SmartSearch appoints new CEO

SmartSearch, an anti-money laundering platform based in Lehi, has announced the appointment of Guy Harrison as CEO.  The company said Harrison will be responsible to drive its plan to build additional growth and will report to the company’s board of directors.

Harrison is a seasoned business leader with a proven track record of scaling fast-growth data, analytics and technology businesses, according to a Smart-Search release. He comes from Dow Jones, where he was general manager of Dow Jones Risk & Compliance, a global provider of regulatory compliance and risk management solutions. Prior to that, he was managing director for risk, regulatory and compliance solutions at IHS Markit. Before joining IHS Markit, he spent eight years at Goldman Sachs and started his career as a management consultant with Deloitte.

Harrison’s replaces Smart-Search’s founder, John Dobson, as CEO. Dobson launched the business in 2011 and will remain an active part of the company as a non-executive director.

“SmartSearch has already delivered impressive growth and I’m very much looking forward to working with the team to lead the business towards even greater success,” said Harrison. “Fraud and money laundering attempts have risen considerably since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing the need for regulated businesses to have effective anti-money laundering (AML) technology. Smart-Search’s state-of-the-art technology is perfectly positioned to meet this need by accurately identifying and verifying customers in just two seconds.”

“There is a clear and growing need for robust electronic verification to help counter money laundering and fraud. The strong growth we have achieved at SmartSearch over the past decade clearly indicates this need as paper documents can no longer be relied upon. It also gives an indication of our huge potential for further expansion,” said Dobson. “I feel a lot of pride in having led a worthy and successful business which will continue to grow and prosper with a very competent, energetic and innovative team remaining. I felt the time had come for my second retirement and I am very happy to hand over the leadership to Guy, who I know has the experience and strategic vision to steer the business through the next expansion phase as it continues to become recognized as the default solution for AML verification, both in the UK and globally.”

Richard Law, chairman designate of SmartSearch, said: “On behalf of the board and the team as SmartSearch I’d like to thank and congratulate John on his skill and dedication to building SmartSearch so effectively and on achieving the financial success the business has seen to date. I’m very pleased that the business has been able to attract Guy to join the business. His track record, experience and skills are a great fit for the ambitious next stage of SmartSearch’s development and growth.”