Views from the Top

In this episode of Views from the Top, Arma Partners’ Andrew Wheatley sits down with Pontus Noren, founder of Cloudreach and Ensemble AI, to unpack what actually drives technology adoption - from the early days of cloud to today’s AI wave. They discuss why enterprises move slower than expected, where AI is genuinely creating value, and what most people are getting wrong.Episode Highlights:Why AI won’t transform enterprises as fast as people think The shift from systems of record to systems that actually reason How “software with a service” is replacing traditional SaaS models Where AI delivers real ROI today (and where it doesn’t)

Paul Guély, Managing Partner at Arma Partners, speaks with Harry Thomsen, CEO of Aareon, about transforming a bank-owned software business into a leading pan-European PropTech platform, and how AI is reshaping the future of real estate.Episode highlights:Transformation at scale: building a decentralised, pan-European SaaS leaderSmarter growth: balancing M&A, organic expansion, and profitabilityAI in action: automating workflows to cut manual work and speed innovationUnlocking efficiency: modernising a lagging industry to boost performance and experience

Sophia Metz sits down with Uljan Sharka, Founder and CEO of Domyn, to unpack a bold vision for the future of artificial intelligence in highly regulated contexts. The conversation explores sovereign AI, the limits of generative AI, and the importance of AI ownership.Episode highlights:Why most pilots fail and what organisations misunderstand about deploying AI at scaleRegulation as an advantage: how the EU AI Act and sovereign AI debates are shaping the future of global competitionTrust vs speed: balancing rapid innovation with accountability in mission-critical environmentsWhat’s next: from governments and enterprises to individuals owning their own AI systems

Lee Perkins, CEO of Civica, discusses leading a GovTech powerhouse serving 100 million citizens, and his approach to AI adoption in the public sector. Episode highlights: - The power of focus: why narrowing a broad portfolio intobig bets is the key to accelerating transformation- De-risking innovation: how bringing customers "intothe tent" allows for safe, high-speed AI experimentation in a zero-failure environment- The scar tissue advantage: why PE-backed firms needleaders who have weathered multiple tech cycles to navigate today’s rapid shifts

Alexander Taskey of Merchant Broker has seen and shaped the payments industry from the inside, culminating in a successful exit. With his new venture, Frame, he believes the next shift in global money movement is already underway. Episode highlights: A hard-earned exit and what actually mattered in the dealWhy legacy rails persist despite obvious inefficienciesWhere stablecoins begin to make sense in the real economyThe signals pointing to a structural shift in global payments

In the wake of the proposed acquisition of BaaS platform Treezor, Shares co-founder Harjas Singh sits down with Sophia Metz to share the inside story of a bold pivot, from social investing to powering wealth management and employee savings at scale. Episode highlights:The genesis of Shares: adding a social layer to the traditional trading experience A strategic pivot: launching a fresh MVP for financial advisors in just 35 days Institutional adoption: landing major contracts and what it takes to sell to industry giantsWhat’s next: going deeper into the financial services value chain

Laura Maddison speaks with Fred Fosse, co-founder and CEO of Energy Aspects, on how the combination of data and intelligence shapes decision-making in global energy markets. Episode Highlights:How Energy Aspects scaled into a trusted authority for energy professionalsWhy markets now demand granular, data-driven insightsA realistic look at energy transition amid rising global demandThe impetus for bringing on board a growth investor The power of combining proprietary data and AI

John Meehan speaks with Tim Hardcastle, CEO and Founder of Instanda, on how insurers are modernising core infrastructure to move faster without breaking trust. Episode Highlights:Climbing the "Wall of Inertia": the genesis of InstandaWhere legacy hurts most, and margins matter.After the Insurtech hype: What the 2022 reset changed for good.Where AI helps today, and where caution still matters.

The next era of RegTech will be defined by speed, integration, and agility. Watch Jonny Bradshaw of FundApps share his perspective with Gaelle Tiabo from Arma Partners and find out about:Escalating compliance pressureReal-time, cloud-native complianceAI vs. human judgmentMaking compliance simple

What’s top of mind for regulatory leaders? Peter Schramme, CEO of Enhesa, shares his perspective with Laura Maddison, covering:The growing pressure on corporates: regulatory change, risk and reputational exposureWhy compliance is a business-critical “must-do” for the C-suite How AI is driving the regulatory intelligence landscape and accelerating change Why leading a purposeful business remains a long-term driver

Simon Black, NED at ClearCourse and former CEO of PPRO, sits down with Angelina Kuznetsova from Arma Partners todiscuss:The transition from CEO to chair and how to create real impactAligning founders, CEOs and investors through setting clear expectationsNavigating board tensions in today's market environmentThe technologies reshaping the future of payments

A discussion with Fernando Herrera, Founder and CEO of Nordcloud and Co-Founder of Firemind, exploring:Scaling AI services and the future of GenAIThe next generation of AI-native and cloud-native services capabilities The growing complexity and evolution of IT services

Recorded at Arma’s offices on the 27th floor of The Shard, in London, this episode features:Paul Guély, Founder & Managing PartnerJohn Meehan, PartnerThis opening conversation explores Arma’s evolution and sets the scene for upcoming discussions with leaders of the digital economy.

Paul Guély, Founder and Managing Partner of Arma Partners, together with Laura Maddison, Partner, Data & Analytics, Tom Wells, Partner, Cloud Services, and Luke Mortimer, Head of Financial Sponsor Coverage introduce 'Views from the top', a new podcast from Arma Partners.In this series, we will be sharing with you the perspectives of some of our friends and clients on the global, ever expanding digital economy. It's an important moment to exchange ideas and perspectives so make sure you subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.