Valour, the Swiss-based issuer of investment products that provide exposure to innovative technologies, has announced the appointment of former HSBC Private Banking Global Head of Innovation, Diana Biggs, as CEO.

In her new role, Biggs will lead the company’s expansion, following the recent launch of Bitcoin Zero, Valour’s Bitcoin (BTC) exchange traded product (ETP) that comes with zero management fees.

Diana Biggs is a global executive, speaker and advocate with a focus on financial innovation and emerging technologies. She is an Associate Fellow at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School and served as Head Tutor for their Blockchain Strategy Programme from 2018 to 2020. She is on the Board of the World Economic Forum’s Digital Leaders of Europe community, and is a member of the Milken Institute’s Young Leaders Circle.

Prior to joining Valour, Biggs was Global Head of Innovation for HSBC Private Banking, where she led on fintech partnerships and driving open innovation. Earlier roles include VP, Head of Growth & Partnerships, EMEA for digital currency platform Uphold, Chief Strategy Officer for e-commerce startup Soko, and management consultant at Oliver Wyman Financial Services.

“Making finance and technology more accessible has been a key focus all my professional life,” says Biggs. “So I’m delighted to have the opportunity to lead Valour in enabling investment in the latest innovations in the sector, such as digital assets, through mainstream channels.”

As an early proponent of financial innovations, such as Bitcoin, Biggs brings expertise in emerging technologies, including blockchain, together with leadership experience across financial services and fintech.

Johan Wattenstrom, Founder & Director of Valour, says:

“Diana is the perfect candidate to lead the company through this next phase of growth and expansion. With a wealth of experience in traditional finance, as well as fintech, and her vision for bringing digital assets into the mainstream, we feel very lucky to have her on board.”

In December, Valour announced the launch of the world’s first fee-free digital asset ETP, Bitcoin Zero, which trades on the NGM stock exchange. The company now has just shy of $30 million in assets under management (AUM). Over the coming months, Valour will roll out several additional innovative ETPs across multiple European exchanges.

Valour Structured Products Inc. issues institutional-grade, exchange-traded financial products (ETPs) that enable investment in disruptive innovations, such as digital assets, in a simple and secure way. Valour says hat its products offer the security, liquidity and oversight of regulated exchanges, with zero management fees – the only company to do so. Established in 2019 and based in Zug, Switzerland, Valour is backed by leading entrepreneurs and investors in the fintech space.