Tillo, a global leader in rewards, incentives, and gift cards, has announced the appointment of Michael Tigwell as Managing Director for the UK and EMEA region. Tigwell joins at a pivotal moment as the company looks to build on a decade of growth and accelerate its ambition to become the world’s leading rewards, incentives, and gift card provider. The appointment comes as CEO and Co-Founder Alex Preece shifts focus toward Tillo’s continued expansion into the U.S. market.
Tigwell brings more than 15 years of experience scaling high-growth SaaS businesses to the role. He joins from Benefex, a global reward and benefits company, where over eight years he held senior leadership positions including Chief Customer Officer and Chief Operating Officer, playing a central role in growing the business from 100 to 1,300 employees. His expertise spans operational transformation, global delivery model design, customer retention strategy, and leadership team development. Notably, Tigwell was a customer of Tillo’s during his tenure at Benefex, giving him firsthand insight into the platform’s capabilities and the broader rewards and incentives landscape.
Tillo operates a best-in-class API that connects businesses to more than 4,000 global brands across 40 markets and 25 currencies, processing billions of dollars worth of gift cards through its platform. The company is headquartered in the UK with offices in the United States, Australia, and South Africa. Tigwell’s appointment ensures dedicated senior leadership on the ground across the UK and EMEA as Preece focuses on the company’s North American growth strategy.
Tillo said the hire reflects its commitment to investing in leadership talent that can execute on its vision of making gift cards, rewards, and incentives the currency of connection for businesses and consumers worldwide.
KEY QUOTES:
“When looking for our new Managing Director for UK and EMEA, I needed someone who truly understood the nuances of our industry and who had lived through the challenges that come with significant growth, not just in revenue but in scaling teams. Michael played a key role at Benefex, helping lead the business from 100 people to 1,300. That kind of hands-on experience is exactly what Tillo needs right now. As I focus on Tillo’s continued expansion into the US market, it’s crucial to have a trusted leader on the ground in the UK and EMEA who can work closely with the exceptional team we’ve built over the past ten years.”
Alex Preece, CEO and Co-Founder, Tillo
“Tillo has built something genuinely impressive over the past decade — an unmatched product proposition, an enviable list of customer and brand partnerships, and an exceptionally talented group of people around the world. The business is well-positioned for a period of accelerated growth, and I look forward to working alongside the team to make that a reality.”
Michael Tigwell, Managing Director, UK and EMEA, Tillo
