Filippos Antonopoulos, Founder of OKTO, has stepped down as Group CEO and will be succeeded by Edward Chandler.
Antonopoulos will transition to the role of Executive Chairman while retaining his position as the controlling shareholder. He has expressed full confidence in Chandler, calling him the “ideal leader” to guide OKTO into its next phase of growth.
The pair will work together on the new strategy, which aims to expand market presence in high-growth sectors and regions, enhance customer solutions for optimised payment experiences, strengthen partnerships for embedded and frictionless payments, and leverage cutting-edge technology to stay ahead in the digital economy.
Commenting on the appointment of the new CEO, Antonopoulos said: “His deep expertise and vision in the payments industry will help us build on the strong foundation we’ve established.
“Edward is a hands-on leader, maintaining empathy and inclusion as core principles of management. I’m wishing him the best of success in our joint endeavor.”
Chandler stated that he is honoured to be part of OKTO, joining the company with more than 30 years of experience in the payments and fintech sectors. He has held roles at a range of leading companies, including Visa, Mastercard, Barclays, Tesco Bank, eNett, and Kalixa (PxP).
OKTO has noted his expertise lies within B2B payments, embedded finance and commercial payment solutions. The company has also stated that Chandler has helped organisations scale into global markets.
“With my career rooted at the intersection of payments, technology, and commerce, I’ve seen firsthand how innovation can transform businesses and customer experiences,” Chandler added.
“OKTO is uniquely positioned to lead the next generation of seamless, secure, and customer-centric payment solutions, helping merchants navigate the future of payments.”
Chandler highlighted the exciting time in which he has joined OKTO, with the company seeking to expand its presence in the digital-first commerce and embedded finance industries.
The company has recently used its products to enter new countries, launching in Switzerland last year through the takeover of the Swiss division of Aplauz Financial Services.
He concluded: “I look forward to working closely with Filippos and the talented team at OKTO to drive innovation, accelerate growth, and expand our impact.”
