CEO MONTHLY / JANUARY 2026 15 Rajeev Arya: Leading with Empathy and Empowerment For more than two decades, Rajeev Arya has served as a key player in the field of financial services and technology, witnessing the sector evolve through several transformative waves of change. Since entering the industry, Rajeev has led a career driven by curiosity and shaped by a desire to solve the problems others overlook. This ethos has propelled Rajeev to stand at the forefront of the industry, undertaking a number of senior management and leadership roles at a wide range of leading organisations. Rajeev joined OPAL in 2024, stepping into the company as its CEO. OPAL is a UK-based administrations software and solutions business, specialising in protection, pensions, and wealth management products. The company has developed and launched Pandora inhouse, a wealth protection and management platform that enables rapidly delivered, flexible digital solutions to connect its clients with their customers however and whenever they require – all in one comprehensive platform. “Building OPAL was not about chasing trends; it was about creating something that genuinely improves how firms operate day to day,” Rajeev told us. “That mindset has taken me from hands-on delivery roles to leading a company that is now recognised across the UK for its impact and innovation.” As CEO, Rajeev believes that his role is to set the vision and ensure that every element of OPAL moves with complete cohesion and purpose. He leads his team with a dual focus: ensuring his people have the clarity and confidence to deliver at their very best, while simultaneously remaining close to the business’s clients and technologies in recognition of their role in shaping the future of OPAL. Understanding all aspects of the business is imperative to Rajeev, with the belief that the most effective CEOs are those who can “talk tech in the morning and client relationships in the afternoon.” To Rajeev, leadership must be grounded in clarity and trust. “Over the years, I’ve learned that empathy is as powerful as strategy,” he added. “You can set the best targets in the world, but if your team doesn’t feel seen or supported, performance will always fall short. My approach today balances accountability with genuine care – people will work harder when they know they are valued.” Under Rajeev’s guidance, OPAL fosters an internal culture built on trust, accountability, and collaboration. Rajeev spends extensive time with his teams, identifying areas of operational success and areas for improvement, and ensuring that their ideas actually translate into tangible action. Every member of the team understands how and why their role contributes to sustained success and, as a result, believe in each other and in the overarching mission. Driven by such a standout team, OPAL is well-equipped to meet any industry challenges headon. The financial technology sector is continually evolving, with ongoing changes to regulations and data security complemented by the widespread adoption of AI and automation into services. These advancements present both obstacle and opportunity for OPAL, having a direct hand in shaping clients’ expectations and demands. The next 12 months will see OPAL continue to expand its platform’s capabilities with deeper automation, smarter analytics, and even stronger integration for its clients. The company is investing heavily in both technology and people, with the recognition that both are critical to its next phase of growth. Beyond that, OPAL’s focus is on scaling internationally whilst retaining the same unrivalled standards that has earned its status as the Best Digital Administration Platform 2025. As for Rajeev’s future, he shared: “We’ve built something we are genuinely proud of – technology that is transforming how financial administration works in the UK and beyond. Recognition as the UK’s Most Influential CEO 2025 in Financial Technology and Administration is a milestone, but not a finish line. My focus is on taking OPAL to the next level and setting new benchmarks for how digital administration should be done.” Contact: Rajeev Arya Company: OPAL Web Address: www.opal-uk.com Since its inception in 1994, Outsourced Professional Administration Limited (OPAL) has been providing superior lifetime administration software and solutions to some of the biggest names in financial services. The entrepreneurial company is headed by CEO Rajeev Arya, a visionary leader boasting more than 25 years of experience at the helm of leading financial services enterprises. We spoke with Rajeev to learn more information, as he is named in the 2025 Most Influential CEO Awards.
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