51 - 150 in alphabetical order of CVC unit: Alex Manson, head, SC Ventures
Alex Manson set up SC Ventures, launched in 2018 as a unit of Standard Chartered Bank to provide a platform to promote innovation, invest in disruptive financial technology and explore alternative business models. Manson is a 30-year veteran of the banking industry and belongs to a select group of financial services leaders who have successfully leveraged their banking backgrounds to build fintech ecosystems that are revolutionising the industry, driven by a purpose to reconcile financial services and society.
The platform has a few different functions – namely venture building, investments, fintech engagement and intrapreneurship to help employees on their journeys to becoming entrepreneurs. It is this unique combination that sets SC Ventures apart from the competitive landscape of venture capital firms, accelerators and incubators.
Building new business models is one of the key avenues through which SC Ventures provides optionality and potential new sources of revenue, for the bank. SC Ventures is rapidly expanding a diverse venture and investment portfolio with six high-conviction themes which reimagine how banks will serve society: digital banking and lifestyle, online economy and payments, SMEs and world trade, digital assets, capabilities as a service, sustainability and inclusion. Currently, there are 30+ ventures at different stages in the portfolio.
The investment portfolio has 21 fund investments so far, focusing on investing in companies that provide technology and capabilities that can be integrated into the bank and the venture unit.
The Fintech Bridge is a core pillar of the fintech engagement strategy and connects startups, investors and accelerators to the bank with a community of over 2,500 members across the global footprint. The intrapreneur programme supports the pipeline of new ideas and the right intrapreneurs to lead them.
Manson’s current role in leading SC Ventures is on the back of an accomplished career at Standard Chartered in Singapore, including global head of transaction banking and group head of whole banking geographies. He has led the charge on transforming the business into a sustainable and growing franchise, driving innovation in the Bank’s core processes and its approach to clients, in a drive to serve clients as they want and need to be served.
Prior to Standard Chartered, Manson was at Deutsche Bank over the course of 12 years. He held various roles including Global Head of Lending and Corporate Banking Coverage, and previously Head Global Banking Coverage APAC. He started his banking career at Credit Suisse, where he held various roles in the securitisation group, and before that covering derivatives and structured products.
