Bank of London 2.0

Reset, Rebuild, Rebrand: Inside the Bank of London’s FinTech Transformation - FinTech Focus TV with Harrington Starr

In this exclusive episode of FinTech Focus TV, Harrington Starr’s CEO Toby Babb is joined by Chris Horn, CEO of the Bank of London, and Tam Holmes, Chief Commercial Officer, for a behind-the-scenes conversation about transformation, technology and talent in the ever-evolving FinTech space. Filmed at Pay360 in London, this discussion is a masterclass in leadership through change.

As a leading FinTech recruiter headquartered in London, with offices in New York and Belfast, Harrington Starr partners with firms across the financial technology space to match innovative companies with world-class talent. And this episode captures the very heart of why finding the right people, at the right time, is critical for growth.

FinTech Hiring in London: The Role of Leadership in Driving Change

 At the core of the Bank of London’s transformation is a renewed focus on leadership. Chris Horn, who joined as CEO just eight weeks prior to the interview, speaks candidly about the bank’s recent challenges and how the business is resetting expectations. 

“We had some overly ambitious targets in the past. Now it’s about delivering on a focused, achievable strategy.”

This kind of clarity in leadership is essential, not only to steer an organisation through transition but also to attract and retain top-tier FinTech talent. At Harrington Starr, we’ve seen the difference leadership makes in building cultures that support scale, especially in competitive markets like London, New York and Belfast.

As the FinTech sector becomes more complex and regulated, leadership roles in compliance, operations and executive management are in high demand. Companies undergoing similar transformation journeys need executive talent who can build credibility, execute with precision and lead with confidence.

B2B Payments and FinTech Staffing in a Scaling Economy

The Bank of London offers B2B payment solutions to payment firms, FinTechs, small banks, and EMIs. As Tam Holmes outlines, this is an essential layer of infrastructure that powers much of the digital economy.

“We serve payment firms, large or small. Our goal is to offer direct access to the rails in a clean, modern, digital way.”

This focus on infrastructure is reflected across the FinTech hiring landscape. Clients in the B2B payments space often come to Harrington Starr looking for:

• Sales directors and relationship managers with deep industry networks
• Product owners and business analysts with domain knowledge in payments
• Software engineers with experience in API-first architecture
• Regulatory specialists who understand schemes and compliance at scale

As a specialist FinTech staffing agency, we work with clients to identify and secure professionals who can bridge the technical and commercial aspects of payment innovation.

The Importance of FinTech Branding in Talent Acquisition

Brand perception has a direct impact on talent attraction. As Tam notes, the Bank of London’s previous brand projected the image of a “giant, legacy bank", out of sync with their agile, technology-driven model.

“The rebrand was necessary to show who we really are. It’s about alignment, of message, mission, and market.”

For high-growth FinTechs competing in saturated talent markets, a modern brand isn’t just about logos and colour schemes, it’s a recruitment tool. The most in-demand candidates in FinTech sales, marketing, and product are increasingly selecting employers based on purpose, culture and design.

 That’s why our marketing and recruitment teams at Harrington Starr collaborate with clients to refine their employer brand messaging. Whether you’re hiring in London, New York, or scaling into Europe, your brand needs to communicate value, progression and purpose.

From Reset to Growth: A New Strategy for Scaling FinTech Teams

Chris and Tam describe their journey as one of “resetting” the foundation to build something truly scalable. With a new board, new investors, and £60 million in funding since last summer, the Bank of London is laser-focused on executing a refined business model.

“It’s now about delivery. We have strong capabilities. The next step is execution.”

At Harrington Starr, we see this across the FinTech ecosystem. After years of rapid expansion, many firms are pivoting from headcount growth to strategic hiring, filling specific gaps in leadership, operations, technology and commercial execution.

This means more focus on:

• FinTech interim and contract staffing for transformation projects
• Executive search for critical leadership roles
• Data, DevOps and engineering recruitment to support digital scaling
• Business development and customer success talent to drive growth

Whether you’re rebuilding a business line or rolling out a new product, success hinges on hiring the right people at the right time.

 AI in Financial Services: Talent-Led Transformation 

Unsurprisingly, AI dominated discussions at Pay360, and the Bank of London is no exception. However, as Tam explains, their use of AI is less about replacing people and more about empowering teams.

“It’s about automation in the back office, KYC, compliance, risk. AI enhances what our people can do.”

Chris echoes this, emphasising that AI is being used as a force multiplier for efficiency.

“Increasing operational efficiency is incredibly important. AI helps us get there faster, without losing the human touch.”

For FinTech companies, this has direct implications for hiring. The market now demands AI-literate professionals, not just data scientists, but also compliance officers, product managers, and engineers who understand how to build, use, and audit intelligent systems.

Harrington Starr is helping clients across London, New York, and Belfast to recruit the next generation of AI-fluent FinTech professionals, those who can blend regulatory awareness with innovation.

