Nigel Lee
Senior Advisor
Nigel has a passion for solving problems. Over the last 20 years he has focused on shaping the landscape of Financial Services, FinTech, payments and digital commerce as a senior executive with some of the largest multi-nationals in the industry.
Always operating in developing markets and particularly in Asia, at Apis he gets to apply his experience to shape the strategy and performance of our portfolio companies and to find exciting companies in South and South East Asia to add to the funds’ portfolio.
Nigel previously worked for Apis as an Operating Partner. Prior to that, he was International Head for American Express Prepaid/Mobile/Digital launching products in countries as diverse as China, India, Brazil, UK and Japan. Before AMEX he served as EVP International for MoneyGram. Also, in his previous 5 years, as President First Data Asia Pacific, he created a leading payments business in Asia.
Nigel currently lives in Singapore with his wife Angie. He is a UK, Australian citizen and Singapore Permanent Resident.
A keen fitness enthusiast, he enjoys hiking, running, cycling, skiing and is a golfer playing off a handicap of 4.
Profile
Hometown
Swansea & Sydney, Australia
Location
Singapore, Singapore
Languages
English, French, Mandarin (rudimentary)
Areas of expertise
Strategy (Business and Technology), Organic and In-Organic Growth, Emerging Markets, Consumer Financial Products, Operational Execution/Performance
Q&A
For me life and work have two key pillars – constant teaching and constant learning. I have built a career in Financial Services and FinTech by constantly being exposed to new technologies, challenges and risks, and learning from them. At the same time, I’ve had the privilege to work with great teams in many countries and been able to help them learn from my experiences. Technology is moving so fast that constant learning is core to success. Industries and value-chains are being radically reshaped – this is especially true in the emerging markets where ‘necessity is the mother of invention’ and mobile, digital, AI and Big Data are the foundations of change. At Apis I get to help exciting companies and entrepreneurs in emerging and growth countries understand what ‘going through the scaling curve’ looks like. Also, I continue my own learning, and in parallel help shape how economies are re-imagining their Financial Infrastructure challenges.
Anything fitness focused gets my vote. As a family we like to go places where we can hike – up and down Mount Fuji in one day is the extreme example!
I always look for broader strategic purpose / impact in what I do. For example, working in China with First Data, helping develop the credit and debit card market, I was always aware that for PBOC and the Chinese Government the wider lens was about creating Financial Services infrastructure to increase inclusion, wealth, consumption and long-term economic growth. Across the Growth Markets of Africa, India, South and South East Asia, they are just beginning that journey. The challenge is enormous, the solutions as innovative as they are varied, and Financial Services is key to solving those problems. Lessons in one market, one sector are often transportable to other areas, and the fast pace of change in technology holds the promise that intractable problems yesterday can become the growth engines of tomorrow. That is why Financial Services in Growth Markets are so critical, and it is why the team at Apis get out of bed every day to see impact through every portfolio company we invest in.
Prior experience
American Express Corporation
Senior VP, International Head Pre-paid / Mobile / Digital
MoneyGram International
Executive VP International
First Data Corporation
President Asia Pacific
Electronic Data Systems (HP Services)
VP Financial Services Asia Pacific
Education
Manchester Business School
MBA Business and Marketing (Distinction)
Imperial College London
M.Eng Chemical Engineering
Chartered Institute of Marketing
Diploma Marketing
Areas of focus at Apis
Portfolio Performance / Enhancement, Portfolio Growth in South / South East Asia
Boards & memberships
Swissclear Global Inc.
Advisor to the board
Tapp Commerce
Advisor to the Board
Stoodnt
Advisor to the Board
Get in touch
Our team are keen to hear from you, whether you have a question about investing with Apis, our portfolio, media relations, careers or anything else.