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Aiviq has officially launched its operations in North America, marking a significant milestone in our journey to become the leading global client data platform for asset management. To lead this expansion, we have appointed Sam Iles as Head of Aiviq, North America. With over a decade at Alpha FMC, including leadership of multiple practices and deep client data expertise, Sam brings the perfect combination of market knowledge and technical understanding to this role.
We sat down with Sam to discuss the North America opportunity, what drew him to Aiviq, and what firms can expect as we expand in the region.
Sam, congratulations on the appointment. What made you want to take on this challenge?
“Thank you! Honestly, it felt like a natural evolution. I've spent years working with asset managers on their most complex client data challenges, and I've seen firsthand how these issues compound as firms grow globally and introduce new products, and I’ve also observed the lack of quality vendor products in this space. When the opportunity came up to lead Aiviq's expansion in North America, it was a win-win situation. I get to work with a platform I genuinely believe in, alongside a team I've collaborated with for years, in a market that desperately needs better solutions.
Of course, I also continue to lead our global Agency business alongside Aiviq, and it’s hugely advantageous to see across both of our capabilities in market as clients look to accelerate their insights & go-to-market engagement across the globe; where increasingly quality client data is critical to drive more personalised client experiences. That is the potential I am hugely excited about: how can we use quality client data & insights to drive highly personalised client experiences.“
You mentioned you've seen client data challenges up close. What's different about the North America market?
“North America has historically had better access to client data than other regions - but that advantage is eroding fast. The market is innovating rapidly with active ETFs, retail SMAs, and model portfolios, all of which require deeper transparency and more sophisticated data management than traditional vehicles. Additionally, the client structure itself is moving increasingly away from the legacy “firm, office, rep” structure of legacy providers, challenging legacy data models and approaches. Add in the need to manage global account relationships and build a consolidated view across markets, and you have a perfect storm of complexity. Firms need modern infrastructure that can keep pace, and that's exactly what Aiviq delivers.”
What specific capabilities does Aiviq bring to address these challenges?
“Aiviq is fundamentally different from legacy solutions. Where traditional platforms rely on manual processes, we've automated historically manual attribution and mastering processes and have embedded AI natively in certain aspects of the platform to enhance client matching & delivery of insights. The platform unifies data ingestion, cleansing, enrichment, and governance, then connects directly into CRM and distribution systems with a global data structure & data model that meets the needs of all global clients, vehicles, geographies & channels in a single solution. Firms can automate client engagement, prioritise sales opportunities, predict attrition, and personalise communications."
"It's not just data management; it's about driving tangible business outcomes and achieving highly customised investor experiences.”
What's your vision for Aiviq in North America over the next year?
“We're already building a strong pipeline with several new opportunities in motion, and have gained some strong response to the platform in the region. To me, this is very exciting: the more clients we have contributing to the roadmap and development of the platform in region, the more capabilities we can deliver to really revolutionise how firms manage client data.
My focus is on demonstrating how Aiviq addresses the specific challenges U.S. and Canadian firms face today - whether that's managing complex data flows across emerging products, building global client views, or deploying AI use cases that drive revenue and retention. We have over 75 integrated local data connectors and architecture specifically designed for model portfolios and ETFs, so we're ready to deliver value from day one.”
Any final thoughts for asset managers considering a client data platform?
“Client data is the foundation of every strategic decision firms make - from sales and marketing to product development and risk management, and is becoming increasingly important to deliver the investor experience needed today. The firms that get this right will have a significant competitive advantage in the years ahead. If you're struggling with data silos, manual processes, or legacy systems that can't keep up with market innovation, let's talk.”
Watch this space for Sam's deep dive into the critical client data pain points facing North America asset managers today - and how the industry can address them.
Sam Iles is Head of Aiviq, North America, reporting to Lee Griggs, CEO and Global Head of Aiviq. He continues to oversee Alpha's global Agency business. For more information about Aiviq, visit www.aiviq.com.
