Are you a strategic leader who thrives at the intersection of technology, business development, and market disruption? We are partnering with a leading organisation operating at the heart of European market infrastructure to find an exceptional Director of Innovation & New Business. Our client is seeking a commercially astute, visionary leader to define and execute a forward-thinking innovation and business development strategy. Reporting directly to the senior leadership team, this role carries a broad, highly strategic mandate. You will lead a focused team and act as the organisation's primary engine for growth, innovation, and transformation.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive Strategic Growth: Define and execute the organisation's innovation and new business strategy, identifying emerging opportunities across European market infrastructure, including new revenue streams, adjacent markets, and strategic partnerships.
• Lead & Develop a High-Performing Team: Manage and mentor a talented team spanning business development, strategic analysis, and account management; foster a culture of ambition, rigour, and collaboration.
• Bridge Business & Technology: Act as a strategic connector between commercial objectives and technology capabilities, championing cloud adoption, DevOps practices, and digital transformation to unlock competitive advantage.
• Navigate the Competitive & Regulatory Landscape: Monitor market dynamics, competitive positioning, and regulatory developments across Europe; translate insights into actionable strategy and executive-level recommendations.
• Build & Manage Strategic Partnerships: Identify, develop, and maintain high-value partnerships, alliances, and client relationships that support the organisation's growth objectives.
• Support M&A Activity: Play an active role in identifying and evaluating potential acquisition targets, partnerships, or investments that align with the organisation's long-term strategic vision.
• Executive Engagement: Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO; prepare and present strategic analyses, business cases, and market assessments at board and executive level.
• Champion a Modern Leadership Culture: Contribute to a broader shift towards a more proactive, agile, and holistic approach to leadership across the organisation.

• Proven experience in a senior business development, strategy, or innovation leadership role, ideally within financial services, market infrastructure, capital markets, fintech, or a closely related sector.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute complex, multi-stakeholder commercial strategies in a regulated environment.
• Strong understanding of European market infrastructure
• Experience leading and growing small, high-impact teams.
• Track record of identifying and securing new business opportunities, strategic partnerships, or market-entry strategies.
• Familiarity with cloud, DevOps, and digital transformation programmes, ability to translate technology capability into business value.
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills; comfortable operating at C-suite and board level.
• Fluent in English

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting or leading M&A processes, including target identification, due diligence, or integration planning.
• MBA or equivalent advanced degree in business, finance, economics, or technology management.
• Established network within European financial markets, regulators, or technology vendors.

• Additional European language skills (French, German, Dutch, Italian, or Spanish advantageous).

Salary €130,000 – €150,000 gross per annum

Standard Benefits apply

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers. For all positions, whether with Keller Executive Search or our clients, qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, skin color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, age, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under EU law and the laws of the respective EU member states.

Commitment to Diversity

Keller Executive Search and its clients are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where all individuals are valued and respected. We recognize and celebrate the cultural diversity across EU member states.

Reasonable Accommodations

Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities, in accordance with EU Directive 2000/78/EC and national laws of EU member states. We engage in an interactive process to determine effective, reasonable accommodations.

Compensation Information

For client positions, compensation information will be provided in accordance with applicable EU and national laws. When required by law, salary information will be included in job postings or provided during the recruitment process. We are committed to pay transparency and equal pay for equal work, in line with EU Directive 2006/54/EC and national laws on pay equity.

Compliance with Laws

Both Keller Executive Search and our clients comply with EU laws, directives, and regulations, as well as national laws of EU member states governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all employment terms and conditions, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Workplace Harassment

Both Keller Executive Search and our clients expressly prohibit any form of workplace harassment based on any protected characteristic under EU law and the laws of EU member states. This includes, but is not limited to, harassment based on race, ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, nationality, age, disability, or genetic information.

Data Protection and Privacy

We process personal data in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and applicable national data protection laws. For more information about how we collect and process personal data for recruitment and employment purposes, please review our Privacy Policy at www.kellerexecutivesearch.com.

Pay Equity

Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are committed to pay equity and conduct periodic pay equity analyses in accordance with applicable EU and national laws.

Working Time and Leave

We comply with EU Directive 2003/88/EC concerning certain aspects of the organization of working time, as well as national laws of EU member states regarding working hours, rest periods, and leave entitlements.

Health and Safety

We are committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment in accordance with EU Framework Directive 89/391/EEC on Safety and Health at Work and relevant national laws of EU member states.

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment
Keller Executive Search and our clients may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the recruitment and candidate evaluation process. These tools are used exclusively to support human decision-making by helping to review and assess candidate qualifications and materials. AI is never used to automatically reject, disqualify, or make final hiring decisions about candidates. All AI-assisted evaluations are reviewed by experienced recruitment professionals, and all hiring decisions are made by qualified human recruiters. Our use of AI is designed to enhance fairness, consistency, and efficiency while maintaining our commitment to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination principles.

Works Councils and Employee Representation

We respect the rights of employees to form and join works councils and other forms of employee representation in accordance with EU Directive 2009/38/EC and national laws of EU member states.

