London, 28 October 2024 - The Payments Innovation Forum (PIF), the not-for-profit association promoting safe, sustainable innovation in payments, has announced the appointment of Dr. Boris Diakonov, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of ANNA Money as Chair and Chris Ellis, Director of Bowsprit International as Vice Chair in accordance with the organisation’s rotating model of governance. Boris takes over from outgoing PIF Chair,
David Walsh, VP, Original Content, EMEA at BHN, whose three-month term has come to end. David remains in his role as a non-executive director of PIF.
Dr. Boris Diakonov is Co-Founder and Co-CEO of ANNA Money (Absolutely No Nonsense Admin), an organisation providing e-money services and business current accounts for startups, small businesses and sole traders. Their services are specifically designed to minimise administrative, bookkeeping and accountancy hassles through convenience and simplicity.
Chris is Director at Bowsprit International and has worked in the cards and payments industry for over 20 years and has contributed to the organisations which both introduced the foundations for, and the wider evolution into, the 'fintech' industry we see today.
Under PIF’s rotating model of governance, the PIF Chair and Vice Chair rotate among the association’s Board of Directors every three months with the Vice Chair moving to the Chair role on rotation. The shared leadership approach allows PIF to tap into the knowledge, experience, and expertise of the PIF Board in a way that better serves the association’s diverse and growing community. It also enables PIF to fast-track key elements of its member-driven strategic plan.
Speaking about his tenure as PIF Chair, David Walsh said:
“It has been a true pleasure serving as Chair, promoting safe and sustainable innovation in the payments industry – a mission I will continue to support as a Board Member. A highlight of my tenure as Chair was hosting the PIF Summit, bringing together brilliant minds to shape the future of payments. I wish Boris every success as the new PIF Chair.”
Commenting on the handover, PIF Executive Director, Diane Brocklebank said:
“I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to David and Boris for their invaluable support and guidance over the past three months. Our rotating leadership model ensures that we benefit from diverse skill sets, experience and expertise. This approach not only strengthens our leadership but also enhances the value we provide to our members. Their dedication and commitment have been instrumental in driving our mission forward and we are deeply grateful for their contributions.”
The PIF Board currently comprises ten non-executive directors and one executive director:
- Dr. Boris Diakonov, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, ANNA Money (Absolutely No Nonsense Admin)
- Chris Ellis, Director, Bowsprit International
- David Walsh, VP, Original Content EMEA, BHN
- Diane Brocklebank, Executive Director, Payments Innovation Forum
- Dr. Hartwig Gerhartinger, SVP, Global Regulatory, Compliance and Enterprise Risk, Paysafe
- Jason Field, VP, Account Management, Mastercard
- Joseph Askham, Head of Legal, Thredd
- Matt Sloan, VP, Head of Business Development,
- EMEA, Discover Global Network
- Nirav Patel, Group CEO, Andaria
- Peter Sidenius, Director, Edgar, Dunn & Company
- Siobhan Moore, Partner, Keystone Law
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Notes to Editors
About us
The Payments Innovation Forum (PIF), is a not-for-profit organisation representing the payments sector. At PIF, we serve as an independent and pragmatic industry voice, promoting safe, sustainable innovation in payments that harmonises the interests of industry, policymakers and consumers. We are a hub for organisations seeking to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of payments, whether that's as a payment service provider or a fintech in the payments space. Through curated insights, expert guidance, and real-world examples of new approaches, we empower our members to seize the opportunities. Ultimately, we help our members to look further down the line to anticipate the challenges and strategically position their business for what comes next.
To learn more, visit https://www.paymentsinnovationforum.org/
