FMA Announced Two Appointments in FinTech and Integrated Financial System

The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has announced the appointment of two new specialist roles focused on deepening the regulator’s expertise in two evolving and important sectors: financial technology (FinTech) and environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) impacts on financial markets.

FinTech entrepreneur Binu Paul has been appointed as Specialist Lead, FinTech reporting to Director of Regulation Liam Mason, while Fiona Whyte, who has a banking and regulation background, has been appointed as Specialist Lead, Integrated Financial System and reports to Sarah Vrede, Director of Capital Markets.

“We want to foster technology innovation that improves outcomes for consumers and we believe there is potential for the FMA to work with industry to enable New Zealand to adopt more fintech developments. Binu is one of New Zealand’s recognised fintech entrepreneurs and has extensive networks across the sector, making him a perfect fit for this role,” Rob Everett, FMA Chief Executive said.

Fiona Whyte joined Financial Markets Authority as adviser in 2013, and she has worked for 7 years. Fiona has 23-year abundant experience in banking career in New Zealand and has experience in governance roles, including serving as an independent board member of Micro Finance Deposit Taking Institution (MDI) in Cambodia, where she promoted corporate social responsibility. She has been a board member for World Vision NZ and Vision Fund Cambodia, which serve the rural poor by providing access to capital to assist with small business loans.

Paul has deep industry experience across financial services, technology innovation and commercialization over the past 20 years in New Zealand and overseas. Since 2016, he has been consulting to the FMA on a number of projects. He has previously founded two fintech businesses and Finnotec, New Zealand’s annual fintech conference. Mr Paul has also held roles as CEO and head of strategy in the investment research and funds management sectors. Mr Paul has trained in corporate strategy execution at the Wharton business school and holds MBA and Bachelor of Technology degrees. He is a founding member of Fintech NZ and a current board member of ChildFund New Zealand.