# Zia Hayat

> Zia Hayat is the British co-founder and CEO of Callsign, a digital identity and authentication company. Trained in electrical and electronic engineering and information systems security, he worked at BAE Systems, Accenture, the Government of Abu Dhabi and Lloyds Banking Group before building Callsign with Ian Welch. His public work also addresses AI governance, accountability and access to careers in technology.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at Callsign
- **Organizations:** Callsign, Lloyds Banking Group, Government of Abu Dhabi, Accenture, BAE Systems
- **Nationality:** British
- **Education:** BEng, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, PhD, Information Systems Security, University of Southampton
- **Known for:** Co-founded Callsign and developed its digital identity business serving financial institutions., Led Callsign when it announced its $35 million Series A in July 2017., Callsign was included among ten Sunday Times Fast Track Disruptors to Watch in 2018.

## Career timeline

- **2003-2007** — Information Security Research Engineer at BAE Systems.
- **2007-2009** — Information Security Consultant at Accenture.
- **2009-2010** — Information Security Advisor to the Government of Abu Dhabi.
- **2010-2011** — Internet Banking Security Architect at Lloyds Banking Group.
- **2012** — Co-founded Callsign in London with Ian Welch; this is the founding year used by Callsign and the World Economic Forum.
- **2017** — Callsign announced a $35 million Series A co-led by Accel and PTB Ventures.
- **2018** — Described opening Callsign’s first permanent office outside the UK, in New Jersey, as a proud moment.
- **2021** — Discussed Callsign’s client and investor relationship with HSBC in its Fintech Founders series; Callsign also announced an Abu Dhabi expansion supported by ADIO.
- **2022** — Callsign launched a social mobility startup award with Making The Leap; Hayat delivered the opening keynote at Identity First 2022.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Callsign and developed its digital identity business serving financial institutions.
- Led Callsign when it announced its $35 million Series A in July 2017.
- Callsign was included among ten Sunday Times Fast Track Disruptors to Watch in 2018.
- Named inventor on the published anti-cloning patent application US20140026196A1.
- Supported the creation of the Social Mobility Start-up of the Year award with Making The Leap in 2022.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Companies House recorded a notification of Hayat as a person with significant control on 2 July 2026, with an effective date of 20 August 2020; this was a filing about an earlier date.
- **2026-04** — The Official Board biography updated 28 April 2026 listed him as Callsign CEO, chairman and founder.
- **2022-06** — Delivered the opening keynote on the economic value of digital trust at Identity First 2022.
- **2022-04** — Callsign announced its Social Mobility Start-up of the Year award partnership with Making The Leap.

## Links

- Website: https://www.callsign.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ziahayat/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ziahayat

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/zia-hayat
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-21