SmartSearch names Zowie Lees-Howell as new VP of enterprise sales

Zowie is a well-respected name within regtech, fintech and financial services, with more than 25 years of experience with global, publicly trading data and analytics firms. She joins from Equifax where she most recently served as sales director, with previous tenures at Dun & Bradstreet and over 13 years at Experian.

Zowie will use her insight and diverse experience to head up SmartSearch’s enterprise sales team and be responsible for the firm’s continued expansion into markets such as banking, financial services, crypto, utilities and telco.

SmartSearch provides anti-money laundering software to one in three of the UK’s top 200 law firms and 30 per cent of top 100 accountancy firms.

In total, their digital solution provides electronic verification (EV), full sanction screening and enhanced due diligence to more than 5,500 clients and 50,000 users worldwide.
Zowie’s aim is to work with SmartSearch’s customers to help them with their anti-money laundering and compliance decisions.

Zowie Lees-Howell commented: “Joining an innovative and agile firm like SmartSearch that’s been hugely successful is a fantastic opportunity and one I’m really excited by.

“Over the past decade, SmartSearch software has set the standard for digital compliance, not only delivering an efficient and cost-effective solution, but a competitive advantage to businesses of all sizes. Fraud and money laundering presents a very real threat to all sectors, with electronic verification and digital monitoring offering the only viable way to mitigate that risk.

“I look forward to working with the SmartSearch team to further penetrate these emerging markets by providing highly valuable services to companies who may not have had access to them before. I’m thrilled to be presenting this valuable proposition to businesses to help keep them both safe and compliant.”

Speaking on the appointment, Martin Cheek, managing director of SmartSearch said: “We are really pleased to welcome Zowie to the team. Her skills and wealth of experience across vertical markets will be a huge asset as we look to expand and continue our ambitious growth strategy.
“As the complex world of money laundering continues to change rapidly, I am proud that we haven’t stood still. Not only has our product offering constantly evolved to meet the growing compliancy burden, but we’ve continued to strengthen, both by harnessing the potential of our talented team and by making key strategic appointments.”