The Payments Association Appoints Emma Banymandhub as CEO to Drive International Expansion

WHY THIS MATTERS: The promotion of Emma Banymandhub to CEO of The Payments Association is a clear indication that the UK’s established leadership in fintech advocacy is pivoting to a global mandate. This development is crucial, given the current acceleration in global payments regulation. As countries and regions standardize real-time payment schemes—from Brazil’s Pix to the European push for SEPA Instant—there is a growing demand for a coordinated approach to common challenges like fraud and consumer protection. As a body credited with influencing UK domestic policy on complex issues such as Authorized Push Payment (APP) fraud reimbursement, the Association’s international expansion will directly impact how liability and compliance frameworks are structured globally. For financial institutions, this means the influential U.K. playbook is about to be exported, requiring companies to align their strategies across borders as regulatory bodies increasingly share insights and set converging standards.

The Payments Association, a trade body representing over 250 member organisations in the financial services sector, has appointed Emma Banymandhub as Chief Executive Officer. Banymandhub previously served as the association’s Chief Operating Officer during a time which saw it triple its headcount.

This comes as the trade body sets its sights on international expansion, having established itself as a UK-centric payments powerhouse during its 18-year history. Banymandhub enjoys the unanimous support of the group’s board that she is the ideal candidate to supercharge its next phase of growth.

Following investment from global events leader Nineteen Group in 2025, Alison Jackson, CEO of Nineteen Group said: “We’re so excited to see how Emma leads the group in its next chapter of international growth. We’re confident she can further enhance this strong and highly respected platform, and create a robust foundation for future growth.

With over 17 years’ experience in scaling events and building influential industry communities, Banymandhub has advised or led more than 20 organisations to strengthen their commercial performance. Her mandate will be to export The Payments Association’s model to international markets while maintaining its influence on UK business success and domestic policy in payments.

Tony Craddock, Founder of The Payments Association, said: “Emma’s promotion is exactly what our community needs. She brings an enthusiasm for the unbeatable combination of community and events that makes us different. I have every confidence that her appointment marks the start of a more influential, more international and more powerful force for good in the payments industry.”

Since joining The Payments Association, Banymandhub has been instrumental in its commercial success. As COO, she spearheaded the growth of PAY360 – now the UK’s largest payments-focused event – and oversaw the prestigious Pay360 Awards and hundreds of member-focused engagements.

She is also committed to continuing the association’s effective influencing work on behalf of its members, which has previously seen regulators and the Government shift their stance on issues such as Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud reimbursement rules.

Emma Banymandhub, newly appointed CEO of The Payments Association, said: “I’m honoured to lead The Payments Association into its next phase of growth, with a clear focus on strengthening our global presence while deepening the sense of community that sits at the heart of our industry. Payments is far more than transactions it is the invisible engine that keeps societies functioning and economies moving. If the world could not move money for even five minutes, the impact would be felt everywhere.

That responsibility creates an extraordinary opportunity for our industry to collaborate, innovate and lead with purpose. I believe The Payments Association can become a truly global community for the payments ecosystem, creating meaningful connections and industry conversations across every continent. Businesses grow when people feel valued, and as we expand internationally, our success will be measured by the strength of the communities we build, the people we bring together, and the positive impact we create across the global payments landscape.”

FF NEWS TAKE: This strategic appointment clearly moves the needle by transforming a regional payments powerhouse into a contender for global governance influence. The immediate next step to watch is how quickly the Association translates its UK-centric model into actionable influence on EU and North American policy debates. Success will hinge on replicating its unique blend of community-building and regulatory success, particularly as the industry navigates the structural shifts required for resilient payments infrastructure