London, 12 February 2025 - The Payments Innovation Forum (PIF), the not-for-profit association promoting safe, sustainable innovation in payments, has announced the appointment of Chris Ellis, Director of Bowsprit International as Chair and Siobhan Moore, Partner at Keystone Law as Vice Chair in accordance with the organisation’s rotating model of governance. Chris takes over from outgoing PIF Chair, Dr. Boris Diakonov, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of ANNA Money (Absolutely No Nonsense Admin), whose three-month term has come to end. Boris remains in his role as a non-executive director of PIF.
Chris 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.
Siobhan is a commercial lawyer specialising in working with businesses that provide, receive or play a role in delivering niche payment solutions. Her role includes advising clients on strategy, new product structure, business expansion, formulating procedures, regulatory conundrums and contracts (B2B and B2C). Her focus is on the e-money and payment services sector, working with businesses operating in and outside of the e-money / payment service regulatory framework.
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, Boris Diakonov said:
“ It was a great pleasure to serve this term together with Chris Ellis whom I wish the best of luck as the incoming Chair, to welcome new members and to help PIF go from strength to strength as an exquisite place for industry leaders to get together to shape the future for the sake of our customers”
Commenting on the handover, PIF Executive Director, Diane Brocklebank said:
“The rotating PIF leadership ensures PIF maintains a dynamic and inclusive approach to governance, fostering fresh perspectives and continuity within our association. This structure empowers diverse voices, enhances strategic decision-making, and strengthens our accountability to members. By leveraging the experience and unique strengths of each Board member in turn, we are better equipped to respond to industry challenges and deliver meaningful value to members. We are immensely grateful to Boris for his fantastic support over the past three months and delighted to Chris and Siobhan at the PIF helm.”
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/
