Aberdeen Asset Management veterans invest in blockchain start-up
27 May 2020 Edinburgh
Image: phive/shutterstock.com
Blockchain Technology Partners (BTP) has welcomed Paul Forrest as its inaugural non-executive chairman as the company looks to build on its business in the US and Israel.
The Edinburgh-based start-up is currently partnered with the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange to finalise the Israeli exchange’s securities lending distributed ledger technology platform’s due to launch later this year.
BSL will enable direct lending among all the major financial participants and offer a one-stop shop for all securities lending activities, the exchange says.
Forrest joins as chair following his participation in BTP’s latest angel funding round which was led by Aberdeen Asset Management co-founder Martin Gilbert and former deputy Andrew Laing.
Forrest brings more than 25 years of experience as a strategy consultant. He serves on the board of several early-stage businesses including Equantiis and MBN Solutions.
He also operates as a senior partner with Ecaveo Capital Partners and Exolta Capital Partners as well as a non-executive director for Lance Mason.
The strategy expert works closely with founders leveraging his experience as a business mentor with the Virgin startup programme and as a founding member of the IdeaGist Blockchain Incubator.
“I am excited to be joining BTP at a pivotal point in their journey,” says Forrest. “Their management team has demonstrated an ability to develop a scalable product and close early enterprise deals.
“Given the present circumstances, I was particularly impressed by their ability to secure a contract with the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange to deliver their innovative blockchain-based securities lending platform.”
Commenting on the hire, Duncan Johnston-Watt, CEO and co-founder of BTP, adds: “Paul understands the potential for growth in enterprise blockchain adoption, having been involved in this space for several years and at the cutting edge of successive waves of innovative enterprise technologies throughout his career.”
The Edinburgh-based start-up is currently partnered with the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange to finalise the Israeli exchange’s securities lending distributed ledger technology platform’s due to launch later this year.
BSL will enable direct lending among all the major financial participants and offer a one-stop shop for all securities lending activities, the exchange says.
Forrest joins as chair following his participation in BTP’s latest angel funding round which was led by Aberdeen Asset Management co-founder Martin Gilbert and former deputy Andrew Laing.
Forrest brings more than 25 years of experience as a strategy consultant. He serves on the board of several early-stage businesses including Equantiis and MBN Solutions.
He also operates as a senior partner with Ecaveo Capital Partners and Exolta Capital Partners as well as a non-executive director for Lance Mason.
The strategy expert works closely with founders leveraging his experience as a business mentor with the Virgin startup programme and as a founding member of the IdeaGist Blockchain Incubator.
“I am excited to be joining BTP at a pivotal point in their journey,” says Forrest. “Their management team has demonstrated an ability to develop a scalable product and close early enterprise deals.
“Given the present circumstances, I was particularly impressed by their ability to secure a contract with the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange to deliver their innovative blockchain-based securities lending platform.”
Commenting on the hire, Duncan Johnston-Watt, CEO and co-founder of BTP, adds: “Paul understands the potential for growth in enterprise blockchain adoption, having been involved in this space for several years and at the cutting edge of successive waves of innovative enterprise technologies throughout his career.”
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