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Changing of the Guard: Big Names, Bold Moves in Fintech
Revolut doubles down on France, Tandem gets a new CEO, and Tradeweb bets big on AI leadership. Here's your Fintech Forward briefing.
Welcome to the latest edition of Fintech Forward, where we spotlight the key executive appointments, exits, and strategic leadership changes shaping the financial landscape.
As we closed out June, the fintech world saw a wave of high-profile leadership shifts. From Revolut's Western European ambitions to AI innovation at Tradeweb, here's who’s taking the reins—and where they’re headed.
🇫🇷 Revolut Doubles Down on France with New Regional CEO
Revolut, Europe's most valuable tech company, has appointed Béatrice Cossa-Dumurgier as CEO for Western Europe. A seasoned executive with a strong pedigree at BNP Paribas, Cossa-Dumurgier steps into the role just weeks after the fintech giant opened its Western European headquarters in Paris—a strategic move tied to its €1 billion investment into French expansion.
In her new role, Cossa-Dumurgier will be instrumental in helping Revolut secure a local banking license from both the French ACPR and the European Central Bank. As regulatory approval becomes increasingly crucial for fintech growth, this leadership change signals a strong push toward deeper continental integration.
“We’re not just opening offices—we’re embedding ourselves into the core of Europe’s financial ecosystem,” said a Revolut spokesperson.
🇬🇧 Tandem Bank Taps BaaS Veteran Neil Chandler as CEO
Across the Channel, UK-based green challenger Tandem Bank has named Neil Chandler as its incoming CEO. Chandler brings experience from Aion Bank, where he recently helped steer its sale to UniCredit—a major move in the Banking-as-a-Service space.
He replaces Alex Mollart, who steps down after three transformative years at the helm. Chandler officially takes over on June 30, pending regulatory clearance.
This leadership change comes as Tandem continues to expand its sustainable lending initiatives and digital banking services. With Chandler's track record in scaling digital banks across Europe, industry watchers will be keen to see what’s next.
🏴☠️ FinTech Wales CEO Sarah Kocianski Steps Down
Over in Wales, respected fintech voice Sarah Kocianski has stepped down as CEO of FinTech Wales, just three months into the role. In a candid LinkedIn post, Kocianski shared her decision to take the summer off and recharge, while also announcing her new advisory board position at fintech PR agency Started.
Kocianski succeeded long-time CEO Sarah Williams-Gardener earlier this year, making her exit somewhat surprising. That said, the shift highlights a growing awareness among fintech leaders around work-life balance—even at the executive level.
"It’s been an incredible experience," Kocianski wrote, "but now it's time to pause, reset, and contribute in different ways."
🇭🇰 Veteran Banker Ronald Iu Takes Over at Hong Kong’s PAObank
Meanwhile in Asia, PAObank—owned by China’s Lufax Holding—has appointed Ronald Iu as CEO and executive board director. Iu brings more than 20 years of experience, including leadership positions at ZA Bank, Airstar, and GE Capital Hong Kong.
The move comes as PAObank gears up for what Iu describes as its “next phase,” focusing more intensively on retail banking services. It’s a strategic pivot that could help the digital bank differentiate itself in Hong Kong’s increasingly competitive neobank scene.
🤖 Tradeweb Launches AI Division, Hires Sherry Marcus to Lead
Back in the US, Tradeweb—a leading operator of electronic marketplaces—has made a major strategic hire: Sherry Marcus, former director of applied science at AWS, joins as its first Head of AI.
Marcus will report directly to CTO Justin Peterson and is tasked with integrating AI deeper into Tradeweb’s trading and analytics systems. She previously led a 300-person team working on Amazon Bedrock, AWS’s generative AI platform.
“AI is no longer a nice-to-have—it's the engine of our next generation of products,” said Peterson.
This appointment not only highlights the growing role of AI in capital markets but also marks Tradeweb's serious commitment to staying ahead of the innovation curve.
🧠 Final Thoughts: More Than Just Role Changes
These aren’t just reshuffles—they’re strategic moves that will shape how fintech firms expand, innovate, and compete globally. Whether it’s Revolut’s regulatory ambition or Tradeweb’s AI-first vision, June’s leadership changes signal a sector still evolving at breakneck speed.
Stay tuned for more insights in next month’s Fintech Forward—where strategy meets leadership.