Appointment of Anna Wallace as CEO in CFIT Announced
The Centre for Finance, Innovation and Technology (CFIT) has appointed Anna Wallace as its new CEO, effective September 1, 2025. Wallace succeeds Ezechi Britton MBE and brings over 20 years of experience in finance, innovation, and regulation to her new role.
Wallace joins CFIT from the Gates Foundation, where she served as Senior Program Officer for Consumer Protection and RegTech, with a focus on financial inclusion. Prior to her role at the Gates Foundation, Wallace was Head of Innovation at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), overseeing functions such as the FCA’s Innovation Hub, Advice Unit, and Regulatory Sandbox.
At CFIT, Wallace will lead the organisation into its next phase of growth and launch new industry-wide innovation Coalitions. She will focus on areas such as Smart Data, Digital ID, financial inclusion, Digital Assets, and AI. Wallace will also ensure CFIT continues to unite government, industry, and regulators to tackle challenges and opportunities in the UK’s financial ecosystem.
One of the key initiatives under Wallace’s leadership will be the development of tech solutions to close the UK’s SME credit gap. CFIT’s next industry-wide Coalition, including Mastercard, Lloyds Banking Group, and HSBC, will work towards this goal.
Another important project under CFIT’s leadership is the Digital Company ID, which aims to combat economic crime by introducing a digital identity for companies. In March, CFIT published its blueprint for fighting economic crime through the introduction of Digital Company ID. The Digital Company ID project is identifying use cases and setting trust and governance standards.
Wallace is also the co-founder and funder of the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance’s SupTech Lab, which helps regulators and the private sector spin out new minimum viable products.
Madush Gupta, Acting Chair of CFIT, stated that Wallace’s background in financial inclusion, innovation, and regulation uniquely positions her to help CFIT deliver on its critical role in the UK’s fintech ecosystem. Gupta added, "We are thrilled to have Anna on board, and we look forward to the exciting times ahead as she drives the work forward by delivering prototype solutions, roadmaps, and policy proposals."
Wallace expressed her excitement about her new role, saying, "I am excited to lead CFIT through its next chapter with its newly adopted hybrid model, simultaneously running publicly and privately funded Coalitions. I look forward to spearheading emerging technologies and proofs of concept that will drive economic growth."
In addition to her work at CFIT, Wallace has direct experience working with and investing in scale-up technology businesses, including FNA, Proto, and Regnology. She has also coordinated multiple industry-wide Coalitions on various fintech themes, including Smart Data and Digital ID, under CFIT’s leadership.
[1] Centre for Finance, Innovation and Technology (CFIT). (2025). Press Release: Anna Wallace appointed as new CEO of CFIT. [online] Available at: https://www.cfit.uk/news/anna-wallace-appointed-as-new-ceo-of-cfit
[2] Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). (2025). Press Release: Anna Wallace appointed as new CEO of CFIT. [online] Available at: https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/anna-wallace-appointed-new-ceo-cfit
[3] Gates Foundation. (2025). Press Release: Anna Wallace leaves Gates Foundation to become CEO of CFIT. [online] Available at: https://www.gatesfoundation.org/media-center/press-releases/anna-wallace-leaves-gates-foundation-to-become-ceo-of-cfit
[4] Financial Times. (2025). Anna Wallace appointed as new CEO of CFIT. [online] Available at: https://www.ft.com/content/5b13452a-6213-4f63-a77d-f72a71c8c24f
- Anna Wallace, in her new role as the CEO of the Centre for Finance, Innovation and Technology (CFIT), will significantly focus on areas such as Smart Data, Digital ID, financial inclusion, Digital Assets, and AI, while ensuring CFIT continues to unite government, industry, and regulators in addressing challenges and opportunities in the UK’s financial ecosystem.
- As the co-founder and funder of the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance’s SupTech Lab, Wallace has demonstrated expertise in helping regulators and the private sector spin out new minimum viable products, a skill set that she will bring to CFIT as she leads the organization into its next phase of growth.
