Danny Lopez (businessman)

Danny Lopez (born 1974) is the CEO of cybersecurity firm Glasswall and a board member of Innovate Finance, the UK's fintech industry body, and of Aquis Stock Exchange. Between 2011 and 2016 Lopez was the British Consul-General to New York and Director-General of the Department for International Trade in the United States and Canada.

Danny Lopez
Her Majesty's Consul-General in New York
In office
July 2011 – July 2016
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
MinisterWilliam Hague (until 2014)
Philip Hammond (from 2014)
AmbassadorSir Nigel Sheinwald (until 2012),
Sir Peter Westmacott (2012–2016),
Sir Kim Darroch (from 2016)
Preceded bySir Alan Collins
Succeeded byAntonia Romeo

Career

Lopez started his career at Barclays in 1996. During his ten years there he held a number of senior international positions, including Head of Global Inward Investment in London, Director of Business Banking in New York and Director of Business Development in India.[1]

In 2006, Lopez took up a Managing Director role at the Department for International Trade (formerly UK Trade & Investment), the UK government's foreign commercial arm.[2] From 2009 to 2011, Lopez worked for the Mayor of London’s office, under Boris Johnson,[2]and led the establishment of London & Partners, London's promotional agency for business, visitors and students, becoming its inaugural CEO.

In 2011, the role of British Consul-General to New York was opened up to applicants outside the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Lopez was confirmed as the successful candidate, becoming the youngest-ever holder of the position. As the senior British diplomat to New York for five years, he was responsible for promoting the UK's economic profile, foreign policy and national security priorities. In addition, Lopez led the Department for International Trade's presence across North America. During his tenure, Lopez hosted the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their visit to New York in December 2014.[3][4] Lopez also actively promoted the expansion of high-tech US start-ups into the UK[5] and facilitated collaboration between the tech industries of both countries. In 2013 he was named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.[6]

In 2016, Lopez left his diplomatic position and returned to the private sector.[7] He became the COO at technology company Blippar,[8] a role he held for two years before stepping down in July 2018.[9] In 2016, Lopez was appointed a special advisor to New York-based venture capital firm FinTech Collective and in 2017 he joined the board of Innovate Finance, the industry body that champions the UK's global fintech community.[10] In 2019, Lopez was appointed CEO of award-winning cybersecurity firm Glasswall.[11] In 2020, Lopez was appointed a Council Member and Trustee at the University of Essex, his alma mater.[12]In 2021, Lopez joined the board of Aquis Stock Exchange.

Lopez speaks regularly on platforms across the world on topics including geopolitics and the intersection of market-disrupting technologies and government policy.

Personal life

Born in England to José Antonio and Elizabeth, and brought up in Spain, Lopez was educated at the Marists School of Zaragoza. Fluent in both English and Spanish,[1] he holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in economics and a master's degree in international economics and finance from the University of Essex.[2] In 2012 he married his Australian fiancée, Susan Grieve. They have three children: Lucy, Stella and Alexander.[13][14]

References
  1. LeRoy, Bridget. "British Consul General: The Star Talks to Danny Lopez", The East Hampton Star, East Hampton, NY, 18 August 2011. Retrieved on 5 April 2012
  2. British Consulate-General, New York
  3. "Actor Matthew Rhys Finds Himself Tongue-Tied over Princess Kate". People.
  4. "Prince William and Duchess Kate: 9 Things That Have Happened Since They Arrived in the US". ABC News - Good Morning America, Dec 8, 2014,
  5. "British Want Philly Tech Companies to Expand to U.K.". By Lauren Hertzler | Philadelphia Business Journal.
  6. "The Definitive First Impression for Leaders in their Field".
  7. "Change of Her Majesty's Consul General in New York - News stories - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  8. "Tech upstart poaches top British diplomat in New York". The Independent. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  9. CNBC (25 June 2018). "Blippar Appoints Seasoned Technology Executive and Digital Agency Veteran Libby Penn to Chief Operating Officer". CNBC. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  10. "Innovate Finance Appoints New Non Executive Directors". Innovate Finance – The Voice of Global FinTech. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  11. "Glasswall Solutions Appoints Danny Lopez as Chief Executive Officer". www.businesswire.com. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  12. "University of Essex - Welcoming our new members of University Council « Essex Daily". Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  13. "'Susan Grieve, Danny Lopez". New York Times.
  14. "New British Consul General in New York". British Academy of Film and Television Arts]
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