Andaria CEO Nirav Patel appointed Vice Chair of not-for-profit payments industry body

Andaria Financial Services CEO Nirav Patel has been named Vice Chair of the Payments Innovation Forum (PIF), a not-for-profit trade body that operates in the payments industry.

He will work with Matt Sloan, Head of Business Development at US-based Discover Financial Services, who has been appointed Chair.

UK-headquartered PIF’s mission is to “support and champion” innovation in payments through the promotion of the “highest possible standards of practice and compliance”, while also educating key stakeholders and facilitating the exchange of knowledge and experience. Over the years, it has supported the entry and growth of new payment services and fintech.

The organisation is now operating under a new model, where the Chair and Vice Chair rotate among PIF’s Non-Executive Directors every three months with the Vice Chair moving to the Chair role on rotation. This shared leadership approach was adopted last September, and allows PIF to “tap into the knowledge, experience and expertise” of its Board of Directors in a way that “better serves PIF’s diverse and growing community of members”.

Mr Sloan, who takes over from Jason Field, has thus moved into the position after his term as Vice Chair and will be replaced by Mr Patel in three months’ time.

Mr Patel expressed gratitude for the appointment, and said that he is “very much looking forward” to his tenure as Vice Chair.

He thanked Mr Field for his work over the months, and remarked that he is eager to work with Mr Sloan to “complement all the great work PIF does”.

Commenting on the change, PIF Executive Director Diane Brocklebank said that the value of PIF’s “innovative approach” to governance is “clear to see”.

“It allows us to fast-track key aspects of our work and benefit from a wealth of experience that we can pass on to our members,” she remarked. She added that the organisation has delivered on its “promise to provide valuable insight” under Mr Field and Mr Sloan’s guidance and looks forward to “building on that work” with Mr Sloan and Mr Patel now at the helm.

Ms Brocklebank noted that the trio’s and the rest of the member’s “commitment” ensures that PIF “offers the industry a vital ally”.

Mr Patel has led Andaria as CEO for more than two years and describes himself as a “motivated” and “results-focused” individual that has a proven expertise in the payments and cards sector. Prior to his new role at PIF, he was Non-Executive Director at the not-for-profit organisation for a year.