About Conpend
Our mission is to help clients develop the right tools to empower their digital transformation journey.
The Story So Far
Established in 2016, Conpend is an Amsterdam-based digitalization specialist focused on the successful digital transformation of our clients with minimal impact on their business. Conpend’s aim is to use AI to empower operatives, compliance officers and relationship managers by eliminating the manual burdens associated with processes such as documentary trade finance, loan documentation and KYC.
Emerging from digital consultancy Proferus, Conpend has a decade-long background in technology and banking consulting. Over the years, we have made it our goal to support international financial institutions on their digitization journey by offering flexible solutions tailored to their specific business needs and equipping them with the necessary tools, skills, knowledge and resources to be as self-sufficient as possible. We also want our clients to get the most out of the partnership. Conpend doesn’t just advise, we provide workable and scalable digital solutions focused on using AI to streamline and automate previously manual processes – reducing operating costs and operational risks.
Conpend is a dedicated innovator, committed to expanding and strengthening its technology to deliver world-class solutions to enhance banking services such as trade finance and deliver tangible benefits to clients.
Management Team
Marc Smith
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Marc specializes in strategic change in trade finance. Marc founded Conpend following 18 years in financial services and IT consulting (including founding consultancy Proferus), after realizing the potential for the trade finance industry to leverage technology – and particularly the emergence of AI – to make existing processes more efficient. Transforming paper-based trade documentation by applying machine learning to document checking became Marc’s goal.
Froukje Baak
HR Director
As the Human Resources Director at Conpend AI, I am responsible for leading and managing all aspects of the company's human resources functions. Playing a critical role in developing and executing HR strategies that align with the organization's goals, ensuring a positive work environment, and fostering talent development and retention. In the last 20 years I am involved in overseeing recruitment, employee relations, performance management, benefits administration, and compliance with labor laws and regulations.
Rene Klose
Chief Operating Officer
René is a versatile leader with an extensive background in the financial industry. His experience spans managing business operations, leading large-scale IT projects, and overseeing Internal Audit and Compliance initiatives. This breadth of experience lends René a unique ability to view business strategies through the lens of a bank, providing valuable insight for our clients. René thrives as a change agent, passionately guiding our customers in embracing and leveraging innovative technologies to elevate their operations.
Edwin de Groot
Chief Revenue Officer
Many years in business history within IT, Telecom and Media companies. I have strong focus on Sales processing, Trade Finance, Cash management, Payments, KYC / AML and Digitizing the Automation. Technical knowledge of all business processes (Trade AI, Machine learning and Artificial Intelligence solutions). With a continues focus on best solution providing for our customers. Family is important in my personal life with my children and their focus and respect is equal to my customer business focus and respect for customers.
Arne Wolfgramm
Business Process Manager
As a Business Process Improvement Manager professional I am responsible for overseeing and optimizing an organization's business processes to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and overall performance. This role is critical in ensuring that an organization's operations run smoothly and meet its strategic objectives. | I am responsible for analyzing, designing, implementing, and continuously improving business processes across an organization. Working closely with various departments and stakeholders to identify areas for improvement and develop strategies to enhance workflow, reduce costs, and drive business growth. My primary goal is to align processes with the organization's goals and ensure that they are efficient, effective, and adaptable to change.