Emerging Payments Association Board strengthened by global industry leaders

Payments leaders from Saxo Payments, Modulr, Global Risk Technologies, Bacs, and The Just Loans Group elected to join the ranks and widen the expertise of the Emerging Payments Association (EPA) Advisory Board to advance payments innovation

The Emerging Payments Association (EPA) is delighted to announce the selection of five new members of its Advisory Board. This board is now composed of 14 experienced CEOs from leading payments companies who all have a desire to change the payments industry and create a profitable, sustainable payments ecosystem.

Advisory Board members are nominated and elected to the board based upon their ability to lead and influence the payments industry, their experience, and their seniority in their company.

After an extensive nominating and voting process, the following five were selected from 26 leading candidates to join the existing Advisory Board in January 2017:

  • Anders la Cour, CEO at Saxo Payments
  • Myles Stephenson, CEO at Modulr
  • Monica Eaton-Cardone, CIO at Global Risk Technologies
  • Anne Pieckielon, Director of Product & Strategy at Bacs
  • John Davies, CEO at The Just Loans Group

The Board also includes senior representation from Advanced Payment Solutions, Global Processing Services, Paysafe Group, Prepay Solutions, Vocalink, Currency Cloud and The Bancorp.

Anne Pieckielon of Bacs said, “I’m honoured to be joining the EPA’s Advisory Board and look forward to playing my part in helping to shape their agenda over the coming months. Payments is in the midst of unprecedented change and it’s never been more important to encourage and foster close working partnerships so users of payment systems get the best payment services and innovation is allowed to thrive. The EPA has a crucial role in leading that and I look forward to lending my experience to help it maximise its contribution.”

“It is tremendously exciting to become part of the Emerging Payments Association Advisory Board” said Anders la Cour.  “I hope to bring a unique combination of commercial acumen, M&A experience and an entrepreneurial mind-set which will complement the expertise and experience of the other members.  And I look forward to getting involved in the debates and discussions that will encourage business and industry to engage with the emerging technologies coming to market.”

John Davies – CEO of The Just Loans Group – added, “I am delighted to be joining the Advisory Board and to be in a position where I can influence and help shape the EPA’s agenda that is focussed on innovation and how to get fair and equal access to the UK’s payment infrastructure. With my alternative lender background I am very aware of the need to convince Regulators, the Banks and the Bank of England that alternative payment providers can be trusted with access to the existing systems. With new directives and regulations coming into force, particularly in the area of anti-money laundering,  I am also looking forward to adding value wearing my other hat, as Chairman of Kompli Global.

The Advisory Board’s purpose is to leverage the passion, talent, and expertise of the UK’s PayTech industry to help advance payments innovation. The board collaborates to identify common issues faced by the industry and EPA members, determine effective and feasible solutions, and influence relevant regulatory bodies by speaking with a common, unified voice.

Tony Craddock, Director General of the Emerging Payments Association, commented: “The credentials, knowledge and expertise that these new members bring to the Advisory Board will help drive the growth of the emerging payments industry. It is a sign of our industry coming of age, that such senior executives have decided to collaborate under the EPA’s umbrella.”

The EPA has eight projects mentored and led by the members of the Advisory Board. These project teams are composed of over 45 volunteers from our member companies, who drive change in the industry through the actions of these projects:

  1. Project Rome is focused on the supervision and monitoring of e-money licenses and the closure of Fintech bank accounts across Europe as a result of de-risking by settlement banks.
  2. Project Europe helps members navigate the changing landscape due to Brexit and creates partnerships with European institutions to reduce the negative impact of the UK’s exit from the EU.
  3. Project International Trade promotes trade between the UK Payment industry and companies outside the EU including North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific and non-EU Eastern European countries.
  4. Project Regulator works with regulators to ensure a level playing field for non-bank PSPs and EMIs in the UK.
  5. Project Media guides the EPA’s marketing and communication team to promote our members and emerging payments to potential users through conferences, press and social media.
  6. Project Government encourages the UK government to adopt emerging payments products and services.
  7. Project Diversity runs a special interest group to encourage and support women to capitalize fully on career opportunities in payments.
  8. Project Retail runs a retailer-only community called Retail PayTech Forum focused on learning, knowledge-sharing and collaborative opportunities in payments.