As Peppermint continues to expand its strategic foothold across Southeast Asia, the company has made a key appointment to deliver on strategy.

Aussie-listed Peppermint Innovation (ASX:PIL) has appointed the celebrated  fintech innovation expert and entrepreneur Neal Cross to its board as a non-executive director.

A powerhouse in the world of disruption, Cross has a long-distinguished career in finance innovation across names like Microsoft,  Mastercard, DBS Bank and is the co-founder of PictureWealth where he retains his role as Chairman.

Cross was Chief Innovation Officer at DBS Bank where he drove their transformation into a global innovation powerhouse culminating in achieving the world’s best DigitalBank  2016  and 2018 and world’s best bank three times across 2018 and 2019.

Noted disruptors themselves – Sir Richard Branson and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak – awarded Cross the World’s Most Disruptive CIO/CTO and he’s been a regular winner of best  innovation lab and innovation leader awards worldwide.

As a young game developer, Cross quickly built on a passion for gaming, deciding ahead of the curve that software should be a place of the extraordinary – engaging, inspiring  and rewarding.

He’s built social enterprises – the man is helping save endangered orangutans and protecting coral reefs in  Sumatra – and he remains listed in The Meaningful Business 100,  which uncovers leaders  driving impactful, purpose-led  business to align with the United Nations sustainable development goals.

 

Crucial Southeast Asia experience

Cross has significant experience living and working throughout Peppermint’s target market of Southeast Asia and the Philippines.

He has advised hundreds of major brands in Asia and is a trusted adviser to several leading CEO’s, government agencies and start-ups.

As Peppermint expands its finance offering across the bizmoto platform via bizmopay, Cross’  appointment is another critical link in guiding its strategy to become a super App.

 

Improving livelihoods

Peppermint is working to become a super App, where it combines employment opportunities with finance products that will better the lives of the underserved population throughout the Philippines.

Since its launch in late 2021, bizmoPay has issued hundreds of micro-enterprise loans to help local Filipino entrepreneurs follow their ambition to build a better life for them and their families using the bizmoto platform and ecosystem of services.

The launch of bizmoPay followed the granting of a financial lending license to Peppermint in July 2021, and a highly successful pilot program.

Peppermint has also proceeded to the last stage of its electronic money issuer licence application.

An EMI licence will allow Peppermint to facilitate any e-money transaction in the Philippines, effectively turbocharging its capabilities in the digital transaction space, particularly combined with the loans it can make through bizmoPay.

 

Welcome appointment

Peppermint’s Managing Director and CEO Chris Kain said Cross will be a huge asset to the company.

“It’s very rare to find someone with the right mix of skills and experience across both the technology and finance sectors as well as someone who has such incredibly rich experience living across the Southeast Asian region,” Kain said.

“Neal will be a great asset, as we continue our stellar growth and service more of this huge population.”

In announcing the appointment, Peppermint also advised that Mathew Cahill has stepped down as a non-executive director due to personal and other work commitments.

“I also want to thank Mathew for his commitment and loyalty as a founding Director of Peppermint and wish him every success in his own business pursuits as he continues to build his very accomplished and recognised digital media company,” Kain said.

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Peppermint Innovation, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.