FIS Names Alexandra Brooks Interim CFO as James Kehoe Steps Down

FIS has announced that Chief Financial Officer James Kehoe will step down on November 5, 2026, marking a significant leadership transition for the fintech giant. Alexandra Brooks, currently Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, will take over as interim CFO. This move comes as the company navigates a post-divestiture era following the Worldpay exit.

What was announced

FIS has confirmed that James Kehoe will step down from his role as Chief Financial Officer on November 5, 2026. To facilitate an orderly handover of responsibilities, Kehoe will remain with the company as a non-executive senior advisor through March 2027. Alexandra Brooks, who currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, has been named interim CFO, effective the same day Kehoe departs. Brooks will maintain her responsibilities as Chief Accounting Officer while the company begins a formal search for a permanent CFO, which will evaluate both internal and external candidates.

Kehoe’s departure coincides with the company’s third quarter 2026 earnings report and updated full-year guidance. During his tenure, which began in 2023, Kehoe was a central figure in the Worldpay divestiture and the acquisition of Issuer Solutions. His successor in the interim, Alexandra Brooks, joined FIS in October 2024. She brings significant experience to the role, having previously served as the Executive Vice President and CFO of Hertz Global Holdings, Inc., where she also held the interim CFO and Chief Accounting Officer positions. Her career also includes leadership roles at Aptiv PLC, General Electric, and General Motors, alongside a foundational period at PricewaterhouseCoopers. She is a Certified Public Accountant and will work directly with CEO and President Stephanie Ferris during this transition.

The companies involved

FIS (Fidelity National Information Services) is a global heavyweight in financial technology, providing solutions for banking, payments, and capital markets. Listed on the NYSE, the company has a massive footprint, serving thousands of financial institutions and businesses worldwide. In recent years, FIS has been defined by its strategic shifts, most notably the decision to spin off a majority stake in its Worldpay merchant-processing business, a multi-billion dollar move that reversed a previous massive acquisition. This "Worldpay exit" was a pivot back toward its core strengths in banking and capital markets technology.

The company’s leadership under CEO and President Stephanie Ferris has focused on streamlining operations and improving capital allocation. FIS competes in a crowded market against other legacy processors like Fiserv and Jack Henry, as well as newer fintech challengers. Its role in the market is often seen as a bellwether for the health of the broader financial services infrastructure, given its deep integration into the back-office systems of global banks. With over 120 stories covered by FF News, the company remains a central pillar of the fintech ecosystem.

What FF News has reported before

FIS has recently focused heavily on the integration of artificial intelligence into financial workflows. In November 2026, FF News reported on research showing UK Consumers Hesitant to Yield Financial Control to AI Despite Rising Usage, FIS Research Reveals. In October 2026, we covered how UK Finance Leaders Struggle to Measure AI Value in Cash Management Despite High Adoption. Earlier that month, the company launched an AI-Powered AML Investigations Agent to reduce compliance costs, as well as an Agentic AI Suite specifically designed to help CFOs forecast cash flow and identify risks earlier.

What this means

This transition marks the conclusion of a high-intensity period of restructuring for FIS. Kehoe’s tenure was defined by the complex de-merger of Worldpay, a move intended to simplify the business and return to core banking services. Appointing an interim CFO with a strong accounting background like Brooks suggests a focus on operational stability and "disciplined capital allocation" while the board searches for a permanent successor. The industry is watching how legacy giants like FIS balance these structural pivots with the aggressive rollout of AI tools. The pressure is now on the incoming leadership to prove that a leaner, post-Worldpay FIS can maintain its dominant market share against agile, cloud-native competitors.