Traydstream, a UK-headquartered fintech company whose platform digitalises and automates trade finance, has hired Jayan Menon as its new country head for India.

The official appointment of Menon follows the firm’s announcement in January that it had opened its first subsidiary in Mumbai.

In his new role, Menon will be in charge of building a team of trade specialists who will help expand Traydstream’s fintech platform. He will work closely with the company’s vendors in India and Ukraine to ensure consistent global client delivery as the firm begins to onboard new clients and carry out more pilots. He will be a director of the Indian operation and be part of Traydstream’s wider management.

Menon brings more than 25 years of experience in the banking industry, particularly in trade services and treasury. He joins from Tata Consultancy Services, where, as director of operations, he headed the trade operations of a large UAE bank. He previously worked for ICICI Bank and Yes Bank, among others, in India.

Launched last year, Traydstream’s fintech solution digitalises trade documents and automates regulatory compliance screening using artificial intelligence (AI) and optical character recognition (OCR) technology.

The company is currently in varying stages of discussions, including undertaking pilots and proofs of concept, with almost 50 banks and corporates around the world. Around 15 of them are based in Asia.

“The application of the functional knowledge in trade to transform the trade services in banks with the latest technology applications is what excited me to join this fantastic team,” says Menon in a statement.

According to Achille D’Antoni, Traydstream co-founder and chief sales officer, the company has been targeting Menon “for a while”. He adds: “We are delighted to have Jayan on board. Our goal is to keep attracting first-class professionals who relish the challenges of product innovation as well as effectively managing global client delivery in a new innovative environment.”