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IndustryUpdate

This move strengthens Smart Merchant Solution's capa- to diverse industries. Capestone will continue opera-
bilities and positions both companies for further growth tions under its name, led by Managing Director Jos
in the POS and payment solutions industry, the compa- Ouwerkerk, and maintain offices in the Netherlands,
nies stated. Germany, and the UK.

ACQUISITIONS APPOINTMENTS

Aleph gains controlling interest in Localpayment SRM hires Leanne Lange
Aleph, a provider of digital marketing solutions, Leanne Lange has joined SRM as Managing Director
acquired a controlling interest in Localpayment, a fast- within the Banking and Payments practice, bringing
growing payment service provider in Latin America. over 25 years of expertise in consumer deposits and pay-
This acquisition combines Aleph's expertise in digi- ments product management. Previously at M&T Bank,
tal advertising with Localpayment's seamless payment Lange led debit card and ATM products, managed key
capabilities, enabling rapid growth in the region, Aleph relationships, and drove innovation in payments. She
stated, adding that, with exclusive partnerships with was pivotal in 17 successful bank acquisitions, showcas-
major digital platforms like Google and Amazon, it will ing her ability to manage complex transitions.
leverage Localpayment's ability to process billions in
payments, offering clients integrated digital advertising SRM's Chief Product Officer, Myron Schwarcz, praised
and payment solutions. her proven track record of driving innovation, high-
lighting her critical role in supporting SRM’s growth
Localpayment, now rebranded as Localpayment by and enhancing client services in the evolving payments
Aleph, supports over 640 local payment methods in 17 landscape.
countries, further strengthening Aleph's global presence
in digital advertising and fintech markets, Aleph noted. Michael Shepard joins Fenergo advisory board
Fenergo, a provider of AI-powered KYC, AML and
Client lifecycle management solutions, appointed
HubSpot to acquire Cacheflow financial crime expert Michael Shepard to its Growth
Advisory Board. Shepard brings nearly four decades of
HubSpot revealed plans to acquire Cacheflow, a B2B experience in AML, sanctions, fraud and white-collar
subscription billing management and CPQ solution. crime investigations to the board, having led Deloitte’s
This move enhances HubSpot's Commerce Hub by add- Global Financial Crime practice. His role will support
ing tools for subscription billing and quote-to-cash auto- Fenergo's U.S. expansion and enhance the company's
mation, enabling businesses to close deals and collect global AML strategies.
revenue faster, HubSpot stated, adding that Cacheflow
simplifies SaaS sales with a no-code platform that auto- CEO Marc Murphy praised Shepard’s expertise in
mates billing and subscription management, making the navigating complex financial crime regulations, while
buying process more efficient. Shepard expressed excitement about joining Fenergo to
help clients stay compliant and resilient in an evolving
HubSpot CEO Yamini Rangan emphasized the acquisi- regulatory landscape.
tion's role in advancing the company's commerce vision.
Upon completion, Cacheflow will operate as a HubSpot Anthony Venus joins Coaching International
subsidiary with the goal of strengthening its overall cus- Former YayPay CEO Anthony Venus is now a partner
tomer experience offering. and coach at CEO Coaching International. Venus, an

OptConnect completes acquisition of Capestone experienced entrepreneur, brings expertise in leader-
ship, strategy, product development and fundraising to
OptConnect, a leader in managed wireless services, his new role. Under his leadership, YayPay grew to $30
has acquired Capestone, a Netherlands-based pro- million in sales, serving 300 clients in the United States
vider of 4G and 5G IoT solutions. This acquisition and Europe.
enhances OptConnect's global reach, adding to previous
acquisitions of Premier Wireless Solutions and M2M As a former client of CEO Coaching International, Venus
DataGlobal. Capestone operates in over 60 countries, applied the Make BIG Happen methodology and is
supporting 1,000+ partners with IoT software, services, eager to guide other CEOs using the same system. Venus
and connectivity. has founded and led several companies and holds a
coaching certification from IMD.
The partnership strengthens OptConnect’s presence
in Europe, expanding its managed wireless platform

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