Management team

Steve Jones

Steve Jones is the Non Executive Deputy Chairman of Avelo, having been the founder of N4 Solutions, which was acquired by 1st-The Exchange in June 2010 to eventually form Avelo.

Steve has 30 years’ experience in the financial services sector, with the last 15 years being focussed on the use of technology within the sector. He started his career as a Life & Pensions Broker, moving on through various sales roles to senior management positions for Black Horse Group and Bristol & West.

Prior to forming N4 Solutions, he was a main Board Director of Marlborough Stirling Group. Steve will be working with Chris Noblet and the management team to deliver the company's overall growth strategy.

Chris Noblet

Chris joined 1st - The Exchange, N4 Solutions (now Avelo) with 25 years of multi-sector experience in senior management positions, including Head of IT at Aviva and Global Operations Director (Datacentre Services) at Arthur Anderson. During the last 8 years, Chris has played a leading role in innovative technology-led businesses, including Managing Director at Ramesys and Customer Services director at Digica.

Chris has a proven record of integrating organisations so they reflect the aspirations of their customers, enabling them to achieve their business objectives. Chris will sit on the main board, and will lead the Executive Team to drive the company forward and achieve our vision of delivering remarkable solutions that shape the future of financial services.

Paul Yates

Paul has over 20 years’ experience of designing and delivering innovative technology solutions for the distribution of financial services. His proven strategy and business development experience has seen him help build and manage a range of technology and financial services businesses. Paul is widely regarded within the industry, and is recognised as one of its leading innovators.

Paul joined 1st-The Exchange in 2004 from Misys PLC where he held the position of Sales Technology Director of Sesame. Prior to joining Misys, he was Associate Director at CMG. Paul joined the business as part of the acquisition of 1st Software in 2006.

Kevin Budge

Kevin has over 17 years of industry experience and his experience has spanned a number of senior executive roles – including non-executive director of 1st Software where he helped to set up the business, looking after the interests of Financial Options and then Misys plc. Kevin has extensive experience of corporate activity, mergers and acquisitions.

Kevin has been with the business since April 2004, having joined as Commercial Director in April 2004. Prior to this he was Finance Director for Misys plc, and then Operations Director of Sesame.

Julia Milton

Julia has over 15 years’ experience within HR management roles, and is a key subject matter expert in strategic change initiatives. Julia started her career supporting BT as a recruitment specialist, and joined our business in 2000.

Julia is responsible for all aspects of people development, training and recruitment at Avelo. In particular, one of her key roles is to enable our people to be the best they can possibly be, whilst always maintaining the highest of standards and consideration for those within and outside of their work environment.

James Thomson

James has a proven track record of successful software delivery in the financial technology and financial services sectors. Prior to joining Avelo, he held the position of Senior Vice President at Odyssey Financial Technologies with responsibility for the development of its front office banking technology platforms and wealth management products.

Prior to Odyssey, James spent time with Misys, where his focus was on its back office banking solutions for commercial lending, global cash management, compliance and general finance. His experience is extensive in creating and leading teams, with a hands-on approach to product management and development particularly within the financial technology sector.

His focus is working with the Avelo teams to develop market leading software solutions which are both cutting edge and in line with our customers’ needs.

Simon Badley

Simon joins Avelo with over 20 years financial services experience. Joining Aviva in 1991 as a graduate trainee, Simon progressed to take on senior positions across the insurer’s marketing, bancassurance, customer services and IFA sales divisions. Most recently, as Director of Intermediary, Simon headed up Aviva’s IFA and bancassurance channels and was instrumental in helping Aviva build a sustainable and successful business model.

Simon’s proven experience from a manufacturing and distribution point of view will further strengthen the Avelo leadership team.

In his role at Avelo, Simon will focus on developing the end to end business, ensuring we build upon our market-central position and achieve our strategic goals.