The World Bank, CFIT, PayPal and more
Here’s a roundup of the most headline-worthy and recent hires, departures and company moves in February and what it could mean for 2023.
NAB
National Australia Bank revealed that more than 500 female staff have signed up to a new internal learning program on cloud technology. The bank is the first company to adopt and run the Amazon Web Services ‘She Builds CloudUp’ program internally. The eight-week, community-based learning program designed specifically for women seeking careers in technology or professionals looking to retrain or cross-skill. It includes self-paced digital modules, and weekly virtual Q&A sessions with AWS mentors, along with recorded sessions and shared resources.
The World Bank
President Biden nominated former Mastercard CEO and President Ajay Banga to serve as President of the World Bank. Banga is being tapped to replace David Malpass, a former Trump official who is leaving the role early amid controversy over his views on the causes of climate change. Banga spent 10 years as CEO of Mastercard before stepping down in early 2021 for a brief stint as executive chairman of the payments giant.
FCA
The Financial Conduct Authority has appointed seven advisers to a new Innovation Advisory Group (IAG) which met for the first time in February 2023. The IAG will help keep it up to date with new innovations in fintech and RegTech. The group’s experience spans artificial intelligence and other new technologies, competition, digital markets, financial inclusion and sustainability. It will help support the FCA’s current plans and initiatives for 2023 and shape the innovation pathway to better serve businesses and consumers.
CFIT
The Center for Finance, Innovation and Technology, a UK quango charged with removing barriers to fintech growth, appointed Ezechi Britton as its first chief executive this month. The creation of the CFIT was a key recommendation of the 2021 Kalifa Review of UK Fintech and HM Treasury gave the green light to the project in the 2021 Spending Review, allocating £5 million to the fund it was created.
PayPal
PayPal President and CEO Dan Schulman announced his plans to step down from the payments giant on December 31, 2023, but was made public in February. A successor has not yet been named, explains a press release published by PayPal, and that Schulman intends to assist the board by creating a smooth leadership transition. Schulman will continue to sit on the board.
Checkout.com
Checkout.com announced changes to its leadership team as it prepares its strategy to bolster its US expansion and take on Stripe. A company spokesperson confirmed that former CFO and COO, Céline Dufétel, has been named president and COO of Checkout.com, and will oversee all operational and go-to-market teams, including finance and marketing.
RTGS.global
RTGS.global has appointed Jarrad Hubble as interim CEO following the resignation of Dave Sissens for personal reasons. Sissens, who spent nearly two years as CEO, will continue to work with RTGS.global in an advisory capacity. He is being replaced on an interim basis by Hubble, who has been the firm’s commercial director for the past year and previously worked at Trade Ledger and NatWest Markets. Separately, the company’s board will be joined from March by Phil Kenworthy, former chief executive of the UK’s high-value payments system, Chaps.
