Director of Innovation & New Business - European Market Infrastructure

Overview

Are you a strategic leader who thrives at the intersection of technology, business development, and market disruption? We are partnering with a leading organisation operating at the heart of European market infrastructure to find an exceptional Director of Innovation & New Business. Our client is seeking a commercially astute, visionary leader to define and execute a forward-thinking innovation and business development strategy. Reporting directly to the senior leadership team, this role carries a broad, highly strategic mandate. You will lead a focused team and act as the organisation's primary engine for growth, innovation, and transformation.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive Strategic Growth: Define and execute the organisation's innovation and new business strategy, identifying emerging opportunities across European market infrastructure, including new revenue streams, adjacent markets, and strategic partnerships.
• Lead & Develop a High-Performing Team: Manage and mentor a talented team spanning business development, strategic analysis, and account management; foster a culture of ambition, rigour, and collaboration.
• Bridge Business & Technology: Act as a strategic connector between commercial objectives and technology capabilities, championing cloud adoption, DevOps practices, and digital transformation to unlock competitive advantage.
• Navigate the Competitive & Regulatory Landscape: Monitor market dynamics, competitive positioning, and regulatory developments across Europe; translate insights into actionable strategy and executive-level recommendations.
• Build & Manage Strategic Partnerships: Identify, develop, and maintain high-value partnerships, alliances, and client relationships that support the organisation's growth objectives.
• Support M&A Activity: Play an active role in identifying and evaluating potential acquisition targets, partnerships, or investments that align with the organisation's long-term strategic vision.
• Executive Engagement: Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO; prepare and present strategic analyses, business cases, and market assessments at board and executive level.
• Champion a Modern Leadership Culture: Contribute to a broader shift towards a more proactive, agile, and holistic approach to leadership across the organisation.

Requirements

• Proven experience in a senior business development, strategy, or innovation leadership role, ideally within financial services, market infrastructure, capital markets, fintech, or a closely related sector.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute complex, multi‑stakeholder commercial strategies in a regulated environment.
• Strong understanding of European market infrastructure.
• Experience leading and growing small, high‑impact teams.
• Track record of identifying and securing new business opportunities, strategic partnerships, or market‑entry strategies.
• Familiarity with cloud, DevOps, and digital transformation programmes, ability to translate technology capability into business value.
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills; comfortable operating at C‑suite and board level.
• Fluent in English.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting or leading M&A processes, including target identification, due diligence, or integration planning.
• MBA or equivalent advanced degree in business, finance, economics, or technology management.
• Established network within European financial markets, regulators, or technology vendors.
• Additional European language skills (French, German, Dutch, Italian, or Spanish advantageous).

Benefits

Salary: €130,000 – €150,000 gross per annum.

Standard benefits apply.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non‑Discrimination Statement

Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers. For all positions, whether with Keller Executive Search or our clients, qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, skin color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, age, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under EU law and the laws of the respective EU member states.