Ace launches post-digital consultancy for financial services
Ace has been launched as what is described as the world's first post-digital consultancy for the financial services industry.
The new firm was founded by Niamh Kingsley, who has a background in computational neuroscience and neuroeconomics and more than a decade of experience in financial services transformation. Kingsley previously worked as a consultant at Delta Capital and is joined by Greg Hannah, who will take the role of Non-Executive Director and Advisor. Hannah has held C-level posts at major institutions including Deutsche Bank, RBS, and JDX Consulting.
Post-digital vision
According to ace, the post-digital consultancy has been established to address what it sees as the limitations of ongoing digital transformation efforts in the financial services sector. The company will advise on the adoption of quantum computing, advanced artificial intelligence, and distributed ledger technology.
Ace's approach includes a proprietary framework that brings together distributed ledger, robotics, extended reality, artificial intelligence, mutualisation, and computing technologies. The intention is to provide financial services institutions a clear structure for progress with post-digital technologies and to avoid what ace characterises as technology hype cycles.
"Let's be honest, if you're still talking about 'digital transformation' in 2025, you're already behind," comments Niamh Kingsley, CEO and Founder of ace. "The industry doesn't need another consultancy peddling AI workshops and blockchain pilots. What they need is someone willing to tell them the uncomfortable truth: most of their tech strategies are fighting yesterday's war. ace is here to give our clients the advantage for tomorrow."
The company's launch arrives at a time when many financial services institutions have pronounced their digital transformation efforts as complete, yet ace contends that these organisations are, in many cases, working with dated technological strategies. The firm's stated aim is to move clients towards genuine competitive advantage using post-digital technologies, rather than simply operational improvements and incremental upgrades.
Leadership team
Ace's founding team seeks to offer a new approach to consultancy in financial services, an industry that has historically faced criticism for lack of diversity at senior levels. Kingsley's blend of scientific and transformation experience is positioned as a key factor for ace, with the additional industry knowledge from Hannah intended to reinforce the leadership team's credentials.
Integrated model
The consultancy forms part of the G MASS Consulting ecosystem, providing what is described as an integrated delivery model. G MASS provides specialist resource augmentation and sector-specific expertise to financial institutions. Tom Mills, Founder of G MASS and also Chief Commercial Officer of ace, described the advantage of this partnership.
"The advantage of our model is the seamless integration between ace's visionary advisory and G MASS's executional capabilities," explains Tom Mills, Founder of G MASS and Chief Commercial Officer of ace. "While others theorise about the future, we're already building it. ace identifies the opportunities that will define the next decade, while G MASS deploys the exact expertise needed to capture them. It's strategy meets delivery at scale."
The integration between ace and G MASS is also intended to differentiate the new consultancy from generalist firms, with ace seeking to use its proprietary frameworks to support clients in managing emerging technology for business outcomes, rather than for technical novelty.
Market positioning and expansion
Ace will work with financial institutions globally, with initial offices in London and New York and expansion plans across Asia and the Middle East. The firm's approach is characterised by an emphasis on competitive differentiation, focusing on what it refers to as 'the battle for market leadership' in a mature digital environment.
According to the company, ace is aiming to move the sector beyond "digital transformation theatre" by supporting real-world adoption of new technology intended to give tangible business benefits.
Differentiation and reach
By focusing on post-digital technologies, ace seeks to step away from the prevailing industry reliance on process automation and legacy technology refreshes. The company intends to provide both global reach and localised expertise, leveraging the relationships G MASS has established with capital markets and market infrastructure providers.
The consultancy will continue to build out its proprietary capabilities and frameworks as it expands its presence in new markets and works with financial institutions to address the challenges of technological change.
