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TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The CPPO, the nonprofit organization fueling the growth of the $14 billion open-loop prepaid industry, is pleased to welcome three new members to its Board of Directors: Adriana Iglesias Romero, Director of Payments Operations & Compliance at Wealthsimple; David Merriby, Chief Executive Officer at the future KOHO Bank; and Asad Saeed, Vice President & General Manager, Canada at ABCorp.
Each of the newly appointed General Board members will serve a one-year term. The appointments add further representation from Canada’s fintech and payments leadership
strengthening CPPO’s ability to advance the interests of the organizations helping advance Canada’s digital payments ecosystem.
“CPPO is proud to welcome Adriana, David and Asad to our Board of Directors,” said Jennifer Tramontana, Executive Director of CPPO. “Their commitment and experience strengthens our ability to represent the industry’s full range of players, from established networks to the challenger banks now built on prepaid rails. As board members, they’ll help guide CPPO’s work advocating for a regulatory environment that lets prepaid keep expanding access to the digital economy.”
Iglesias Romero oversees payments operations and compliance at Wealthsimple, one of Canada’s most innovative fintech platforms.
“Prepaid has become essential infrastructure for expanding financial access in Canada, and I’m thrilled to help guide its next chapter as part of CPPO’s Board. I’m grateful to bring Wealthsimple’s perspective to an organization doing such important advocacy work,” said Iglesias Romero.
Merriby formerly led compliance and risk at KOHO and was recently appointed CEO of the future KOHO Bank — focused on helping people build stronger financial habits through accessible digital banking tools.
“Payments play an increasingly important role in how Canadians manage their financial lives, and there is a real opportunity to keep improving how the industry serves them,” said Merriby. “I’m pleased to join CPPO’s Board of Directors and look forward to working with new and existing board members to bring together different perspectives from across fintech, payments, and financial services.”
Saeed oversees strategic accounts and growth initiatives for ABCorp’s Canadian business unit, where he steers the delivery of secure, scalable payments infrastructure that powers Canada’s evolving payments ecosystem.
“The Canadian payments landscape is at a critical inflection point, where security, scale, and flexibility must intersect to drive the next wave of financial innovation,” said Saeed. “This is a time of deep transformation in payments and ABCorp is committed to anchoring the ecosystem. I am excited to join the CPPO board and collaborate with fellow industry leaders to champion forward-thinking advocacy and change.”
Over the past decade, prepaid has moved from a niche payment method to a foundational platform for financial innovation in Canada. It gives Canadians lower-cost and more convenient ways to participate in the digital economy, and it has become the infrastructure of choice for challenger banks building digital-first products. Two of CPPO’s newest board members, Wealthsimple and KOHO, are proof: both utilize prepaid rails to deliver banking services to customers looking for new ways to save and spend that better fit their lifestyle.
CPPO represents the organizations building this industry, from regulated banks and card networks to fintechs, processors, program managers and service providers. Through advocacy, research and direct engagement with regulators, CPPO works to further prepaid’s responsible growth and to make sure the industry has a seat at the table on the policy decisions that affect it.
For more information about CPPO, visit https://www.cppo.ca/.
About CPPO:
The CPPO is the only association focused on Canada’s $14B prepaid payments industry and is at the forefront of safe and responsible growth for the prepaid economy. We bring networks, issuing banks, fintechs, program managers, processors, challenger banks, service providers and entrepreneurs together to be heard when it matters. The CPPO provides our members with industry influence, exclusive research and insights, networking opportunities, thought leadership and regulatory guidance to allow prepaid to responsibly grow and flourish in Canada. Connect with CPPO on LinkedIn and X.
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