Director of Innovation & New Business - European Market Infrastructure

Are you a strategic leader who thrives at the intersection of technology, business development, and market disruption? We are partnering with a leading organisation operating at the heart of European market infrastructure to find an exceptional Director of Innovation & New Business. Our client is seeking a commercially astute, visionary leader to define and execute a forward-thinking innovation and business development strategy. Reporting directly to the senior leadership team, this role carries a broad, highly strategic mandate. You will lead a focused team and act as the organisation's primary engine for growth, innovation, and transformation.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive Strategic Growth: Define and execute the organisation's innovation and new business strategy, identifying emerging opportunities across European market infrastructure, including new revenue streams, adjacent markets, and strategic partnerships.
• Lead & Develop a High-Performing Team: Manage and mentor a talented team spanning business development, strategic analysis, and account management; foster a culture of ambition, rigour, and collaboration.
• Bridge Business & Technology: Act as a strategic connector between commercial objectives and technology capabilities, championing cloud adoption, DevOps practices, and digital transformation to unlock competitive advantage.
• Navigate the Competitive & Regulatory Landscape: Monitor market dynamics, competitive positioning, and regulatory developments across Europe; translate insights into actionable strategy and executive-level recommendations.
• Build & Manage Strategic Partnerships: Identify, develop, and maintain high-value partnerships, alliances, and client relationships that support the organisation's growth objectives.
• Support M&A Activity: Play an active role in identifying and evaluating potential acquisition targets, partnerships, or investments that align with the organisation's long-term strategic vision.
• Executive Engagement: Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO; prepare and present strategic analyses, business cases, and market assessments at board and executive level.
• Champion a Modern Leadership Culture: Contribute to a broader shift towards a more proactive, agile, and holistic approach to leadership across the organisation.

Requirements:
• Proven experience in a senior business development, strategy, or innovation leadership role, ideally within financial services, market infrastructure, capital markets, fintech, or a closely related sector.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute complex, multi-stakeholder commercial strategies in a regulated environment.
• Strong understanding of European market infrastructure
• Experience leading and growing small, high-impact teams.
• Track record of identifying and securing new business opportunities, strategic partnerships, or market-entry strategies.
• Familiarity with cloud, DevOps, and digital transformation programmes, ability to translate technology capability into business value.
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills; comfortable operating at C-suite and board level.
• Fluent in English

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting or leading M&A processes, including target identification, due diligence, or integration planning.
• MBA or equivalent advanced degree in business, finance, economics, or technology management.
• Established network within European financial markets, regulators, or technology vendors.

• Additional European language skills (French, German, Dutch, Italian, or Spanish advantageous).

Benefits:
Salary €130,000 – €150,000 gross per annum

Standard Benefits apply

Keller is a recruitment agency that provides services to clients ranging from startups and non profits to multinational corporations. Keller emphasizes ethical search processes, attentive candidate care, and leadership placements that support long-term client outcomes.

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Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers. For all positions, whether with Keller Executive Search or our clients, qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, skin color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, age, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under EU law and the laws of the respective EU member states.

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For client positions, compensation information will be provided in accordance with applicable EU and national laws. When required by law, salary information will be included in job postings or provided during the recruitment process. We are committed to pay transparency and equal pay for equal work, in line with EU Directive 2006/54/EC and national laws on pay equity.

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Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are committed to pay equity and conduct periodic pay equity analyses in accordance with applicable EU and national laws.

Working Time and Leave

We comply with EU Directive 2003/88/EC concerning certain aspects of the organization of working time, as well as national laws of EU member states regarding working hours, rest periods, and leave entitlements.

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We are committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment in accordance with EU Framework Directive 89/391/EEC on Safety and Health at Work and relevant national laws of EU member states.

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment
Keller Executive Search and our clients may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the recruitment and candidate evaluation process. These tools are used exclusively to support human decision-making by helping to review and assess candidate qualifications and materials. AI is never used to automatically reject, disqualify, or make final hiring decisions about candidates. All AI-assisted evaluations are reviewed by experienced recruitment professionals, and all hiring decisions are made by qualified human recruiters. Our use of AI is designed to enhance fairness, consistency, and efficiency while maintaining our commitment to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination principles.

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We respect the rights of employees to form and join works councils and other forms of employee representation in accordance with EU Directive 2009/38/EC and national laws of EU member states.

Country-Specific Declarations

While this policy provides a general framework applicable across the EU, it's important to note that specific employment laws can vary significantly between EU member states. To ensure full compliance with local regulations, we make the following provisions:

Local Law Compliance: In addition to EU-wide regulations, we comply with all national laws and regulations of the specific EU member state where the employment takes place.
Country-Specific Addenda: For each EU country where we operate, we maintain country-specific addenda to this policy. These addenda outline any additional requirements, protections, or procedures mandated by national law that go beyond or differ from EU-wide standards.
Language Requirements: In countries where local law requires that employment policies be provided in the local language, we will make available a properly translated version of this policy and its country-specific addendum.
Notification of Applicable Laws: During the recruitment process, candidates will be informed of the specific national laws that apply to their potential employment, in addition to EU-wide regulations.
Regular Updates: We commit to regularly reviewing and updating our country-specific addenda to reflect any changes in national employment laws.
Precedence of National Law: Where national law provides greater protection or additional rights to employees beyond what is outlined in this general EU policy, the national law will take precedence.
Specific Declarations: Where required by national law, we will make specific declarations re