Martin Gilbert - Chairman, Revolut & Founder & Former CEO, Aberdeen Asset Management

Martin Gilbert, founder and former CEO of Aberdeen Capital Management and chairman of Revolut, discusses the evolving landscape of finance. He believes banks still have a vital role in the global economy, especially in lending to SMEs and large corporations. Gilbert sees fintechs, like Revolut, as driving efficiency and better customer service, appealing particularly to a younger, tech-savvy audience. He notes that A.I. is a major theme, increasing efficiency across companies. Europe remains a key market, but Gilbert expresses interest in expanding to other regions, such as Saudi Arabia, due to its young, tech-savvy population. He emphasizes the importance of balancing innovation with compliance and controlling growth. He reflects on statistics presented at FII9, highlighting disparities between the northern and southern hemispheres. Gilbert acknowledges frightening figures but maintains optimism, believing that gatherings like FII9 can foster collaboration between governments and private companies to drive positive change.