Conrad Ford | Building the UK’s Fastest-Growing Fintech Bank

Darren is a seasoned sales and marketing channel specialist with a career spanning nearly three decades in the technology industry. Over that time, he has held a variety of senior leadership roles, shaping the strategies and cultures of the organisations he’s been part of. Since 2021, he has been serving as Chief Revenue Officer at Smartbox.ai, a multi-award-winning artificial intelligence company that is redefining how businesses leverage AI.Before joining Smartbox.ai, Darren founded and led Boost Performance, a consultancy dedicated to helping organisations unlock growth and overcome operational challenges. Earlier in his career, he was Managing Director at Bytes Document Solutions, where he steered a major business transformation, revitalising the organisation, reshaping its financial health, and building a strong foundation for future growth.Beyond his leadership roles, Darren is also a respected figure within the industry’s wider community. He is a long-standing judge of the CRN Sales & Marketing Awards, and he also contributes his expertise to the CRN Women in Channel Awards, championing recognition and representation in the sector.Darren’s career is marked by a combination of commercial acumen, people-first leadership, and a passion for driving meaningful change across the tech industry.

We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Conrad Ford to the L&F podcast today — a genuine heavyweight in the UK fintech and banking space. Conrad is Chief Product & Strategy Officer at Allica Bank (⁠www.allica.bank⁠), which has been recognised as the UK’s fastest-growing company by The Sunday Times and as the fastest-growing financial technology firm in UK history by Deloitte. That’s no small feat.Allica is on a mission to transform the landscape of SME banking — bringing back the kind of expert, relationship-driven service that established businesses deserve, but with the power and scalability of cutting-edge technology.Before Allica, Conrad was the founder and driving force behind Funding Options, the online business lending marketplace that earned a spot on the Financial Times FT1000 list of Europe’s fastest-growing companies. Under his leadership, it became one of the UK’s most significant fintech success stories, culminating in its acquisition by neobank Tide.On top of that, Conrad is a Chartered Management Accountant with a career that began in major banks — giving him a rare mix of boardroom credibility, entrepreneurial grit, and a deep understanding of how technology can reinvent financial services.

In this episode, we welcome Beks Yelland — a seasoned digital product leader with a track record across Financial Services, Health, Energy, Utilities and many more, and founder of the not-for-profit community The Female Product Lead. With a mission to build inclusive spaces in the tech and product world, Beks is inspiring a fast-growing network of women to thrive, share knowledge, and step confidently into leadership.Host Adam Kinder dives deep with Beks into:Balancing motherhood and leadership in the fast-paced tech worldBreaking into — and excelling in — product as a woman in a male-dominated industryThe origin and growth of The Female Product Lead communityActionable steps everyone can take to empower women to succeed in leadership rolesWhat companies need to prioritise in 2025 & 2026 to attract and retain diverse talentPacked with personal stories, hard-earned lessons, and inspiring strategies, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone who wants to make their mark in product, leadership, or tech.Learn more about Beks on LinkedIn or discover The Female Product Lead at femaleproductlead.com.

In this episode, we sit down with Sergio Zavota , AI Architect and Lead MLOps Engineer at NewDay, and Co-Founder of NutriCoach. Together Jack and Sergio explore how AI is reshaping everything from consumer finance to personalised health. We get into the nitty gritty of Sergio’s work building responsible AI systems at NewDay, and the vision behind NutriCoach, his startup using AI to deliver tailored nutrition at scale. With experience across both enterprise and startup businesses, Sergio shares valuable insights on the future of machine learning, ethical deployment, and what it really means to operationalise AI in the current economy. We can’t wait to see the full launch of NutriCoach later this year!

This episode, we’re joined by David Ferguson, the visionary CEO of Seccl and founder of Nucleus Wealth. With a deep background in financial services and a drive to eliminate friction, David shares how he’s transforming investment platforms, and the industry itself.  We dive into:Uncovering hidden inefficiencies: Why David believes the wealth tech space has "a tech gap." Lessons from Nucleus: The highs and hurdles of scaling and exiting a fintech, and how those experiences shaped his leadership at Seccl.Building better platformsLeading with impactWhat comes next  If you’re building in fintech, leading high-growth teams, or simply want fresh insight into the future of investing platforms, don't miss another insightful conversation on Leaders & Founders.

In this thought-provoking episode, we sit down with David Wascha, a seasoned product and technology leader whose career spans major names like Microsoft, Travelex, Moo and Zoopla. David opens up about the lessons he’s learned across industries, the evolving role of technology in shaping great products, and how his family life has profoundly influenced his leadership style and career decisions. It’s an honest conversation about ambition, balance, and what it really means to lead with purpose.

