Payments Industry Veterans Bring Regional and Emerging Market Expertise and Experience Driving Rapid Expansion to Innovative Payments Company
DUBLIN, Ireland, Nov. 11, 2008 – RêvEurope Payments Limited, a member of the Rêv Worldwide global network of payments companies for underserved markets, today announced the appointment of payment industry veterans Anne Cobb, former President of Visa International for the Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa region, and Gérard Compain, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Cadege Technologies and Consulting, to the company’s Board of Directors. Cobb joins as Non-Executive Chairman.
“Both Ms. Cobb and Mr. Compain have led remarkable careers in the payments and banking industries where they have distinguished themselves as respected authorities, and we are honored by their service,” said John Mitchell, General Manager, RêvEurope. “Ms. Cobb’s knowledge of payments across the region and in emerging markets is unsurpassed, and Mr. Compain’s track record of leading fast-growing young companies is outstanding. Their guidance will be instrumental in ensuring RêvEurope establishes itself as the leading provider of financial services for undeserved consumers across Europe and steering its rapid expansion throughout the region.”
Cobb’s accomplished career spans 30 years in the payments and banking industries. In her most recent post at Visa International, she served until her retirement as President for the Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa region. With responsibility for operations in 84 countries, she led the entity to reach annual growth of 40 percent during her tenure. Prior to Visa, she served as General Manager of Eurocard International and successfully expanded its merchant acceptance network four-fold and trebled the number of active cards in market. She began her career at Crédit Agricole.
Compain’s career includes 17 years as an executive with global companies in the payments industry. Since 2005, Compain has served as CEO and founder of Cadege Technologies and Consulting, a consulting and investment corporation active in the field of secured transaction. Previously, he was CEO and a member of the Board of Directors of Ingenico, the leading provider of EFTPOS terminals, where he oversaw 26 direct subsidiaries, guided the company through 14 acquisitions and drove exponential revenue growth. Prior to Ingenico, he was General Manager of Bull’s Payment System Division and earlier in his career worked for F-TEC, a U.S. subsidiary of France Telecom, and Honeywell.
“RêvEurope’s focus on providing access to safe, convenient, and affordable financial products and services and its dedication to underserved consumers are unique in the industry,” said Anne Cobb. “I look forward to being part of the team that helps guide this promising young company to success in driving widespread commercial availability of new and emerging payment solutions to markets that have traditionally been hard to reach.”
“It’s an exciting point in RêvEurope’s history to join the Board,” said Gérard Compain. “They have the right team and the right solution to overcome the costs and complexity that have historically impeded the extension of financial services to some parts of the world and are poised to change the market by helping partners access new markets and customers access the opportunities that come with participating in the financial mainstream.”
Cobb and Compain join current board members John Mitchell, General Manager of RêvEurope, and Roy Sosa, Founder and Chairman of MPOWER Ventures and the Chief Executive Officer of MPOWER Labs.
Cobb also serves on the board of directors for Accourt Limited. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Universite de droit et de Sciences econnomiques de Paris and completed post-graduate study in France and the United States. Compain is also Chairman of Jware Technologies and GMX SAS and holds a master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
