SmartSearch appoints new COO

Anti-money laundering (AML) firm SmartSearch has appointed Collette Allen as Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Allen joined the company in 2013 as a Senior Support Specialist and, within two years, earned a position as Head of Client Services. Five years later, she was appointed to the SmartSearch board as Client Services Director.

At 30, Allen was the company’s youngest-ever board member and the first female in the boardroom. Under Allen’s direction, the client services division grew significantly and now manages 5,500 global clients across the legal, insurance, accountancy, investment, property and finance sectors.

Managing director of SmartSearch, Martin Cheek congratulated Collette on her appointment “Collette has shown incredible leadership and innovation in her time at SmartSearch. She’s been crucial in the development of our outstanding Client Services team which has managed to achieve exceptional client retention.”

“I have no doubt that she will go from strength-to-strength and continue to drive innovations that will keep SmartSearch as the leading anti-money laundering firm.”