Founder
The senior lead on every mandate. By name.
Michael Ryberg Hartmann founded MiddleLeap to help regulated platform businesses get through major operating-model shifts. Over twenty years he has worked through three of them: digital transformation, platform and ecosystem business models, and now AI-native operating models.
- years in platform transformation
- 20+
- UAE bank certified under Open Finance
- 1st
- business customers migrated to Danske Bank District
- 250,000
- MENA markets entered with Fintech Galaxy
- 3
Track record
Three platform shifts, delivered from the inside.
Most recently he led Open Finance for ADCB Group. He took the bank to the first certification under the UAE Open Finance framework and delivered the country's first live Open Finance transactions with a licensed third-party provider, directing the bank's dual LFI/TPP programme. Before that he scaled Fintech Galaxy into Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. In Denmark he built Danske Bank's District platform as open banking arrived in Europe and led the delivery organisation behind the split of TDC Group into a broadband-as-a-service business and its consumer brands.
He covers both product and technology, and he still writes code. AI has closed the gap between deciding what to build and building it, so MiddleLeap handles both with one accountable lead. He is based in Dubai.
Career
- 2021 – nowFounder and Principal Adviser, MiddleLeap
Dubai · AI-native operating models, platform strategy and transformation delivery for banks, telcos, fintechs and platform businesses.
- 2024 – 2026Head of Open Finance, ADCB Group
Abu Dhabi · Dual LFI/TPP programme · BIS Innovation Hub Project Aperta · CBUAE eKYC initiative · Embedded Finance and BaaS strategy.
- 2023 – nowAssociate Partner, TFPA
The Fintech and Payments Advisory Network, UK · Open Finance strategy, regulatory readiness and MENA market entry.
- 2022 – 2023Chief Technology Officer and Chief Business Officer, Fintech Galaxy
Dubai · thefinx.io open banking platform · Market entry into Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Jordan · Central Bank of Bahrain TPP licence.
- 2019 – 2021Head of Digital Delivery and Transformation, TDC Group
Copenhagen · Top-25 leadership team · Large delivery organisations · API-first Telco-as-a-Service platform for TDC NET.
- 2016 – 2019Head of Digital Channels, Danske Bank
Copenhagen · Post-PSD2 District business-banking platform · 250,000 SMEs, corporates and institutions migrated · Open Banking Developer Portal.
- 2005 – 2016Earlier career, Copenhagen
VP Engineering, Planday (acquired by Xero) · VP Messaging, Unwire · Formpipe · Telmore.
Beyond the day job
- Education
- MSc Information Technology, IT University of Copenhagen, 2005 · BComp (Hons) Computer Science, Deakin University, 2003 · MIT Sloan Executive Education, Platform Strategies for Success, 2018.
- Boards
- Board Member, VL94, The Danish Management Society, since 2022 · Core Committee, MENA Fintech Association Open Finance Working Group.
- Speaking
- GITEX and other conferences on AI, APIs and platforms · CFTE expert trainer for a sovereign investor's AI Academy · Finalist, C:\>DIR Agentic Regulator Hackathon 2026 (36 of 942 applicants) with Ozone and Nebras.
Start with the mandate in front of you
Bring the mandate. Michael takes the first call.
Book a call directly, or email contact@middleleap.com if you prefer.