The Payments Leaders Show

Adrian Evans

Join host Adrian Evans from Payments Leaders Advisory as he has a fireside chat with high calibre leaders from the payments industry. Hear how they lead their people, how they create a winning and human-centred culture and why they embrace the opportunities before they meet the challenges.

  1. 3d ago

    Drive growth with a diverse workforce built on trust, ownership, and human connection

    Rather than focusing on the hype, Robert breaks down the practical realities. He introduces a compelling framework built around different types of agents: shopper agents that represent consumers, seller agents that represent merchants, payment agents that execute transactions, and identity agents that help establish trust and reduce fraud. Together, they create a much more complex ecosystem than many current discussions suggest. The conversation explores some of the biggest unanswered questions facing the industry today: Who carries liability when agents make decisions? How will trust be established? Can a truly neutral shopping agent exist? And what happens to merchants when AI agents turn shopping into a race to the lowest price? Robert also shares why Silverflow has adopted a data-first approach to payments infrastructure and explains how modern payment platforms must be built to support an increasingly agent-driven future. Beyond technology, the discussion turns to leadership, culture, and scaling high-growth businesses. Robert reveals how a diverse, international workforce and a culture built on trust, ownership, and human connection have helped drive Silverflow's growth. A fascinating conversation at the intersection of payments, AI, human behaviour, and the future of commerce.

  2. Oct 2

    To build your brand - be authentic, conduct business in the right honest way and stay curious.

    Fascinating conversation with Chloe Bate, fractional CMO and former marketing leader at L'Oréal and Diageo, to explore what separates iconic brands from ordinary products. Throughout the conversation, one theme repeatedly emerged: trust is the foundation of every enduring brand. Chloe explained that there is no magic formula for building a brand that stands the test of time. Instead, success comes from patiently building brand equity through thousands of small interactions. She shared the analogy of a bird's nest, where every twig represents a touchpoint, experience, memory, or story. Over time, these elements combine to create something strong enough to withstand challenges. A key insight was the importance of storytelling. Chloe shared that great brands do not invent stories; they uncover and communicate the authentic stories already embedded in their DNA. Using Hampstead Tea as an example, she demonstrated how purpose-driven decisions, such as supporting women in tea-growing communities with assets and economic opportunities, create rich narratives that strengthen customer loyalty and trust. The discussion then moved to customer experience and trust. Chloe highlighted that trust is often won or lost in small moments rather than major crises. Her example of Marks & Spencer automatically refunding delivery charges after a delayed order illustrated how anticipating customer needs removes friction and reinforces confidence in the brand. A recurring lesson was the importance of staying close to customers. Chloe encouraged leaders to regularly speak directly with consumers rather than relying solely on surveys and data. Deep conversations reveal motivations, frustrations, and unmet needs that numbers alone cannot uncover. She also advised businesses to identify the "enemy" within their category, whether that is a broken process, an outdated assumption, or a poor customer experience, and build solutions around it. When discussing modern marketing, Chloe stressed the power of focus and consistency. In a crowded digital world, brands must resist the temptation to constantly change direction. The people most likely to become bored with a brand are often those working within it. Her final advice was equally relevant to careers as it is to brands: stay curious, embrace experimentation, learn quickly from failure, and focus on your strengths. Long-term success comes from authenticity, consistency, and a relentless commitment to understanding and serving the people who matter most: your customers.

  3. Sep 28

    ClearBank made history as the UK's first new clearing bank in more than 250 years

    In this episode of The Payments Leaders Show, I sat down with Mark Fairless, CEO of ClearBank, to explore how banking infrastructure, embedded finance, real-time payments and digital assets are reshaping the future of financial services. ClearBank made history as the UK's first new clearing bank in more than 250 years, and over the last decade has become a key enabler of many of the country's fastest-growing fintechs. As fintech businesses have evolved from ambitious startups into major financial institutions, Mark shares how their needs have changed and why scalable, resilient infrastructure has become more important than ever. The conversation explores why consumers often focus on apps and customer interfaces, while the real innovation happens beneath the surface. Mark explains why infrastructure is the foundation that determines whether financial services can truly deliver speed, reliability and great customer experiences. We discussed: Why cross-border payments remain too slow and complex The future of embedded banking and embedded finance How digital assets, stablecoins and traditional banking could coexist Why innovation and resilience should not be competing priorities The impact of AI and agentic payments on the financial ecosystem ClearBank's role in supporting fintech growth across the UK and Europe What today's banking industry could look like by 2030 A particularly fascinating insight is Mark's belief that money should move as seamlessly as information, video and digital content already do today. As expectations for real-time experiences continue to rise, the financial services industry faces increasing pressure to remove friction from payments both domestically and internationally. Whether you're a fintech founder, banking executive, payments professional or simply curious about the future of money movement, this episode offers valuable insights into the trends shaping the next decade of financial services. If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and share with your network.

