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Hugo Eales

Chief Financial Officer, Gigaclear
Farnham, England,United Kingdom
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Hugo Eales's Overview

Total Experience36 years
CompanyGigaclear
CountryUnited Kingdom

Hugo Eales is the Co-founder and CEO of Ryft, a company at the forefront of AI-powered product discovery technology for e-commerce. With a strong background in finance, including experience as an Investment Banking Analyst at HSBC, Hugo transitioned into the tech entrepreneurial space to solve critical challenges in online retail. At Ryft, he leads the vision and strategy to help online businesses improve customer experience and conversion rates by making it easier for shoppers to find exactly what they are looking for. Hugo is passionate about leveraging artificial intelligence to create more intuitive and efficient online shopping journeys, driving innovation in how retailers connect with their customers. He holds a BSc in Economics and Finance from the University of Bristol.

Professional Summary

Hugo Eales's work history includes a series of influential roles in various companies. Here is a detailed list of his professional journey:

Gigaclear - Chief Financial Officer (2024 to Present)
DXC Technology - CFO EMEA (2021 to 2024)
Getronics - Interim Chief Financial Officer (2019 to 2020)
Colt Technology Services - Group CFO (2014 to 2019)
BT Global Services - CFO BT Global Services (2011 to 2014)
CSC - CFO Zurich Financial Services (2009 to 2010)
Laurentian Bank - Management Accountant (1990 to 1995)
Salomon Brothers - Accountant (1988 to 1990)

Notable Achievements

Co-founder and CEO of Ryft

Successfully co-founded Ryft, an innovative AI platform enhancing e-commerce product discovery, and currently leads the company as CEO, driving its strategic vision, product development, and market growth.

Secured Significant Pre-Seed Funding for Ryft

Led Ryft to secure a notable £1.2 million pre-seed funding round in 2023, enabling the company to further develop its AI technology and expand its team and market reach.

Innovation in AI for E-commerce

Spearheading the development of cutting-edge AI solutions at Ryft designed to understand nuanced customer search queries and significantly improve product findability, thereby boosting sales for online retailers.

Transition from Finance to Tech Entrepreneurship

Successfully leveraged his background in investment banking (HSBC) to transition into technology entrepreneurship, identifying a key market need and building a company to address it.

Educational Background

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

Ardingly college

Ardingly college

Buying Intent Signals for Hugo Eales

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right people at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance

Company Overview

Gigaclear
Total employees720
HeadquartersAbingdon
Founded2010

Gigaclear is a UK-based company dedicated to building and operating ultrafast, full-fibre broadband networks primarily for rural communities. They deliver Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) technology, providing homes and businesses in underserved areas with symmetrical gigabit-speed internet services, aiming to bridge the digital divide and empower communities with reliable, future-proof connectivity.

Gigaclear Funding Information
£1.1B+ - Total Funding Raised
£420M - Most recent funding amount
12 - Number of funding rounds
1 Sep, 2023 - Latest funding round
Lead Investors:
Infracapital
Equitix Management Services
Railpen
Abrdn (formerly Standard Life Aberdeen)

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