Limeglass Grabs Saywell for Research Digitisation Push

Financial research optimisation technology provider Limeglass has appointed Steven Saywell as a strategic advisor.

Most recently in the FX industry Saywell was at BNP Paribas for just over eight years, initially as global head of FX strategy before he moved into a global macro role. Prior to BNP he spent over six years at Citi, most latterly as chief currency strategist. He started his career in strategy at Mizuho Bank.

At BNP Saywell spearheaded a breakthrough initiative to promote research content across asset classes to the world’s top fund managers. It is this role in particular that highlighted to him the challenges facing banks in ensuring that research is digested by the appropriate clients – something that is at the heart of the Limeglass proposition.

The firm, which was incubated by JP Morgan, who subsequently invested in it, offers research digitisation, the application of technology to automate the discovery, collection and distribution of information.

Banks in particular churn out a tremendous amount of content daily across asset classes, sometimes making it very difficult for the consumer to access the most relevant information, or even missing it. Efforts have been made in recent years to streamline the access to research but it has largely been about banks providing search engines and subscription services on their single dealer platforms.

Research digitisation is a new frontier for financial institutions

Using AI and natural language processing (NLP), as well as intuitive workflow tools, Limeglass has leveraged “document atomisation”, which effectively enables unstructured information to be structured through the use of tags on paragraphs and sentences in each document. This, in turn, means it is capable of being communicated via APIs.

“Research digitisation is a new frontier for financial institutions seeking workflow and client service advantage through technology,” says Saywell. “This product transforms research into the differentiator it should be. I am delighted for the opportunity to be part of a team bringing innovative change and evolution.

“Research is a huge asset to an organisation but inefficient distribution processes amid the sheer number of reports are limiting its true potential,” he continues. “Limeglass’ technology enables sell-side research teams to improve their workflow, communication and distribution of research both internally to the sales force and externally with clients.”

Rowland Park, CEO and co-founder of Limeglass, adds, “Steven Saywell has an impeccable background in financial research and analytics at some of the city’s most respected institutions. Not only has Steven written research but he has also worked with the bank’s sales teams and clients to help them maximise the value locked away in the analysis. His enthusiasm for our service when he first saw it and his personal experience of the problem of information overload for all market participants immediately convinced us of the huge benefits of having him as part of our team.

“We are very delighted as he is joining us at a time when banks are now prioritising research digitisation and looking to apply technology to turn their research to their advantage and brings a uniquely relevant bank-side perspective to the challenges research teams face in handling the mountain of information produced by their institutions, and how it could be used to better effect to benefit their customers.”