Fintech Ovanti Limited (ASX: OVT) has appointed experienced financial specialist Simon Keast as Chief Executive Officer, after an extensive search.
Mr Keast is an experienced executive with 30 years’ experience in financial services, working internationally across ANZ and the US. With previous roles as Managing Director and CFO, Mr Keast is a result-focused and decisive C-suite leader with a track record of driving strategy development to execution and delivering step changes in business performance.
Mr Keast’s former roles include US CFO of Zip Co (ASX: ZIP), Senior Director of Zip Co Limited, Managing Director of Zip Business Capital (formerly Spotcap Australia and New Zealand), Division Director and Head of Small Business Designs & Solutions at Macquarie Bank Limited (ASX: MQG).
Mr Keast said he was excited about the opportunity to become CEO of OVT:
“I am honoured to be chosen as the CEO of OVT. I look forward to helping shape Ovanti’s future operations and delivering value for customers, staff, and shareholders. I thank the Board of OVT for laying the foundations for this next phase of exciting growth,” he said.
OVT Chairman, David Halliday, said the appointment of someone with the level of standing in the BNPL sector that Mr Keast has given great credibility to the company’s renewed BNPL business and ambitions to enter the US market.
“Simon stood out from other candidates due to his experience working at ZIP as the US CFO during ZIP’s turnaround to profitability in their US operations.
“We are excited to re-launch our BNPL offering with entry into the US market with such deep potential to win market share in various segments of the US market presently under-serviced by the large incumbents. This is an exciting new chapter for OVT.”