Richard Peers
Sustainable Finance

Richard Peers is a highly regarded leader of strategy, marketing, sales and technology evangelism in the financial services and software industry. He is the founder of ResponsibleRisk, driving improvements in sustainable finance adoption and outcomes, via better understanding, data and solutions. Richard is a strategic influencer and networker, as well as a prolific contributor to professional media via his network and in his role as Sustainable Finance Contributing Editor of Finextra. His videos, blogs, columns, and book contributions for wealth tech and fintech are widely read throughout the industry.

Richard has a distinguished career in technology with 23 years at Microsoft. As senior director of their Global FSI Industry Strategy Team, he defined Microsoft’s global strategy for core and open banking, challenger banks and fintech’s to enable digital transformation. He created Microsoft’s go-to-market playbook for this sector, delivered readiness for the field, and was executive sponsor for Barclays, RBS and Standard Bank. Richard led Microsoft’s engagement with Clear Bank, which became the first new clearing bank in the UK in 250 years and Microsoft’s top reference account. He was involved from before they launched until present with advice and guidance on engaging with Microsoft at a technical, regulatory, executive and commercial level. He was also involved with Redwood Bank, Alba Bank and many fintechs as one of the leaders in the London fintech scene via high-profile professional networks like Level39, the Fintech50, Innovate Finance and many others.

Richard created the Sustainable Finance Practice at Microsoft by clearly identifying the trend in its infancy, building an incubation team, and working to win pioneer deals with London Stock Exchange Group and Citibank. Because of his experience and insight, Richard acts in the capacity of subject matter expert for board of directors engagement at global events and client meetings. His specialties also cover the role of big data and artificial intelligence, as well as the role of cloud computing in the financial services sector.