  4. Sep 15

    Andrew Rankin - Chief Payments Officer at HSBC UK, Consumer Banking

    In this episode of the Payments Leaders Show, I sit down with Andrew Rankin, Chief Payments Officer at HSBC UK, Consumer Banking, to explore the future of payments, leadership, trust, and innovation. Andrew shares responsibility for four key areas at HSBC: existing customer payment journeys, open banking, the National Payments Vision, and emerging innovations such as agentic commerce and tokenisation. Throughout the conversation, one theme emerges above all others: trust. A defining moment in Andrew's career came when a family member fell victim to a fraud scam. While the funds were ultimately recovered, the experience reinforced how much consumers rely on banks to provide not only convenience and speed, but also security and support when things go wrong. He argues that trust is the foundation of the payments ecosystem and must remain central as new technologies are introduced. Looking ahead, Andrew identifies AI, agentic commerce, programmable payments, and tokenisation as some of the biggest opportunities shaping the industry. However, he stresses that innovation and regulation must evolve together. Rather than viewing regulation as a barrier, he sees it as a critical enabler of consumer confidence and long-term adoption. The conversation also explores what separates high-performing teams from the rest. Andrew highlights four essentials: an unwavering customer focus, clear priorities, empowered teams, and a culture where people genuinely care for one another. His leadership philosophy is captured in a simple framework: Challenge, Align, Commit. On careers, Andrew reflects on unexpected setbacks that forced him to pivot away from ambitions in medicine and the armed forces before finding his path in banking. His advice is to embrace discomfort, stay adaptable, and prioritise learning and growth. His closing message is clear: while the industry rightly focuses on the future, it must never lose sight of today's customers and the payment systems they depend on every day.

  5. Sep 9

    Payments Is a Team Sport: Trust, Curiosity and Collaboration in the Age of Cybersecurity

    Payments Is a Team Sport: Trust, Curiosity and Collaboration in the Age of Cybersecurity In this fascinating episode I am joined by Kęstutis Saulis, Head of Payments at Nord Security, to explore the critical intersection between payments, cybersecurity and fraud prevention. While many people see cybersecurity as protecting the perimeter, Kęstutis explains that the real battleground is identity. Every payment is fundamentally an act of trust and identity verification, making cybersecurity and payments far more connected than most people realise. A key theme throughout the conversation is that payments is a team sport. Success cannot be achieved by one function working in isolation. Risk, product, engineering, finance, acquirers, payment providers and security teams must collaborate around shared goals and shared metrics. The most effective leaders break down silos and create alignment across the entire ecosystem. The discussion also highlights why curiosity is one of the payments industry's greatest superpowers. As fraudsters continually evolve their tactics and technology accelerates change, leaders must remain curious, data-literate and committed to continuous learning. In payments, standing still is not an option. Perhaps the most important insight is that trust is the true currency of payments. Whether through local payment preferences, fraud prevention, customer authentication or subscription relationships, every interaction either builds or weakens trust. There is no universal checkout experience because trust is earned differently in every market. Ultimately, this episode demonstrates that the future of payments belongs to organisations that combine human intelligence, artificial intelligence and deep collaboration. Technology matters, but trust, curiosity and teamwork remain the foundations of lasting success.

  6. Aug 20

    "I believe in the trust economy".

