Stax Payments Announces Leadership Changes to Align Operations, Technology and Go-to-Market Strategy

WHY THIS MATTERS: This leadership restructuring at Stax Payments signals a critical phase of operational maturity within the integrated payments space. The immediate creation of a dedicated Chief AI Officer role, filled by former CTO Mark Sundt, is a significant forward signal for the entire industry. This move validates the rising pressure on payment technology providers to move beyond simple transaction processing and leverage generative AI for operational efficiency, risk management, and product differentiation. Furthermore, the appointments of a singular CCO and COO are designed to break down internal silos, forging a cohesive strategy required for aggressive scaling. For merchants and partners, this focus on commercial and operational unity promises a more streamlined customer experience and faster product deployment, ultimately accelerating Stax’s push for broader market dominance.

Stax Payments, a leading payment technology provider, announced several leadership appointments aimed at aligning its operational, commercial and technology functions as the company continues to scale its platform and services.

Andrew (Drew) Monroe joined the company as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). Monroe brings more than 15 years of experience scaling fintech and payments organizations and leading integrated revenue teams across enterprise, mid-market, ISV and indirect channels.

At Stax, Monroe will be responsible for unifying sales and commercialization under integrated go-to-market strategies designed to accelerate market expansion and create a cohesive commercial engine. His appointment supports Stax’s broader strategy to accelerate growth across both direct and indirect channels while unlocking opportunities to scale through existing and emerging partnerships. Most recently, he served as Chief Revenue Officer at Bluefin. Prior to that, he led global enterprise sales teams with Worldline and Ingenico ePayments.

“Building a high-performing commercial organization requires alignment across every stage of the customer journey,” said Monroe. “Stax has built a strong foundation in integrated payments, and I look forward to bringing together sales and commercialization efforts into a unified go-to-market strategy that delivers a seamless experience for our customers and partners while supporting long-term growth.”

Additionally, David Winters, previously the Chief Administrative Officer, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer.

In this expanded capacity, Winters will lead Customer Experience, Financial Operations, Risk and Underwriting, Legal, Human Resources, company-wide Program Management and Stax Bill. The structure brings Stax’s core operational functions under unified leadership to support execution, accountability and operational scaling. The company also announced updates within its technology leadership team.

VJ LeBlanc, previously SVP of Engineering, has been promoted to Chief Technology Officer, where he will oversee technology strategy, product development and platform infrastructure.

Former CTO, Mark Sundt, will assume the role of Chief AI Officer, focusing on accelerating the integration and advancement of artificial intelligence capabilities across the organization.

“This leadership transformation demonstrates our commitment to forward-thinking growth and alignment between all sectors of the business,” said John Cimba, CEO of Stax. “Each of these leaders brings significant experience scaling payments and technology organizations, strengthening our ability to execute on our strategy and continue expanding the Stax platform. I look forward to the impact they will have as we continue building the next phase of the company’s growth.”

These appointments reflect Stax’s continued focus on accelerating growth and delivering greater value for both new and existing customers.

FF NEWS TAKE: The appointment of a Chief AI Officer moves the needle most significantly. It elevates artificial intelligence from a departmental initiative to a core business mandate. This suggests a major push is imminent to embed AI into the platform’s DNA—from risk and fraud to customer lifecycle management. Competitors in the payments processing field should watch closely for how Stax rapidly deploys these specialized capabilities; success will set a new operational benchmark for fintech scaling.