Two Minutes with, Freddie Findlater, Bravura Solutions

In this ‘Two minutes with’ segment, we put Freddie Findlater, Marketing Manager, EMEA at Bravura Solutions, under the spotlight.

• You recently joined Bravura Solutions as Marketing Manager, EMEA. What made you want to join the business?

I wanted my next challenge to be with a business where I could really see opportunities for my career to thrive. Bravura is winning a lot of new and exciting clients and it was a real opportunity to contribute my expertise and make a difference.

• What will your new role entail?

Creating and implementing a marketing plan for the EMEA region. Bravura is well-known in the wrap platform and fund administration markets in the UK, but the products and services they offer can suit a wide array of businesses and budgets. I’m hoping to help grow Bravura’s market presence and help clients understand how they can engage successfully with us.

• What was it that initially drew you to want to work in financial services?

I started working in financial services in 2008, right at the height of the global crash. Whilst some might call that a ‘bonkers’ move, it was a fascinating time to be in the industry and I witnessed a lot of people working very, very hard to ensure they continued to deliver for their clients in spite of a really challenging environment. I knew I’d made the right choice.

• What do you see as the key issues for financial services companies over the next 12-18 months?

Keeping pace with legislation and regulation; continuing to offer excellent client outcomes whilst maintaining a profitable operating model; embracing the right technological and digital services to meet client needs and working out which clients they truly want to/can afford to work with.

• Tell us a little about your life outside of work. Do you have any hobbies?

I’m a keen cyclist. Over the years I’ve put in hundreds of miles for charities and for fun. It’s a demanding hobby and starting a new job has meant I’ve been slacking a bit recently – will have to start hitting those hills again once I’ve bedded in here!

• What is the one column or website that you read every day?

With work, I love going through Money Marketing – quite often the comments are as useful as the articles for understanding what’s going on in the industry. However, it has nothing on the Daily Mash. I’m quite a cynic, so the tongue-in-cheek articles and observations definitely make me chuckle – the state of UK and world politics at the moment has given those guys plenty of ammo for articles!

• What is your biggest pet peeve, or makes you angry?

TLAs – otherwise known as three-letter acronyms. It’s actually a broader pet peeve than that. I can’t stand corporate waffle, especially people who use it to try and cover up the fact that they know very little about what they are talking about. Drives me up the wall. At a previous company, I banned all references to ‘visions’, ‘taking things offline’, ‘stakeholder engagement’ and even casual references to where people were going for ‘annual leave’ (it’s called a holiday – don’t be afraid to enjoy it!) We talk a lot in financial services about being clear – don’t talk to your colleagues or industry peers in a different way than you would to your own family.

• What would you do if you were Prime Minister for a day?

Once I’d finished hyperventilating about the state of UK politics, I’d try and think back to my own Politics degree at Newcastle and dig through the annals of history to see if there really is ‘another way’ of doing things. Think I’d need more than a day mind.

• What would you do if you received a windfall of £10,000?

My boring answer is add it to my house-buying fund, but given I live in London, it would probably need another ‘0’ at the end to make a dent. So, I’d probably put it towards an over-the-top car instead.