    Denise headline "I believe in the trust economy". She shares how Enfuce achieved impressive international growth by building for scale before scale existed, staying anchored to strong values, and maintaining a long-term vision from day one. She challenges the common assumption that payment transformation is primarily a technology project, arguing instead that people, mindset and leadership are the hardest and most important parts of any transformation journey. The conversation dives deep into the role of trust as the true currency of payments, why compliance and innovation should never be seen as competing priorities, and how successful organisations balance growth, security and resilience simultaneously. One of the most powerful sections focuses on the human impact of fraud. Denise highlights research showing that while fraud affects men and women at similar rates, the emotional and behavioural consequences can be significantly greater for women, creating anxiety and reducing trust in digital payments. The discussion calls on the industry to think beyond financial losses and focus on protecting consumers' confidence. Denise also explains Enfuce's philosophy of "Happiness Built In," the importance of transparency, direct communication, healthy disagreement, and creating a culture where values remain constant even as the organisation evolves. Key Takeaways: Build for the future, not today's scale. Culture and values drive sustainable growth. Trust matters more than speed. Fraud is a human problem, not just a financial one. Great leaders encourage healthy tension and open debate.

  7. Jul 27

    Ugne Buraciene - Group CEO payabl. The vital difference between ambition and consistency.

    The vital difference between ambition and consistency. How preparation, particularly in the Payments industry matters. Ambition, the spark, but it's the everyday showing up that actually makes the difference. Confidence is one trait many seek, yet Ugne shared that preparation and habits beat confidence every day when that's just put into a procedure. Ugne's desire to keep learning shone through. A curiosity that is probably, one that won't get fulfilled anytime soon. Challenging assumptions, but at the same time, committ to deep desire to learn. That starts as a leader with the acknowledgement, you don't know it all. That's why having an able team around you, but also adding to that tool belt every single day. Culture - toughest decision is to look in mirror yourself and manage your own ego. Take own ambition to where you can see a possibility, then question - how does that align with what the priorities are of the organization? Having a very strong C-suite team around you that challenge. Loved the confidence that opportunities will be created by continually listening to clients, merchants. These are the frictions and signals within the industry. Key opportunities and challenges for the industry cross-border payments and fraud. An impactful ending: Confidence is learnt through experience. No-one is born with it.

  8. Jun 5

    Ian McLernon - Group Chief Markets Officer Remy Cointreau

    The More You Adapt, The Luckier You Become. In this episode I sit down with global business leader Ian McLernon to explore what it really takes to build a career that evolves, adapts, and thrives in today’s uncertain world. Ian’s career journey is anything but linear. From early roles in retail and marketing to leading global luxury businesses across London, Hong Kong, Singapore, and New York, he shares how success isn’t about climbing a ladder, it’s about moving sideways, staying curious, and continuously learning. His core philosophy is simple: the more you practice and expose yourself to new challenges, the “luckier” you become. A powerful theme throughout the conversation is embracing ambiguity. In a world defined by volatility and change, Ian believes the real differentiator is your ability to adapt, communicate clearly, and stay grounded. He highlights that leaders don’t need all the answers, they they must care, be honest, and surround themselves with experts who complement their strengths. Ian unpacks what sets exceptional brands apart. In luxury, it’s not just about the product's heritage it’s about the experience. From “storytelling” to “story living,” he explains how the best brands create emotional connections, memorable moments, and a sense of place that customers can truly feel. Whether in cosmetics or spirits, the people on the front line from sales teams to bartenders are often the most powerful brand ambassadors. As Ian progressed into more executive roles, he learned to let go of being the expert in everything and instead focus on building strong teams, seeking honest feedback, and leading with humility. He emphasizes that continuous feedback not annual reviews is critical for growth. Ian’s advice for stellar performers looking to pivot their career is clear: be inquisitive, stay humble, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to fail. Reach out to those who have achieved the results you seek, learn from them, and keep moving forward. This episode is a masterclass in adaptability, leadership, and building a meaningful, resilient career in a fast-changing world. The More You Adapt, The Luckier You Become.

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Join host Adrian Evans from Payments Leaders Advisory as he has a fireside chat with high calibre leaders from the payments industry. Hear how they lead their people, how they create a winning and human-centred culture and why they embrace the opportunities before they meet the challenges.

Information

  • Creator
    Adrian Evans
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Adrian Evans
  • Show Website
    The Payments Leaders Show