Ignition appoints Greg Strickland as global President to expand US

Sydney-based fintech Ignition, known for its revenue generation platform in the accountancy and professional services sector, has announced the appointment of Silicon Valley expert Greg Strickland as global President. The Australian scaled start-up, serving over 7,000 customers internationally and having generated revenues over $6.6 billion to date, has charted Strickland to navigate its long-term expansion plans, particularly in the US market, forecasting it to soon surpass Australia as its primary place of business.

This announcement succeeds the financial boost received late last year when Ignition sealed a $US15 million loan agreement with its existing partner, CIBC Innovation Banking, to fund its stateside expansion. Greg, seasoned in the American business market, brings with him significant product and market knowledge gleaned from his time at US tech companies, including Loom, Okera, and Box.

Ignition anticipates Strickland, equipped with over 15 years of invaluable tech industry experience and having held notable roles at global tech companies such as Box, Productboard, and Periscope Data, will take them to its next growth phase. Alongside having advisory roles with burgeoning start-ups like Loom, Preset, and Grain, he is regarded as the perfect fit to surmount challenges faced by worldwide service businesses seeking growth.

Greg Strickland will operate from San Francisco, CA, and will manage all global operational aspects of the business with the Ignition executive team reporting to him. He will work in close association with CEO and Founder, Guy Pearson. Strickland's wealth of experience in scaling SaaS businesses aligns perfectly with Ignition's mission to revolutionise client engagement, and billing and payment processes for service-based ventures.

Commenting on his latest assignment, Strickland said, "Ignition is genuinely bringing a revolutionary change in how accountancy and service businesses operate, specifically addressing critical challenges such as accounts receivable and cash flow management." He added, "While everyone is talking about AI, every small business's real need is AR. Cash Flow is the lifeblood of every small-medium sized business and has downstream impacts on everything. I am thrilled to lead Ignition toward even greater growth in the coming years."

Guy Pearson, Ignition's founder and CEO, voiced his excitement about Strickland joining the team, emphasizing his ability to strengthen Ignition's efforts and setting the company on track for extensive scaling, mainly in the US. "With a background in this at other great companies and advising some of those we admire greatly, Greg is the right fit for our business at this stage," he said.

Since its establishment in 2013, Ignition has earned accolades for its innovative approach, backed by renowned investors including JMI Equity, Tiger Global, and EVP. The company's place among Australia's fastest-growing large established companies was recognized in the Australian Financial Review's 2023 Fast 100 list, and also as a 2024 Top New Product by Accounting Today in the US.

Through the appointment of Greg Strickland, a new era of Ignition's journey begins - poised to reach unforeseen heights in revenue generation within the accounting and services sector. It's clear that Ignition's service, which has already revolutionised how businesses manage their revenue and cash flow, is set to benefit significantly more businesses worldwide.