Global CEO Excellence Awards 2024

CEO MONTHLY I GLOBAL CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2024 12 Jul24368 Best FinTech Executive Search CEO 2024: Cliff van Tonder BCAa ustralia’s Fintech HI.RE (Human Intelligence. Resourcing Evolved) may have only been founded by Cliff van Tonder in April this year, but it has already positioned itself as a force to be reckoned with in the field of global executive talent search. Having been honoured with a British Citizen Award for Services to the Arts (BCAa) at a ceremony in the Palace of Westminster in January 2019, this on the back of his stellar volunteer work with his music charity, the Surrey Community Music Society, this prestigious honour is a constant source of inspiration for Cliff as he seeks to have a similar lasting impact in the wider world of business. With more than 25 years’ worth of senior executive experience to his name, at such renowned firms as Zafin, BNP Paribas, Finastra, and Temenos no less, Cliff brings to the table expertise and insight that is unrivalled in this industry. This knowledge is utilised by Fintech HI.RE to solidify its unique standing as a fullservice executive search and offshore resourcing partner operating internationally, with a speciality in senior recruitment across the fields of financial technology, banking, and insurance. Throughout its operation, Fintech HI.RE prioritises the use of direct, personalised human intelligence methods, as opposed to the standard keyword-based portal Cliff van Tonder is the visionary behind Fintech HI.RE, a company that is on a mission to revolutionise senior talent acquisition and staff augmentation. By leveraging Cliff’s status as a veteran of global fintech, financial services, and the wider IT industry, as well as his wealth of industry-specific knowledge and robust network of global contacts, Fintech HI.RE has successfully pioneered several advanced resourcing and strategic application methods spanning both human and artificial intelligence. The results are that identifying and selecting the ideal candidate for a role is now easier and more accurate than ever. A approaches that are common in this sector. Moreover, underpinning all of this is a string of rigorous verification processes, which ensure that all candidates put forward for a position are not only qualified for it, but also that they share the company’s values and serve as an authentic fit for its culture. “Our mission is to redefine the standards of talent acquisition, ensuring that our clients receive the highest calibre of professionals to drive their success”, says Cliff. Since this CEO has himself been working in the fintech and banking industry for the best part of three decades, the variety of roles that he has held, ranging from president and executive vice president to general managerial positions, have allowed him to hone his leadership skills and abilities, as well as to recognise what it takes for others to succeed in these dynamic environments. Across his CEO duties, a big part of what makes Cliff so unique is his ability to make use of his past experiences to drive the company onwards, simultaneously nurturing a culture of ongoing improvement within the firm and delivering exemplary talent-searching solutions to clients. Cliff explains, “each role I have performed has instilled in me a deep understanding of market and industry dynamics and the importance of customercentric strategies.” This, ultimately, serves as the foundation of Fintech HI.RE’s personalised, knowledgebased service. Every new client that the business takes on will bear witness to the firm’s deeply rooted belief that leaders hold the power to shape the destiny of their organisations. For Cliff, “it’s not merely about matching technical skills or keywords; it’s about understanding the profound impact the right leader can have.” It is for this reason that the company’s tailored recruitment strategies seamlessly align with the goals and specific industry challenges of clients, meaning that the talent provided can set about delivering measurable outcomes from the beginning. To guarantee that this remains the case, Fintech HI.RE takes the necessary steps to see that it remains ahead of the curve concerning industry trends, as well as that its pre-vetted pool of talent remains full so that it can swiftly address changing needs in the diverse sectors in which it deploys its expert talent. Through this proactive approach, the company is positioning itself as being ideally suited to provide both immediate solutions and insights for longer-term success, a necessity given the recent transformations across industry. Like many sectors at present, the world of recruitment is being turned upside down thanks to technological advancements such as AI and increases in automation. Despite the capabilities of this technology to streamline recruitment processes and enhance efficiency, there are concerns surrounding bias and data privacy, amongst other things. All of this is set against a backdrop of wider change, with the shift to remote and hybrid working patterns meaning that talent acquisition is much different today than it was just five or ten years ago. It is largely for this reason that Fintech HI.RE is equally as passionate about supporting candidates applying for roles as it is the businesses looking to hire them. Cliff explains, “we engage consistently with candidates, ensuring they feel valued and supported in making important career decisions. We guide them through considering company culture, career fit, and personal goals, fostering a partnership rather than just a transaction.” “Our approach embodies the yin and yang of talent management, where both candidates and clients are equally prioritised, resulting in the best fit and successful outcomes for everyone involved.”

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