Kevin Brown, a payments and liquidity expert who has over 35 years' experience in the banking sector and is the former Head of Global Transaction Services at a major high street lender, speaks to Perspective on all things fintech payments.
What does the 'end-to-end payments expert' mean to you?
"For me, the current demand for payment experience – at both the front and back end of the payments industry – is not just confined to fintech firms. The banking industry and payment service providers are also working hard to cultivate knowledge and develop resource that has an in-depth understanding on how payments work to reinforce their professional teams.
What experience is most valued by fintech firms?
There is a global race for talent in the fintech sector. How is London faring as a centre for the industry and what must the city do to remain competitive against the likes of San Francisco and Berlin?
"Creating the right environment to attract investment is one of the most important factors in securing the future of the industry in the UK. The UK already has good reputation for innovation in financial services and payments. The underpinning of this with the continued development of good professional standards and knowledge is key to ensure that we are at the cutting edge.
"But, let's not forget that the UK has been at the forefront of the payments industry for some time. London's strength in the sector is nothing new. In fact, the UK's leadership in developing a broad ubiquitous 24/7 real-time payments system, which is something we all take for granted now, is proving a catalyst for the development of similar systems in Australia, Europe and the US.
Can the fintech sector expand outside of London? What more must be done by the Government to encourage the sustainable growth of the sector in the UK?
With so many changes for organisations around Payments and the introduction of PSD2 in 2018 what do you think is the biggest opportunity for companies?