Mazuma Strengthens Leadership Team with the Appointment of Former Xero UK CEO Gary Turner

Mazuma Strengthens Leadership Team with the Appointment of Former Xero UK CEO Gary Turner

Mazuma, a prominent player in the UK’s fintech and micro-business accountancy sector, has announced the appointment of Gary Turner, the former UK CEO and Co-Founder of Xero, to their Board of Directors. This strategic addition marks a significant step forward in Mazuma’s ambitious growth plans.

Founded in 2006 by Lucy Cohen and Sophie Hughes in South Wales, Mazuma has been a pioneer in transforming accountancy services for micro-businesses through its innovative subscription-based model. The company’s proprietary MazApp© platform, combined with expert accountancy services, has simplified financial management for thousands of sole traders, partnerships, and small business owners across the UK.

Lucy Cohen, Co-Founder and CEO of Mazuma, expressed her excitement about Turner’s appointment: “What excites me most about having Gary join our Board is our alignment in vision and purpose. His motivations at Xero were the same as ours at Mazuma. We are all about reducing the accounting burden for our customers so that they can focus on running their businesses. Gary has been on the growth journey that we are taking, and I’m thrilled that he has elected to bring his skills and experiences to Mazuma in support of our growth plans.”

Turner, who played a crucial role in building Xero into a global cloud accounting powerhouse, brings over 20 years of executive leadership experience in technology, operations, and strategy to Mazuma’s board. He shared his enthusiasm for joining the company: “I’m delighted to be joining an organisation whose values so clearly align with mine. The UK’s 6 million small and micro-businesses form the backbone of our economy, yet many struggle to access the support and guidance they need to grow and prosper. I’ve long admired Mazuma’s focus here, and I am excited to be working with Lucy, my fellow board members, and the executive team to help Mazuma play an even greater part in serving the needs of this vital sector of our economy.”

Mazuma’s recent leadership expansion follows a multi-million-pound investment from Innovation Investment Capital Limited Partnership (IIC) in January 2024, aimed at fueling the company’s growth and innovation. In tandem with this investment, Lucy Cohen, a respected figure in the fintech community and a member of the Fintech Wales board of directors, was appointed as Mazuma’s CEO.

As a member of Fintech Wales, Mazuma continues to play a crucial role in the region’s thriving fintech ecosystem. Lucy Cohen’s involvement on the Fintech Wales board highlights her commitment to advancing the sector and supporting other fintech innovators in Wales.

With Turner joining the board, alongside recent executive appointments, Mazuma is well-positioned to accelerate its growth and continue delivering top-tier services to micro-businesses. Cohen remarked, “A business with the ambitions we have needs a team of incredible people to execute the vision. With Gary as an NED on our Board and our recent executive appointments of Emma Crawford-Falekaono as CRO and David Morris as CPTO, we have a team that can really help us accelerate our growth and further develop our client service offering. I cannot wait to see what we do next.”

Mazuma’s strategic moves reflect its dedication to supporting the UK’s micro-businesses, ensuring they have access to the accountancy services they need to thrive in a competitive landscape. As a Fintech Wales member, Mazuma’s success story continues to be a testament to the innovative spirit and collaborative ethos driving the Welsh fintech sector forward.