To mark an appropriate and fitting launch of a cutting edge facility Boris Johnson marked the opening by unveiling a ‘Digital Plaque’ using wireless technology with Sir George Iacobescu, Canary Wharf Group Chairman and CEO and Eric Van Der Kleij, Head of Level39.
Taking up the entire 39th floor of Canary Wharf’s iconic One Canada Square, Level39 is a sophisticated office, events and social space designed for growing businesses to create, test, market and deliver world-class financial, retail and future city technology products and services.
Canary Wharf aims that Level39 will enhance London’s position as the digital capital of Europe, and assist the transformation of the financial sector in areas such as transparency, compliance, risk management, security and customer service.
Canary Wharf Group say that this venue in the clouds will be an important addition to London’s Tech City, and by becoming London’s first physical centrepiece for financial technologies (FinTech), will complement the Capital’s existing technology clusters in the City Fringe, West End and South Bank.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “Attracting the brightest entrepreneurial minds is crucial if London is to maintain its position as the world’s foremost financial centre and Level39 will foster just the talent we need to future-proof the capital’s technology and financial sectors”.
Sir George Iacobescu CBE, Chairman and Chief Executive of Canary Wharf Group, said: “It is crucial for London’s business districts to keep pace with the needs of growing business sectors, and Level39 is our flagship for achieving this. We want Level39 to build on London’s existing strengths in financial services and technology; Canary Wharf is a natural point for these worlds to come together. Some of the rapidly growing companies we support at Level39 will view Canary Wharf or Wood Wharf as their natural long-term home, amongst the world-class customers, investors, mentors, infrastructure, and cultural and social activity that can all be found on their doorstep.”
Eric van der Kleij, Head of Level39 at Canary Wharf Group and ‘FinTech’ entrepreneur added: “The timing could not be better to open Level39. London’s financial services sector is searching for new technologies to transform itself at the very moment that the tech sector is displaying the sort of growth required to move the UK economy forward. Level39 is London’s point of convergence for FinTech, situated in the East End, which is the most dynamic area of Europe right now. Level39 and Canary Wharf complement London’s existing tech clusters and provide the capital’s first physical centrepiece for FinTech and retail tech. We aim to play a complementary role in the Tech City eco-system.”
