Chief Risk Strategist

Executive Director, Strategy and Consulting

As a senior leader in the field of strategy and consulting, this role involves driving business growth through strategic vision and planning. The successful candidate will develop comprehensive risk management strategies that align with broader business objectives and market trends.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in strategy consulting, with at least 12 years of experience in developing and executing strategic plans. They will also possess excellent analytical and communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information into compelling narratives and strategic insights.

This is an opportunity for a self-motivated individual with a strong ownership mindset to thrive in a fast-paced environment. The successful candidate will be responsible for establishing the organization as a recognized industry leader in risk management, through thought leadership development and content creation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and articulate comprehensive risk strategy pillars for the current financial year with a clear multi-year roadmap, aligning risk initiatives with broader business objectives and market trends.
• Establish the organization as a recognized industry leader in risk management by creating compelling narratives, frameworks, and strategic insights that differentiate our approach to risk.
• Develop and oversee a comprehensive content management framework that covers creation of high-quality thought leadership content, development of a centralized content repository, and delivery of content through various channels including digital platforms, white papers, research reports, management presentations, executive briefings, and industry publications.
• Develop and serve as a custodian of a comprehensive stakeholder governance framework designed to accelerate execution at speed and drive high-quality outputs. Proactively engage with, challenge, and query diverse subject matter experts to develop valuable insights and transform complex subject matter into consumable, audience-appropriate content that drives strategic impact.
• Develop strategic plans and themes for industry events, conferences, webinars, and client roundtables to showcase our risk capabilities and drive meaningful industry dialogue. Create a strategic view of all client events, conferences, and engagements, mapping these initiatives against identified market needs and opportunities to ensure optimal coverage while developing and pairing quality content that resonates with target audiences.
• Drive the creation of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) for Regional Risk Officer and ensure these are consistently cascaded throughout the CEMEA Risk Organization. Work with the CEMEA Risk Leadership team to define strategic initiatives that map to the OKRs. Be the custodian of the expense budget for the CEMEA Risk team and map them to the effective delivery of OKRs.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Strategy Consulting Background: 12+ years of hands-on strategy development and execution experience at top-tier management consulting firms or equivalent strategy roles at major multinational financial institutions.
• Educational Foundation: Advanced degree (MBA, MS, or equivalent) from a top-tier institution with strong analytical and quantitative foundation.
• Industry Experience: Deep experience in financial services required. Payments industry experience is advantageous but not essential. Risk management experience is a strong plus but not mandatory for candidates with exceptional strategy credentials.

Leadership and Execution Capabilities:

• Self-Starter Mentality: Proven ability to independently identify opportunities, develop comprehensive strategies, and drive implementation without constant supervision or guidance.
• Results-Driven Approach: Demonstrated track record of delivering measurable outcomes and driving strategic initiatives from conception to successful completion in fast-paced, complex environments.
• Entrepreneurial Drive: Self-motivated individual with a strong ownership mindset who thrives in ambiguous situations and can build strategies and frameworks from the ground up.

Communication and Analytical Skills:

• Storyboarding and Narrative Development: Exceptional ability to synthesize complex information into compelling, coherent storylines and strategic narratives that resonate with diverse audiences from technical experts to C-suite executives.
• Executive Communication: Outstanding written and verbal communication skills with proven experience presenting strategic recommendations to senior leadership, board members, and external stakeholders.
• Content Creation: Strong capability in developing high-quality thought leadership materials, strategic frameworks, and executive-level presentations.

Stakeholder Management and Strategic Thinking:

• Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: Proven ability to effectively work with and influence diverse stakeholder groups including senior executives, product teams, technology leaders, sales organizations, regulatory affairs, and external partners.
• Trend Analysis and Synthesis: Exceptional capability to rapidly analyze and synthesize information from multiple disparate sources, identifying key market trends, competitive dynamics, and strategic opportunities in rapidly evolving business environments.
• Strategic Agility: Ability to quickly adapt strategic approaches and recommendations based on changing market conditions, regulatory landscapes, and evolving business priorities.
• Market Intelligence: Strong capability in monitoring, analyzing, and translating complex market developments, regulatory changes, and competitive movements into actionable strategic insights.

Additional Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience Organizing and Leading Large-Scale Industry Events: Conferences, webinars, and client engagement activities.
• Track Record of Building and Leading High-Performing Strategy or Consulting Teams.
• Strong Network Within Financial Services and Payments Ecosystem.
• Experience with Digital Transformation Initiatives and Emerging Technology Trends.

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