Simon Russell

Johannesburg, South Africa

Email: simon.russell@russelltechs.com
Linkedin: simon-russell-4aba448

Simon is an expert in Financial Services specifically in the areas of Strategy, Technology and Data having spent more than 30 years servicing tier 1 Banks and Insurers across South Africa, Nigeria and Europe in his various leadership roles at Accenture and Experian. Simon also led the successful turnaround of a leading data company in South Africa. Recently, Simon has also partnered with a number of Fintechs , to help Financial Services clients transform their cost to serve and customer experience. These Fintechs have focused in two areas – low cost cloud based core-banking solutions and AI powered chatbots. Simon is also the founding member of TaxiPay, a startup aimed at digitizing existing cash taxi fare payments in Minibus Taxis in South Africa.

Simon’s started his career as a Design Engineer at VolksWagen SA before joining the Technology practice of Accenture (Anderson Consulting). Simon spent 27 years at Accenture. During his time at Accenture he worked on some of the largest technology enabled change initiatives in both the Energy and Financial Services sectors in South Africa. These projects spanned Strategy, Process and Technology and focused on both the core and enterprise parts of the business. In his role Simon would work closely with clients to plan, and drive out the implementation of large transformational programmes, working with clients to manage the organizational impact and change. Simon went on to lead the Accenture Financial Services Practice across Africa for 8 years. Following Accenture, Simon joined Experian as part of a team to turnaround and to grow the business in SA. Simon served on both the boards of Accenture and Experian SA.

Roles:

• Associate Baird’s CSC
• CEO Russell Technology
• Founding Member TaxiPay

Areas of expertise::

• Financial Services and Energy Sectors
• Strategy
• Technology
• Change and Journey Management
• Business Turnaround and Startups
• Relationship Management

Services offered:

• Strategic Planning
• Scoping and Planning Change Programmes
• Working with Executive Teams to manage and navigate change

Education:

• BSC Mechanical Engineering UCT
• BCom Economics and Business Economics UNISA