SWIFT has appointed Javier Pérez-Tasso as its new CEO, effective 1 July 2019.
Based at SWIFT’s headquarters in Belgium, Pérez-Tasso will replace Gottfried Leibbrandt who announced his intention to step down from the post at the end of June 2019.
Pérez-Tasso joined SWIFT in 1995 and was appointed chief executive of the Americas and UK region in September 2015.
As chief executive of the Americas and UK region, Pérez-Tasso is responsible for SWIFT’s engagement model with global transaction banks.
Pérez-Tasso was also an executive sponsor of SWIFT’s customer security programme from 2016 to 2018, helping to formulate and lead SWIFT’s response to cyber challenges.
Prior to that, Pérez-Tasso served as chief marketing officer, where he was responsible for developing SWIFT’s current five-year strategy.
The SWIFT2020 strategy he defined has led to the co-operative’s renewed focus on cross-border payments, expansion into financial crime compliance and deeper presence in the market infrastructures area, including its entry into instant payments.
Earlier in his career, Pérez-Tasso held a number of technology and leadership positions in business development in regional offices in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Yawar Shah, chairman of SWIFT, commented: “Javier Pérez-Tasso’s track record of impressive leadership, coupled with his in-depth understanding of the company and its business, means that he is expertly positioned for this new role.”
He added: “I am confident that his appointment will ensure that SWIFT can continue to build on its tradition of excellence and innovation in support of the global financial community, while also enabling the acceleration of its endorsed strategy.”
Commenting on his appointment, Pérez-Tasso said: “I thank the SWIFT board for its trust and feel privileged to lead SWIFT and serve its customers as CEO.”
He added: “I am fortunate to start this mandate building on Gottfried Leibbrandt’s strong legacy, and I look forward to maintaining our focus on operational excellence as well as to accelerating SWIFT’s transformation during a period of unprecedented change and opportunity for the community.”
