Northern Trust announced today that it has hired Sarah Boddey as chief diversity officer for Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) and Asia Pacific (APAC).

Based in London, Boddey is responsible for leading Northern Trust’s diversity and inclusion strategy in this region, and will report to Connie Lindsey, head of corporate social responsibility and global diversity and inclusion at Northern Trust.

 Research has today revealed the insurance industry is ready to invest in improving customer experience.

The survey by Redcentric found 82 per cent of insurers plan to invest in new technology to address business challenges over the next two years. More than half of those businesses plan on doing so in the next year, while 45 per cent cited improving the customer experience as the main reason for the investment.

SkyBridge Capital (SkyBridge), a global alternative investment firm, today announced it has opened a new office in London which will serve as its headquarters on behalf of its business interests in the UK, Continental Europe and the Middle East.

Hesham Alquraini, an industry veteran with more than 20 years of industry experience in financial markets and alternative asset management, has joined the firm as Managing Director in London and will lead the office. He joins SkyBridge having served at the Kuwait Investment Office ("KIO") and the Kuwait Investment Authority ("KIA").

Platform Black have today announced that their majority shareholder – Sancus BMS Group have increased their shareholding in the firm demonstrating their further commitment to the future of the business in the UK funding market. 

The move sees Sancus BMS Group make a further investment in Platform Black through the cash purchase of an additional 10% of Platform Black shares from minority investors, taking its holding from 83.93% to 93.93% at a £3.5m valuation. 

Equiniti Group plc, the specialist technology outsourcer, today announces that it has completed the acquisition of digital case management provider, Toplevel. The acquisition is further example of Equiniti’s growth strategy of integrating scalable technology platforms to provide mission critical non-discretionary services.

AXA, Alibaba and Ant Financial Services have agreed to engage in a global strategic partnership to jointly explore opportunities to distribute AXA’s insurance products and services through Alibaba’s global ecommerce ecosystem, benefitting the businesses and consumers that transact via Alibaba’s marketplaces. The companies will seek to work together to co-innovate and to develop value-added products and services to customers around the world as well as to mutually support each other in developing and exploring new markets and segments.

Fidor Group, the German digital challenger bank and fintech pioneer, is today announcing its acquisition by Groupe BPCE , the second largest banking group in France.

Groupe BPCE has signed an agreement with the key shareholders, founders and managers of Fidor Group relating to the acquisition of their equity interests in the company.