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IndustryUpdate

lets Rakbank merchants accept cards from 75+ countries and Sutton Payments. Clukey previously served as vice
through UnionPay's vast network, the partners noted. president of strategic partnerships for a prominent issu-
Both Rakbank and UnionPay leaders expressed their ing bank, where he managed key processing, network
commitment to offering secure, efficient payment solu- and strategic partners; developed new payments con-
tions, emphasizing the benefits for customers and mer- cepts; and drove deep relationships. Previously, he led
chants alike. the transaction processing business including business
development, new sales, marketing and client devel-
REPAY, Quadient enhance AP automation opment. CEO Tony Gorrell praised Clukey's extensive
experience, stating he will significantly advance Sutton
Repay Holdings Corp., a payment solutions provider, Bank's payments business and support its mission in the
is partnering with Quadient, a specialist in enhancing community.
customer connections. Aiming to boost automation,
improve cash flow, and elevate client and vendor satis- EBANX welcomes Melissa Cherrey Johnson
faction, the joint endeavor integrates REPAY's payment
capabilities into Quadient's accounts payable automa- EBANX, a payment platform linking global business-
tion, allowing businesses to process digital payments es with emerging digital markets, welcomed Melissa
such as virtual card and ACH. The enhanced system Cherrey Johnson as the new vice president of merchant
offers real-time updates, streamlined payment processes success for Americas and Europe. Johnson, with a rich
and improved operational efficiency, the partners stated. background in the payments sector, aims to elevate
Both companies emphasized their commitment to opti- EBANX's continued success in emerging markets, the
mizing and simplifying the accounts payable procedure. company noted. "Rising markets are rapidly becoming
global innovation centers," Johnson said, emphasizing
ACQUISITION the opportunities for EBANX in these areas. With previ-
ous roles at PayPal and Worldpay from FIS, Johnson's
appointment is expected to enhance the company's
Clear Junction acquires Altalix merchant success. Paula Bellizia, president of global
payments at EBANX, praised Johnson's expertise and
Clear Junction, a cross-border payments solutions pro- commitment to diversity in tech.
vider, acquired Altalix, a fintech company known for
fiat-to-crypto gateway solutions and Financial Conduct FlexCharge hires Dan Stanbridge
Authority registration as a crypto-assets firm in the UK.
The acquisition aligns with Clear Junction's growth strat- FlexCharge, a payment platform, welcomed Dan
egy to cater to increasing global digital asset demands, Stanbridge as its new chief risk officer. Previously rec-
expected to see nearly 994.30 million users and US$64.87 ognized for his contributions at Paysafe, where he led
billion revenue by 2027, according to Clear Junction. in roles such as senior vice president, global head of
Clear Junction stated it won't trade in digital assets merchant risk, Stanbridge brings extensive experience
but sees the need to offer both fiat and digital services. from the travel, gaming, and gambling sectors. Elio
Altalix will rebrand to Clear Junction Digital Ltd., focus- Vitucci, CEO of FlexCharge, highlighted Stanbridge's
ing on services for regulated institutions. expertise in payments risk management across multiple
industries. Stanbridge expressed enthusiasm for joining
APPOINTMENTS FlexCharge, praising the company's AcceptIQ platform
and emphasizing his dedication to enhancing the pay-
ments ecosystem and aiding business growth.
J.P. Morgan taps Nikolas Choulakis
Shannon Waugh signs on with PayBright
Nikolas Choulakis is now the managing director, head of
J.P. Morgan's new Payments Innovation Lab in Athens, Merchant services provider PayBright appointed
Greece. In this position, Choulakis is tasked with recruit- Shannon Waugh as its new head of operations. Waugh,
ing 50 specialists for the lab, which will focus on R&D with over a decade of experience in the payments sector
for global payments and will work closely with Onyx and formerly vice president of sales support at Pivotal
by J.P. Morgan. It will also emphasize distributed led- Payments (now Nuvei), will manage daily operations,
ger technology, AI and cryptography. Choulakis high- staff requirements and various support departments,
lighted Athens' emerging innovation potential and the including finance. This move is pivotal for PayBright,
expanding payments sector. The new lab, J.P. Morgan recently ranked 657th in the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing
stated, signifies its commitment to Greece's talent and Private Companies. CEO Dustin Magaziner praised
development opportunities. Waugh's expertise as vital for continued growth in the
expanding merchant services industry. Waugh expressed
Darryl Clukey joins Sutton Bank her eagerness to bolster PayBright's innovative growth

Sutton Bank appointed Darryl Clukey as senior vice trajectory.
president, chief payments officer for both the bank itself

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