SmartSearch, the leading provider of digital compliance and anti-money laundering solutions, has announced the appointment of Phil Cotter as chief executive officer.
The appointment follows the completion of a majority investment by Triple Private Equity, as the business looks to continue its ambitious growth plans. Triple announced its intention to invest in March 2024. The transaction marks the first investment made by Triple’s inaugural Fund I, which is focused on investing in B2B mission-critical vertical software and data businesses headquartered in the UK and the Nordic Region. SmartSearch’s founders and existing shareholders retain minority stakes in the Company.
Cotter brings a wealth of compliance, risk, and leadership expertise to the role, having held senior positions at the London Stock Exchange Group, Refinitiv, Thomson Reuters, and Experian.
Following the decision of outgoing CEO, Guy Harrison, to move on to take on a new opportunity closer to home, Triple Private Equity took the opportunity to help SmartSearch accelerate the talent search by making the introduction.
Cotter has been working as an external advisor to Triple and has worked with Triple’s Founding Partner, Ben Shepherd, for several years. This association, combined with his years of leadership experience in the industry, made him the perfect candidate for the position.
The new CEO will work with the existing executive team to drive sustained growth in the firm’s stronghold professional services markets, while also expanding its sales across all regulated sectors.
Cotter said: “SmartSearch is at the cutting edge in the digital compliance market, and it’s an incredibly exciting time to join this growing business. Organisations in regulated industries need to ensure they remain compliant in the markets within which they operate, while also keeping their customers safe from fraud and money laundering. These two challenges are intrinsically linked, and SmartSearch is perfectly positioned to help businesses rise to the task. I look forward to leading the organisation during this next period of growth.”
