SmartSearch has announced the appointment of Guy Harrison as its new CEO.
Harrison (pictured) is tasked with driving SmartSearch’s strategic plan to build additional growth and will report to the company’s board of directors.
He joins from Dow Jones where he was general manager of Dow Jones Risk & Compliance. During his time there, he headed the global business, delivering three years of growth.
Prior to that he was managing director for risk, regulatory and compliance solutions at IHS Markit. Before joining IHS Markit, he spent eight years at Goldman Sachs and started his career as a management consultant with Deloitte.
He takes over with immediate effect from SmartSearch’s CEO and founder John Dobson, who launched the business in 2011. Dobson will remain an active part of the company as a non-executive director.
Harrison said: “SmartSearch has already delivered impressive growth, and I’m very much looking forward to working with the team to lead the business towards even greater success. Fraud and money laundering attempts have risen considerably since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic increasing the need for regulated businesses to have effective AML technology. SmartSearch’s state-of-the-art technology is perfectly positioned to meet this need by accurately identifying and verifying customers in just two seconds.”
Dobson said: “There is a clear and growing need for robust electronic verification to help counter money laundering and fraud. The strong growth we have achieved at SmartSearch over the past decade clearly indicates this need as paper documents can no longer be relied upon. It also gives an indication of our huge potential for further expansion.
“I feel a lot of pride in having led a worthy and successful business which will continue to grow and prosper with a very competent, energetic and innovative team remaining. I felt the time had come for my second retirement and I am very happy to handover the leadership to Guy, who I know has the experience and strategic vision to steer the business through the next expansion phase as it continues to become recognized as the default solution for AML verification, both in the UK and globally.”
Richard Law, chairman designate of SmartSearch, added: “On behalf of the board and the team as SmartSearch I’d like to thank and congratulate John on his skill and dedication to building SmartSearch so effectively and on achieving the financial success the business has seen to date. I’m very pleased that the business has been able to attract Guy to join the business. His track record, experience and skills are a great fit for the ambitious next stage of SmartSearch’s development and growth.”