Country-Specific Declarations

While this policy provides a general framework applicable across the EU, it's important to note that specific employment laws can vary significantly between EU member states. To ensure full compliance with local regulations, we make the following provisions:

Local Law Compliance: In addition to EU-wide regulations, we comply with all national laws and regulations of the specific EU member state where the employment takes place.
Country-Specific Addenda: For each EU country where we operate, we maintain country-specific addenda to this policy. These addenda outline any additional requirements, protections, or procedures mandated by national law that go beyond or differ from EU-wide standards.
Language Requirements: In countries where local law requires that employment policies be provided in the local language, we will make available a properly translated version of this policy and its country-specific addendum.
Notification of Applicable Laws: During the recruitment process, candidates will be informed of the specific national laws that apply to their potential employment, in addition to EU-wide regulations.
Regular Updates: We commit to regularly reviewing and updating our country-specific addenda to reflect any changes in national employment laws.
Precedence of National Law: Where national law provides greater protection or additional rights to employees beyond what is outlined in this general EU policy, the national law will take precedence.
Specific Declarations: Where required by national law, we will make specific declarations regarding matters such as:
Pay transparency and gender pay gap reporting
Working time arrangements
Collective bargaining agreements
Data protection and privacy measures
Whistleblower protection mechanisms
Any quota systems for underrepresented groups in employment
Access to Information: Employees and candidates can request information about the country-specific policies applicable to their employment or potential employment by contacting assistance@kellerexecutivesearch.com.
Genetic Information

In accordance with EU and national laws, both Keller Executive Search and our clients do not discriminate based on genetic information. We do not request or require genetic information from applicants or employees, except as permitted by law.

Local Laws

Both Keller Executive Search and our clients comply with all applicable local laws and ordinances regarding employment practices in the areas where we operate within the EU.


Note: This job posting may be for a position with Keller Executive Search or one of our clients. The specific employer will be identified during the application and interview process. Employment laws and requirements may vary depending on the employer and location within the EU.

Directeur de l'Innovation & des Nouvelles Activités – Infrastructure de Marché Européen

Êtes-vous un leader stratégique qui s'épanouit à l'intersection de la technologie, du développement commercial et de la disruption des marchés ? Nous collaborons avec une organisation de premier plan, au cœur de l'infrastructure de marché européen, pour recruter un(e) exceptionnel(le) Directeur de l'Innovation & des Nouvelles Activités. Notre client recherche un leader visionnaire, doté d'un sens commercial aiguisé, pour définir et mettre en œuvre une stratégie d'innovation et de développement commercial tournée vers l'avenir. Rattaché(e) directement à l'équipe de direction, ce poste confère un mandat large et hautement stratégique. Vous dirigerez une équipe dédiée et serez le principal moteur de croissance, d'innovation et de transformation de l'organisation.

Responsabilités Clés

• Stimuler la Croissance Stratégique — Définir et exécuter la stratégie d'innovation et de nouvelles activités de l'organisation, en identifiant les opportunités émergentes au sein de l'infrastructure de marché européen, notamment de nouveaux flux de revenus, des marchés adjacents et des partenariats stratégiques.
• Diriger & Développer une Équipe Performante — Manager et accompagner une équipe talentueuse couvrant le développement commercial, l'analyse stratégique et la gestion de comptes ; favoriser une culture d'ambition, de rigueur et de collaboration.
• Faire le Lien entre Business & Technologie — Agir en tant que connecteur stratégique entre les objectifs commerciaux et les capacités technologiques, en défendant l'adoption du cloud, les pratiques DevOps et la transformation numérique pour dégager un avantage concurrentiel.
• Naviguer dans l'Environnement Concurrentiel & Réglementaire — Surveiller les dynamiques de marché, le positionnement concurrentiel et les évolutions réglementaires en Europe ; traduire ces analyses en stratégie opérationnelle et en recommandations à destination des instances dirigeantes.
• Construire & Gérer des Partenariats Stratégiques — Identifier, développer et entretenir des partenariats, alliances et relations clients à forte valeur ajoutée, en soutien aux objectifs de croissance de l'organisation.
• Soutenir les Activités de M&A — Jouer un rôle actif dans l'identification et l'évaluation de cibles d'acquisition, de partenariats ou d'investissements potentiels alignés sur la vision stratégique à long terme de l'organisation.
• Engagement au Niveau Exécutif — Agir en tant que conseiller(ère) de confiance auprès du PDG ; préparer et présenter des analyses stratégiques, des études de cas et des évaluations de marché au niveau du conseil d'administration et de la direction générale.
• Promouvoir une Culture de Leadership Moderne — Contribuer à une transformation vers une approche plus proactive, agile et globale du leadership au sein de l'organisation.

Qualifications Requises

• Expérience avérée dans un rôle de direction senior en développement commercial, stratégie ou innovation, idéalement dans les services financiers, l'infrastructure de marché, les marchés de capitaux, la fintech ou un secteur étroitement lié.
• Capacité démontrée à développer et exécuter des stratégies commerciales complexes et multi-parties prenantes dans un environnement réglementé.
• Solide compréhension de l'infrastructure de marché européen.
• Expérience dans la direction et le développement de petites équipes à fort impact.
• Historique prouvé dans l'identification et la concrétisation de nouvelles opportunités commerciales, de partenariats stratégiques ou de stratégies d'entrée sur le marché.
• Familiarité avec le cloud, les programmes DevOps et de transformation numérique ; capacité à traduire les capacités technologiques en valeur commerciale.
• Excellentes compétences en communication et en influence ; à l'aise au niveau du comité exécutif et du conseil d'administration.
• Maîtrise de l'anglais.

Qualifications Souhaitées

• Expérience dans le soutien ou la conduite de processus de M&A, notamment l'identification de cibles, la due diligence ou la planification d'intégration.
• MBA ou diplôme avancé équivalent en commerce, finance, économie ou management des technologies.
• Réseau établi au sein des marchés financiers européens, des régulateurs ou des fournisseurs technologiques.
• Compétences dans d'autres langues européennes (l'allemand, le néerlandais, l'italien ou l'espagnol sont un atout).

Package

Salaire : Rémunération executive compétitive, indicativement comprise entre 130 000 € et 150 000 € bruts par an, selon l'expérience et le profil. Le package final sera discuté avec les candidats présélectionnés.

Avantages standards applicables.