Anthemis Group, a financial services investment and advisory firm, has announced that Erica Young has joined the group as Director, based in London.

An experienced industrial designer, Young will apply design methodologies to the innovation challenges and opportunities facing Anthemis’ advisory clients and portfolio companies.

She will join Anthemis’ advisory team and report to Nadeem Shaikh, Founder and President of Anthemis Group.

Commenting on the appointment, Young said: “Joining Anthemis enables me to apply my background in design methodology to a large vertical that is undergoing dramatic change. Financial services will look very different in the future and it’s exciting time to be part of a company that is driving the change in this space.”

Young joins Anthemis Group from Insight Robotics, where she held the position of chief product officer and now serves as advisor to the organisation.

She has extensive experience in developing and manufacturing products in China for international markets and has worked in a range of different product areas including internet-of-things, fashion, clean energy and robotics.

She has been active in the development of the Hong Kong startup ecosystem as an entrepreneur, mentor and teacher of design and social innovation at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Shaikh said: “We think about the future of financial services through the lens of design: achieving the optimal balance of harmony at the intersection of product, user and environment. There are newly emerging patterns in financial services and Erica’s fresh perspective will help us continue to identify and create opportunities for our clients.”