New UK CEO chosen for Seccl: Jonathan Dees takes the helm
Jonathan Dees has been appointed as the new UK CEO of Seccl, effective from August 2025, subject to regulatory approval. He takes over from David Ferguson, who will move into a new and growth-focused executive chair role.
Dees, an outstanding leader with a strong background in operations and leadership at technology and investment companies, has been acting as interim Managing Director at Seccl since June. His appointment comes three months after the business announced its search for a successor to David Ferguson.
Before joining Seccl, Dees held a series of senior operating roles at fast-growing technology companies. He spent six years as COO at Octopus Investments, where he was admired for his contributions. Prior to that, he held senior roles including COO for Zoopla’s software business and Managing Director for TripAdvisor’s vacation rentals platform. Dees also worked on secondment for Seccl in 2024 to support its operations growth, and he has been interim MD at Seccl since June.
David Ferguson described Dees as "well aligned with Seccl’s values" and noted his deep familiarity with the company from previous roles. He expressed excitement about the company's growth journey under Dees' leadership, with a focus shifting towards strategic growth and scaling operations.
Under Dees' interim MD role, he brought renewed focus, clarity, and consistency to Seccl's delivery. The company processed an impressive 2 million transactions in June, and nearly 60,000 new investors have been onboarded since January alone. Seccl's software and services currently power the portfolios of over 300,000 investors.
Dees expressed eagerness to lead Seccl's team to new heights and free up David Ferguson for future strategy and growth. He feels honored to now play a direct role in shaping Seccl's next chapter.
Seccl, an Octopus-owned embedded investment platform, has announced the appointment with confidence. Commenting on the appointment, David Ferguson, outgoing CEO and new executive chair, said: "After an extensive search for our next UK CEO, which brought a large volume of exceptional external candidates, we decided the right person for the role was much closer to home."
The appointment of Dees as UK CEO is seen as a natural evolution of his interim MD role at Seccl. As Seccl continues to grow and scale, Dees' leadership and operational expertise will be crucial in driving the company forward.
Dees, previously serving as interim Managing Director at Seccl, will now lead the company as its UK CEO, effective from August 2025, according to a recent announcement by Seccl. His experience in finance, entrepreneurship, and leadership roles at various technology and investment companies, such as his time as COO at Octopus Investments, Zoopla's software business, and TripAdvisor's vacation rentals platform, make him well-suited for his new position. Seccl's focus under his leadership will be strategic growth and scaling operations.
