief Executive, to be recognised as one of Europe’s top financial technology (fintech) economic cluster bodies, a status awarded in 2020 by the European cluster accreditation body.

This economic and innovation progress has been achieved by bringing together diverse participants such as entrepreneurs, citizen groups; the financial sector; regulators; global technology firms, public sector and world leading universities to drive positive social and economic outcomes whilst contributing to the global fintech movement.

Throughout his career, Stephen has been an influential advocate of making the financial world more open, creative and inclusive through innovative digital and data initiatives, encouraging progressive ways of working and collaboration across diverse stakeholders and organisations.

Stephen’s career over four decades has earned a track record and reputation for leading the implementation of customer focused, technology enabled initiatives in a wide range of financial organisations, including executive leadership roles with large institutions such as Standard Life and Barclays as well as a number of early-stage innovative enterprises.

Today, Stephen is also Member of the UK Government’s Innovation Expert Group, advising on how innovation can improve productivity across all sectors of the economy, as well as a Non-Executive Member of the University of Strathclyde Court, a member of the Scottish Government’s Financial Services Advisory Board and the UK Dept of International Trade FinTech Steering Board.

Earlier in his career, Stephen has held a number of non-executive director roles, including with the Financial Services Authority; Scottish Financial Enterprise; the Institute of Financial Services and Chartered Insurance Institute

From November 2020 for a period of six months, Stephen has been a part time director at Scottish Enterprise, the economic agency, working for the chief executive to provide strategic leadership in developing new collaborative initiatives to support the creation of jobs and economic growth focused on the digital economy, health innovation, advanced manufacturing and climate change.

Stephen is a regular contributor at global conferences on subjects ranging from innovation and financial technology initiatives, strategic economic leadership and impactful innovative citizen inclusion.

Living in Edinburgh with his family and enjoying his other passion of being a competitive long distance runner.