Solving Business Problems: Martin Wilson – CEO Digital Identity Net (DIN)

205. Martin Wilson is CEO of Digital Identity Net, a growing Fintech business regulated by the FCA and founded with a social purpose to deliver the first privately funded public service. It aims to make the internet a safer place by enabling people to verify who they are by calling on their bank to vouch for them. DIN’s OneID platform is secure and simple and shares only the information required to enable a safe interaction online with the consumer always in control of their personal data. Martin is passionate about the topic of Digital Identity which led him to first invest and then go on to lead the business, with a desire to create a better way for people to operate online. He is an experienced CEO, NED and board level director specialising in business transformation with a proven ability to develop business vision and strategy. He has a demonstrable track record of delivering large scale, mission critical programmes and culture change within highly regulated environments. Martin has held many Executive and Non-Executive Director roles over the last 15 years, including a NED on the Faster Payments Board (FPSL) and special Advisor and NED to E-Serve (the Scheme delivery arm of OfGem). He has also run his own consultancy service since March 2010.

He is a natural leader with strong management skills, leading companies to deliver to challenging targets. His interpersonal skills enable him to influence key decision makers at the most senior levels and his market experience spans public sector, Financial Services, M – and E-commerce and IT in UK, Europe, Middle East, Australia, and East Africa. Martin’s last role was as Head of Change for Payments at RBS/ Nat West, leading a £200M change portfolio. He has been a VP at HP, running a €300m global programme for a leading investment bank and as CEO of a mobile international money transfer start-up he launched a £multi-million platform servicing money flows from the Middle East to the Indian sub-continent and the far east. As Chief Commercial Officer for BACS, Voca and VocaLink, Martin led the company from a domestic not-for-profit, mutual organisation (BACS) to a successful international commercial and profitable enterprise. He successfully re-developed the UK payments IT infrastructure and delivered an ambitious strategy for growth, including the successful launch of the UK Faster Payments Service.

Martin led Strategy and Innovation within the Business Development function, driving a product and marketing strategy across three global regions and sat on several JV Boards during this time. Prior to that Martin was a senior civil servant responsible for the development and maintenance of all IT systems in the UK Department of Social Security. Martin lives in the Lake District with his partner Barbara and 4 trail hounds. He has 3 grown up sons. When he wants to be active, he is a keen mountain walker and when he wants to relax, he is a keen follower of all forms of cricket (although that’s not always a relaxing past time!).

Top tip: “If you can keep your head when all around are losing theirs and blaming it on you”. A leader must always strive to find ways over, through or around problems and issues and guide their teams past them, keeping a calm head when all around may be doubtful.