Chris Skinner

Chris Skinner is best known as an independent commentator on the financial markets through his blog the Finanser. Here he regularly discusses key issues and opportunities in banking and financial services, summarising research, white papers and other analysis that is topical for the day.

When he’s not travelling and delivering keynote speeches, Chris chairs the Financial Services Club, which he founded in 2004. The Financial Services Club is a network for financial professionals, and focuses on the future of financial services through the delivery of high quality and in-depth research, analysis, commentary and debate. The Club has regular meetings in London, Edinburgh, Dublin and Vienna, providing a critically independent platform for practitioners, regulators and industry leaders to meet, network and discuss the future of our industry. Chris is also Chief Executive of Balatro Ltd, and a co-founder of the website Shaping Tomorrow.

He is the author of several books including "The Future of Banking", “The Future of Finance after SEPA” and "The Future of Investing after MiFID”; and regularly appears on news media including the BBC, Sky, Bloomberg and print media such as the Banker with his informed views.

Chris is known for his regular speaking and keynote presentations at leading industry forums. Through these keynotes, he has presented alongside many other leading world figures including Gary Hamel, Michael Porter, Richard Branson, Lou Gerstner, Meg Whitman and Bill Gates. He has also been a Judge with the Card Awards, the TradeTech Awards, the Banker’s Awards, the Asian Banker's Excellence in Retail Financial Services program, and a contributor to the World Economic Forum.

Prior to founding Balatro, Chris was Vice President of Marketing and Strategy for Unisys Global Financial Services and Strategy Director with NCR Financial Services. These roles sparked Chris’s specialization in the future of financial services after he created the Global Future Forum in Unisys and the Knowledge Lab in NCR.

He studied at Loughborough University in the UK, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Sciences alongside a Diploma in Industrial Studies. He is a Fellow of the British Computer Society, a Fellow of the Institute of Management Services, an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute and a Chartered Insurance Practitioner.