SmartStream
Cover story The consultant-turned-CEO who
When an innovative but rudderless company lost its stride and needed a reboot, its directors turned to Haytham Kaddoura. In his six years as CEO of fi nancial software solutions developer
SmartStream, he brought in the energy, insight and enthusiasm needed to turn the business around and regain market leadership. Jim Banks talks to him to discover the ingredients for success.
puts people first W
hen you meet Haytham Kaddoura, CEO of leading financial management solution provider SmartStream, the first thing you notice is how approachable he is, how willing he is to share his time and talk passionately about his business. There is no ego – just an eagerness to uncover new opportunities, new ideas and new people. For a man who has built up a track record of success in consulting on major projects in the technology and financial services industries, and who has turned an innovative but frail company into a dynamic and forward-thinking market leader, Kaddoura always seems to have time to spare for people. His candour and openness are not only refreshing – they are also traits that are fundamental to his success and to the core philosophy of SmartStream. Today, the company is not only widely regarded as a market-leader in the reconciliations space, but it is also recognised as an innovative business that leverages the most advanced technologies to help clients realise their digital strategies, create leaner post-trade operations, and meet industry challenges with confidence. Drawing on more than 40 years of experience as a partner to the financial services industry, SmartStream has helped banks across the globe – including tier one institutions – to transform their middle and back-office operations through a combination of practical knowledge, industry best practice, and a constant focus on innovation. Step back just a few years, however, and it was a company that had lost its core competency by focusing on technology for its own sake rather than on shaping it to the needs of its clients. It wasn’t long before the company was seeing its profits and client relations
22 Chief Executive Offi cer /
www.the-chiefexecutive.com
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