Payments service provider Checkout.com has appointed Philip Symes as its interim chief financial officer, according to a release from the company on Dec. 4.

Symes previously served as CFO of Visa Europe for 10 years, responsible for pricing and treasury, he told Bank Automation News.

In the short term, “I want to make sure we have the finance infrastructure to support our growth in 2025,” Symes said. In 2024, the London-based Checkout.com launched a direct merchant acquiring solution for Visa and Mastercard in Japan and aims to do the same in Brazil and Canada in 2025, he said. 

Symes also plans to develop solutions that use AI to make frictionless processes for customers and improve operational efficiency, he said. 

Figure Technology Solutions names Kgil as first CFO

Charlotte, N.C.-based banking technology company Figure Technology Solutions on Dec. 4 announced the appointment of Macrina Kgil as its CFO. 

Kgil will be the first CFO for Figure Technology Solutions, which was spun off from Figure Market Holdings in April, a company spokesperson told BAN.

San Francisco-based Figure Technologies aims to fuel innovative product development, which includes Figure Connect, the company’s liquid private capital loan marketplace. 

Kgil, who previously served as CFO of cryptocurrency platform Blockchain.com, told BAN she hopes to foster a culture of financial discipline and democracy by pairing her experience in the financial services sector with her passion for tech advancements in banking. 

“When I served as CFO of a consumer lending company, I experienced firsthand the limited affordable options available to a large U.S. population. Thanks to tech innovation, options increased; without that evolution, the pool of options would have decreased significantly,” Kgil said. 

GTN selects Gregory as CEO of Europe

Global fintech GTN on Dec.4 announced the appointment of Christopher Gregory as chief executive of its European business. 

Maple Grove, Minn.-based GTN develops APIs and digital platforms for trading, brokerage and wealth management.  

Gregory brings decades of experience in SaaS along with a history of launching and scaling fintech ventures, according to GTN release. He will support GTN’s mission to expand its global presence. 

Prior to joining GTN, Gregory was chief operating officer at San Francisco-based German broker SideCaps and also served as CEO and chief operating officer at London-based fintech Squawker, according to his LinkedIn profile. 

Paytend Europe appoints Verbiest as chairman

Paytend Europe UAB, the Lithuania-based branch of Chinese fintech Paytend, on Dec. 4 announced Thibault Verbiest was appointed chairman of its board. 

Paytend Europe functions as a digital bank under the supervision of the $6.68 trillion European Central Bank, according to Paytend. It can issue International Banking Account Number accounts to users in the European Union and enable users to track payments through the Paytend app. 

In addition to his role at Paytend, Verbiest will continue to work at Dalaw Avocats, a tech-focused law firm he founded in September 2023, according to a recent LinkedIn post. 

Verbiest plans to combine address both strategic and legal challenges in the rapidly growing fintech sector, he said. 

AML RightSource taps Jonas as SVP

AML RightSource, a financial crime prevention technology provider based in Cleveland, Ohio-based, selected Jennie Jonas as its senior vice president of financial crimes advisory, the tech provider announced Dec. 4.  

Jonas, who started in the role Nov. 4, is responsible for optimizing AML, sanctions and fraud programs with compliance and efficiency in mind, according to the release.

“Her exceptional leadership, strategic insights and ability to guide institutions through complex regulatory environments will be invaluable as we continue to expand our global impact in combating financial crime,” AML RightSource CEO Frank Ewing said in a release.

Register here for early-bird pricing for Bank Automation Summit 2025, taking place March 3-4 in Nashville, Tenn. View the full event agenda here.