Swift Names Pérez-Tasso CEO

Global payments messaging utility Swift has named Javier Pérez-Tasso as its new chief executive, following an internal and external search to find a replacement for current CEO Gottfried Leibbrandt, who will retire in July after 14 years at the organization.

Pérez-Tasso, who has been with Swift for almost 25 years, was most recently CEO of Swift Americas and UK region. He will take up his position on July 1.

Pérez-Tasso joined Swift in 1995 as an analyst before working his way up to chief marketing officer where he was responsible for developing Swift’s five-year strategy, Swift 2020. The strategy focuses on the firm’s cross-border payments program, expansion into financial crime compliance and a larger presence in market infrastructure.

He became CEO of the Americas and UK region in 2015, based in New York. Once he moves into his new role, Pérez-Tasso will relocate to Swift’s headquarters in Belgium.

“[Pérez-Tasso’s] 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. 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,” says Swift chairman Yawar Shah in a statement.