Qonto, the leading European business finance platform serving over 500,000 SMEs and freelancers, has announced the appointment of Heidrun Luyt as its new Chief Growth Officer (CGO). This strategic move comes at a key moment for the company as it accelerates its expansion across Europe.
Luyt’s appointment, alongside Natalia Williams as Chief Product Officer, means that 45% of Qonto’s C-suite is now made up of women. This is a notable achievement in the fintech industry, where women account for just 17% of C-suite roles in European start-ups and scale-ups as of 2023. The dual hires underline Qonto’s commitment to building a diverse and inclusive leadership team, a step that reflects the company’s values and its dedication to representing the customers it serves.
This leadership reshuffle will also bring fresh energy to Qonto’s European growth strategy. By combining Luyt’s growth expertise with Williams’ product-focused leadership, the company aims to further strengthen the connection between its Growth and Product functions. This will help ensure that Qonto’s offerings not only continue to be customer-centric but also remain commercially viable as they scale.
Luyt herself is enthusiastic about joining Qonto at such a transformative time. “I’m thrilled to join Qonto as CGO at such a pivotal time in the company’s journey,” she said. “Qonto’s impressive growth and its focus on empowering freelancers and SMEs align perfectly with my professional passions. I’m excited to work with the talented team here to bring our business banking and finance tools to more customers and to expand our reach across Europe, beyond our 8 markets.”
Her appointment comes after Qonto’s recent expansion into four new European markets—Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Portugal. As the company now serves eight markets in total, Luyt will play a key role in strengthening Qonto’s position as a leading business finance solution for SMEs across the continent.
Alexandre Prot, Qonto’s CEO and co-founder, commented on Luyt’s appointment, saying, “We’re delighted to welcome Heidrun to our leadership team. Her proven ability to scale businesses internationally, combined with her strategic growth mindset and focus on customer needs, will be crucial assets as we continue our European expansion journey. This appointment not only brings exceptional talent to our executive team but also marks a proud moment as women now represent 45% of Qonto’s C-level positions, demonstrating our commitment to building a diverse and inclusive company that reflects the customers we serve.”