International Expansion and FinTech Jobs in Global Markets

Looking ahead, the Bank of London is preparing for international payments expansion, launching FX and cross-border capabilities in Q4, with further globalisation planned in 2025.

“This year, it’s GBP, EUR, USD. Next year, we go bigger, with AI enhancements layered in.”

For Harrington Starr, this reflects a major trend in the FinTech market: as firms scale globally, they need talent with international experience. We are currently supporting clients hiring:

• FX and treasury experts
• Multi-jurisdiction compliance professionals
•  Multi-lingual sales executives
•  Customer success teams with regional experience

 Our global presence means we can support FinTech job placements across borders, ensuring cultural fit and regulatory alignment in every hire.

 London’s FinTech Revival: Optimism and Opportunity

The conversation closes with reflections on the London FinTech market and the signs of optimism that were palpable throughout the Pay360 event.

“London is back in fashion,” says Tam. “There’s energy, there’s optimism, and there’s innovation.”

We’re seeing the same across our recruitment desks. From startup hubs in Shoreditch to the global banks in Canary Wharf, London’s FinTech sector is booming again, with strong hiring across product, engineering, regulatory and sales.

Meanwhile, in New York, the market is fast-paced and competitive, with firms investing heavily in revenue-generating roles. In Belfast, innovation hubs are growing, and many companies are tapping into the city’s exceptional talent pool for engineering and support roles.

Trends in FinTech Hiring: What Clients Are Prioritising in 2025

As we move through 2025, the FinTech hiring landscape is being shaped by three dominant forces: regulatory evolution, AI integration, and geographic expansion. Each of these demands highly specific skills, and the competition for those skills is fierce.

At Harrington Starr, we’re seeing an increase in demand for hybrid skill sets. Clients aren’t just asking for software engineers, they’re asking for engineers who understand financial markets, compliance frameworks, or cloud-native infrastructure. In sales and marketing, the bar has been raised: revenue leaders now need to demonstrate experience with long sales cycles, deep product knowledge, and the ability to lead with insight in complex B2B environments.

Some of the most in-demand FinTech jobs in 2025 include:

• Regulatory Change Project Managers
• AI Compliance Analysts
• Head of Strategic Partnerships
• Senior Backend Developers (Node.js, Python, Java)
• Head of Platform Engineering (Cloud/DevOps)
• Growth Marketing Leads with FinTech experience
• Quantitative Developers with Low Latency experience
• FinTech Contract Recruitment and Interim Staffing Solutions

Another major trend is the growing demand for contract and interim hires. Whether it’s to meet aggressive deadlines, ensure compliance ahead of regulatory changes, or plug gaps during growth, flexible staffing solutions are now essential to business continuity.

Harrington Starr offers a robust contract recruitment service that allows clients to:

• Scale quickly with minimal risk
• Meet immediate project milestones
• Access niche expertise on a short-term basis
• Navigate transformation periods with ease

From interim CTOs to contract compliance officers and project-based product managers, our network spans every corner of FinTech. With talent across London, New York, Belfast, and the wider UK and US markets, we’re ready to support even the most urgent hiring needs.

Supporting FinTech Employees on Their Career Journey

While our work with clients is essential, we also place enormous importance on supporting candidates throughout their career journey. The FinTech space can be incredibly competitive, but with the right guidance, it’s also full of opportunity.

 Our candidate services include:

• CV and LinkedIn optimisation
• Interview preparation and coaching
• Exclusive access to unadvertised FinTech roles
• Insights on salary trends and market conditions
• Personalised job matching with our consultants

For those seeking FinTech jobs in London, New York, or Belfast, Harrington Starr provides a tailored experience rooted in transparency, communication and long-term success.

Why Choose Harrington Starr for FinTech Recruitment? 

With a proven track record of success, a global footprint, and unmatched domain expertise, Harrington Starr has become the recruitment partner of choice for some of the most exciting names in FinTech.

Here’s why:

• Sector Specialists: Every consultant is focused on a vertical, Sales, Marketing, Compliance, Product, Engineering or Quant.
• Global Coverage: We operate across key FinTech hubs, including London, New York and Belfast.
• Deep Networks: With over a decade of relationships in the industry, we connect clients to talent others can’t reach.
• Media & Market Insights: Through FinTech Focus TV, The Financial Technologist magazine, and our thought leadership, we help clients position themselves as employers of choice.
• Award-Winning Team: We’ve been recognised for our commitment to excellence in FinTech staffing, DEI initiatives, and candidate experience.

Contact Harrington Starr Today

Whether you’re scaling your FinTech business or navigating a career move in 2025, Harrington Starr is your trusted partner.

We bring insight, speed and integrity to every search, and we have the track record to prove it.

marketing@harringtonstarr.com