Investment platform AJ Bell has appointed a head of innovation to find ways of using technology to improve customer service and drive growth.
Andrew Teale, who is based at the company’s headquarters in Salford Quays, will lead a new innovation group whose members include chief executive Andy Bell and digital strategy director Tim Huckle.
They will draw on experts from different areas of the business for individual projects, including customer services, product marketing and technical services. It will also work with fintech firms based across the north west to share and develop ideas.
The company recently launched the AJ Bell Google Chrome extension, which enables customers to keep track of their investments with a single click directly from their web browser taskbar. During 2018, the innovation group will be exploring a range of initiatives, including ones based on Blockchain and Open Banking technology.
Chief executive Bell said: “Innovation has always sat at the core of the business, right back to when we launched the UK’s first online SIPP in 2000.
“Given the rapid pace of change in the fintech world, we feel now is the right time to create a specialist innovation group to further enhance the services we provide to our customers.
“People’s lives are becoming increasingly busy and they are used to keeping on top of things while they are on the move.
“We want to explore ways in which we can sensibly use technology to make it as easy as possible for them to manage their investments and save for the things they love doing.”
