Hi, I'm Cliff
van Tonder.
I spent 17 years in London's fintech ecosystem — not as an observer or recruiter, but as a C-level operator. I was Global Head of the Accenture Partnership at Finastra, Executive Vice President at Lombard Risk (where I also served as Chief Operating Officer and Group Sales Director), Executive Vice President Alliance Partners at Avoka, and Head of Business Development at BNP Paribas Securities Services.
I built strategic partnerships with companies like Accenture, NTT Data, PwC, Oracle, and Genpact. I led teams across Europe, the Americas, and Asia from a London base. I've sat in boardrooms in Canary Wharf, closed deals in the City, and built alliances in Shoreditch.
I'm also a British Citizen Award (BCA) recipient — a recognition I'm deeply proud of and which reflects my genuine long-term commitment to the United Kingdom.
Today, Fintech HI.RE UK brings all of that to bear for our clients — placing exceptional fintech and financial services leaders with the discretion, speed, and domain authority that only comes from having truly been there.
Book a Call with Cliff25+ Years in Fintech & Financial Services
From core banking transformation to SaaS scaleups, digital payments to AI-era banking — Cliff has navigated every inflection point in modern finance.
C-Level Experience at Global Fintech Leaders
Finastra, Zafin, BNP Paribas, Temenos, FIS, FINCAD, Lombard Risk, Avoka — genuine operator insight into what great executive leadership looks like.
Named Best Global Fintech Exec Search CEO — 2024 & 2025
Recognised two consecutive years by CEO Monthly for outstanding results in executive placement within the global fintech industry.
Zero Fluff. Real Delivery.
No bots. No keyword bingo. No bloated processes. Just genuine insight, deep relationships, and a commitment to finding the right person — not just the available person.