Giles Daubeney

Europe’s VAT tech scene isn’t “emerging” anymore - it’s flourishing. Big US names (Thomson Reuters, Vertex, Avalara, Sovos) set the stage, but homegrown challengers have been bringing increased competition to the market. VC & PE money is flooding in. Global headcount is scaling fast. Products are expanding. And the Pagero and ecosio acquisitions proved one thing: e-invoicing is the prize most are now chasing. The US has always been the bedrock of tech startups. But in the small world of indirect tax, the complexity of VAT has created an opening for European startups to really compete. Emerging global players (alongside established tax software houses) are hungry to crack VAT & GST, with Europe firmly in their sights. At the same time, European providers are pushing hard to crack the US sales tax market. More competition has naturally expanded the market’s breadth. But interestingly, it's also pushed its depth. Software houses are no longer trying to be everything to everyone; they’re aligning with specific segments like mid-market, enterprise, marketplaces, or industries. Finding their identity and doubling down on it. And all of this is just what we're seeing in indirect tax.

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Over the weekend, I had a chance to read the 2025 Oxford-GlobeScan Global Corporate Affairs Survey and found it to be extremely reassuring. The future of the #CorporateAffairs function is bright but also evolving. As a result of global volatility, Corporate Affairs is getting back to what matters most: trust, relationships, and relevance. The survey highlights what many of us are already feeling: the pendulum is swinging back toward the fundamentals. Amid geopolitical risk, regulatory uncertainty, and political polarization, Corporate Affairs leaders are leaning into what they do best; listening, engaging, and translating complexity into clarity. What stood out to me? • Direct stakeholder engagement is on the rise, again. • Articulating business value remains a challenge, even as access to the C-suite grows. • ESG is more contested, less performative and much more regionally nuanced. • And AI. It's no longer a novelty it’s a tool reshaping how we operate day to day. #CorporateAffairs #Leadership #Reputation #ESG #StakeholderEngagement #ExecutiveSearch #OxfordGlobeScan

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As the week comes to a close, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the 45 aspiring Non-Executive Directors who joined us at last night's Executive Heads event. A special thanks to Jeremy Canning for sharing such insightful and inspiring perspectives. Three key takeaways that stood out for me: 1️⃣ There is a growing demand for Non-Executive Directors to help businesses navigate the increasing complexity and uncertainty of the business landscape in 2025 and beyond. 2️⃣ NEDs are no longer just custodians of governance—they are strategic partners who bring independent perspective, challenge assumptions, and help shape long-term direction 3️⃣ It’s never too early to start thinking about the transition from executive to Non-Executive Director. The journey starts with mindset and intention. Huge thanks again to Jeremy and the Actuate Global team for their insights and inspiration. I am looking forward to seeing how these conversations shape future boardrooms. #Leadership #NonExecutiveDirector #ExecutiveHeads #ActuateGlobal #BoardroomExcellence #CareerTransition

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