The Payments Association Cements Its Leadership With Nick Kerigan as Advisory Board Chair

The Payments Association, a trade group for the payments sector, today announced that Nick Kerigan, Managing Director and Head of Innovation at Swift, will become the new Chair of its Advisory Board. He takes over in January 2026 from Neil Harris, CEO of b-yond, who has led the Board since 2023.

Nick is well known across the payments world for spotting trends early and turning ideas into working innovations. At Swift, he has led the cooperative’s innovation agenda, focused on bridging new and existing forms of value. His experience connecting banks, fintechs, regulators and global institutions makes him a natural fit to lead The Payments Association’s Advisory Board, a group of senior leaders who help set the direction for the industry.

Neil Harris, outgoing Chair of The Payments Association Advisory Board, said: “Over the last five years, I’ve watched the Advisory Board grow into a real force for good in payments. We’ve tackled tough conversations with regulators and policy makers, welcomed fresh voices, and created a space where members can collaborate and build together. I’m proud of how far we’ve come and thrilled that Nick is stepping in to take this further. Nick lives and breathes payments and fintech, and he’s never shy about challenging old ways of thinking. With his deep expertise and can-do energy, I can’t wait to see how the Advisory Board and the wider community will grow under his leadership.”

Nick Kerigan, Incoming Chair of The Payments Association Advisory Board, added: “Taking on this role feels exciting because payments are at an inflection turning point. We’re moving into a world where instant, secure and borderless payments are expected. The Advisory Board has the people and the platform to make that future real. My focus will be on helping members build our community, grow our impact and respond to biggest trends, such as tokenisation and AI. I hope to bring a global perspective, so that the UK can learn from and then shape the best of what is happening internationally. The next step is to connect the dots between ideas, policy and practice so we can build a payments industry that really works for everyone.”

Ben Agnew, CEO of The Payments Association, commented: “The Advisory Board plays a key role in shaping the work of the Association and representing the interests of members and the wider industry. Neil has done a brilliant job of shaping that forum into something members and our staff can rely upon. I want to thank him for his energy and commitment. Nick brings a unique perspective as he’s worked at the sharp-end of innovation and has a fantastic record of turning vision into delivery. Nick’s leadership will be an excellent support as we address key industry challenges and opportunities during an exciting period for the Payments industry.”

Earlier this year, The Payments Association appointed Mitch Trehan (Chief Compliance Officer at Allica Bank) and Daniel Holden (formerly Group CEO of Trust Payments) as Vice Chairs of the Advisory Board. With Nick now stepping in as Chair, the refreshed leadership team brings together deep expertise in innovation, compliance and fintech growth. This strengthens the Association’s ability to champion collaboration and build a payments ecosystem that works for all.

The Payments Association brings together over 250 members from across the ecosystem, from global banks to ambitious startups. Its work is about making the payments industry stronger, smarter and fairer – through policy engagement, industry projects, events and insights.

For more information on the work and services of The Payments Association you can visit https://thepaymentsassociation.org/ or contact jay.bennett@thepaymentsassociation.org