Jason Oakley is the CEO of Afin Bank, where he leads a dynamic and diverse team united by a clear purpose: to redefine value in financial services through innovation, agility, and purpose-driven leadership. With nearly 40 years of experience in banking and investment, Jason has a consistent track record of launching, scaling, and guiding businesses to success across a wide range of markets.At the core of Jason’s leadership is a deep passion for building high-performing teams creating the right conditions for people to thrive while bringing bold, entrepreneurial ideas to life. His latest venture, Afin Bank, reflects that vision and is currently poised to receive its full UK banking licence.Jason holds an MBA from Alliance Manchester Business School and a Fintech Disruption Certificate from Cambridge Judge Business School, among several other professional finance qualifications. He believes deeply in the power of innovation, trust, and people and his career reflects a unique blend of strategic vision, entrepreneurial drive, and a passion for transforming the future of finance.

In episode 41 of Leaders & Founders, we sit down with Nicole Olbe, a true force in fintech and the current UK Managing Director at Adyen UK - one of the world's most innovative payment platforms. With a career spanning Barclaycard, The Logic Group, and Verifone, Nicole brings unmatched expertise in global financial services, strategic partnerships, and payment innovation. She also opens up about her journey into leadership, the challenges and rewards of creating inclusive teams, and why diversity isn’t just a buzzword - it’s a business imperative.Whether you're in fintech, payments, tech leadership, or just love hearing from inspiring changemakers, this episode is packed with insights into life at Adyen and why the world of payments is so fast paced and exciting!

Jas Shah is a Fintech Product Leader, who has spent over 16 years ideating, developing and helping bring products to life in fintech and FS organisations.He's worked with organisations and led the build and launch of Digital Banks, Open Banking Products, Payments Systems, Trading Platforms, and many other FS products for consumers, businesses and enterprise, as well as advising several Seed and Scale up fintechs. It was great to sit down with Jas and discuss all things Product and Fintech. Tune in to hear:Where big banks are going wrong when it comes to innovation. What the future of Product looks like in an AI world. How founders can approach Product in the early days of scaling. Plenty of analogies (he is the king of analogiesReach out to him if you're looking for fintech product expertise for your for your bank, fintech, accelerator or innovation studio.

Hold on tight—this one’s a game-changer!In this episode of Leaders & Founders, we’re joined by the incredible Beth Horn, UK Managing Director at Pinterest—one of the world’s most inspiring and fastest-growing digital platforms.Beth is a powerhouse in the tech and digital space, with an impressive career spanning Meta, Spotify, and search-driven commerce before taking the helm at Pinterest UK. As MD, she’s driving commercial growth, partnerships, and innovation, helping businesses, creators, and users unlock the full potential of the platform.Outside of work, she is a passionate music and theatre fan and calls sunny Scotland her favourite place on the planet. Beth recently invited us to her London home to share insight on what 2025 looks like for Pinterest, the huge mission she is embarking on, and of course, we are ever-grateful for her kind hospitality and incredible Home DIY inspo!Pinterest: The Platform That Inspires ActionUnlike traditional social media, Pinterest is a place to plan, not just scroll. With over half a billion monthly users, the platform continues to grow while others struggle—proving that people crave a positive, forward-thinking digital space.🔹 1.5 billion Pins are saved every week🔹 10 billion boards globally🔹 85% of users visit Pinterest to plan a project—from home makeovers to career goals🔹 96% of searches are unbranded, making Pinterest a discovery powerhouse🔹 80% of users find new brands on the platform—a goldmine for businessesPinterest isn’t just about inspiration—it’s about taking action. Users come to the platform with intent, and with Pins lasting 6-12 months, content here has staying power far beyond the fleeting moments of other platforms.What’s Inside This Episode?We go deep with Beth on:✅ What makes Pinterest different from traditional social media✅ The secret behind Pinterest Predicts—an 80% accurate trend report shaping industries✅ The future of digital discovery & commerce—and how Pinterest is leading the charge✅ How to build high-performing teams and create a winning culture✅ What’s next for Pinterest in 2025 (PS: Cherry Red & Fisherman Aesthetic, anyone?)If you're in tech, e-commerce, social media, or leadership, this episode is packed with insights, strategies, and inspiration you won’t want to miss.🔊 Tune in now and get ahead of the trends before they happen!