Ripjar appoints new CEO amid significant investment boost

Ripjar has received a majority growth investment from Long Ridge Equity Partners, with Tom Obermaier appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer.

This development occurs amidst growing challenges for compliance teams in handling an increasingly complex regulatory environment, exacerbated by rising criminal activities such as money laundering and terrorism financing. Ripjar, under the leadership of Co-Founders Jeremy Annis and Tom Griffin, has provided risk mitigation solutions across finance, banking, and government sectors. The investment from Long Ridge Equity Partners and the leadership of Tom Obermaier are expected to drive the company's international growth and customer support capabilities.

Tom Obermaier takes over from Jeremy Annis as CEO, while Annis will remain a member of Ripjar's Board of Directors. Obermaier, bringing over 30 years of experience in the risk and compliance sector, aims to expand Ripjar's global operations and enhance support for its customers. Ripjar's solutions, notably the RiskGPT, are designed to aid financial services firms, corporations, and governments in managing risks effectively.

Having held significant roles such as Chief Risk Officer at institutions like Citibank and Deutsche Bank, Obermaier has dealt with managing substantial financial risks. As the CEO of RDC, he established a leading customer risk diligence standard before the company was acquired by Moody's Analytics. His experience is anticipated to strengthen Ripjar's products and services, extending their reach to a broader global audience.

"Ripjar has a robust heritage in artificial intelligence and machine learning, and its technology equips compliance and investigative teams with the tools they need to protect their estate, maintain industry standards, and future-proof their operations. I'm looking forward to enhancing the critical Ripjar value proposition by driving further technological innovation and expansion across new markets and regions," commented Tom Obermaier.

Jeremy Annis commented, "It has been an honour to lead Ripjar together with our team, and I am pleased to announce Tom Obermaier as my successor. Tom is a proven leader who joins at the perfect time to transition CEO duties. I look forward to working with Tom in the next stage of growth as Ripjar continues to innovate and support our customers."

Jason Melton, Partner at Long Ridge Equity Partners, expressed enthusiasm about Obermaier's appointment, stating, "We are excited to welcome Tom as the new CEO of Ripjar. Tom's track record of success managing risk at leading financial institutions and building innovative risk solutions uniquely positions him to lead Ripjar's next phase of growth. We thank Jeremy Annis and Tom Griffin for their commitment to innovation and Ripjar's clients while leading the company over the past decade-plus. We look forward to their continued support as advisors to the Company."