Our client, a Poland-based Small Payment Institution (SPI) currently progressing towards an upgrade to a full Authorised Payment Institution (API) licence, is seeking a part-time Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead its licensing readiness, strategic positioning and early commercial build-out. The company is not yet operational and plans to commence activities in Q3–Q4 2026.

Company is part of a global group – a multi-jurisdictional fintech and digital asset infrastructure provider with presence across the EU, UK, USA and Middle East. The group builds regulated rails for digital assets and fiat payments, offering business clients IBANs, crypto wallets, cross-border payments, card acquiring, card issuing and more, all under a single compliant framework. The Polish entity is also a direct member of Visa and Mastercard for acquiring and issuing.

This role is designed for a seasoned Polish financial-sector executive who can combine strategic oversight, regulatory credibility and a practical, hands-on approach. Working on a part-time basis, the CEO will: support and steer the API licensing process and regulatory engagement, help establish key strategic partnerships required for product development and distribution (banks, card schemes, open-banking providers, technology and channel partners), create an effective governance framework to ensure the management structure meets Polish fit-and-proper requirements

🔍 Responsibilities

• Act as the designated Chief Executive Officer for the purposes of the company’s Polish API licensing application.
• Assist with the licence upgrade process
• Provide strategic executive oversight and governance during the pre-operational phase.
• Ensure the organisational structure, policies and governance framework meet Polish regulatory and fit-and-proper expectations for executive management.
• Support the establishment of key strategic partnerships required for product development and distribution (e.g. banks, card schemes, PSPs, technology vendors..).
• Provide input into commercial and sales strategy (target segments, pricing assumptions, distribution channels) in coordination with group management.
• Advise shareholders and the Board on regulatory, strategic and governance matters
• Support the build-out of the local leadership team and, if mutually agreed, prepare for a potential transition to a full time CEO role once the licence is granted and operations commence.
  
  

🎓 Requirements

• Senior leadership experience within Banking or Payments (EMI/API) sectors.
• Proven experience in dealing with the Polish regulator (KNF) is highly desirable.
• Strong business track record in building or scaling financial products, managing P&L, leading a business line in a regulated institution.
• Demonstrated experience in successfully launching and/or managing financial products  (payments, accounts, cards, acquiring, etc.).
• Ability to meet Polish “fit and proper” standards, with a strong record of integrity, competence and a clean regulatory history.
• Excellent communication skills, professional presence and strong stakeholder management abilities.
• Polish citizen and resident (mandatory for regulatory eligibility).

💼 What’s Offered

• Part-time, flexible engagement suitable for a seasoned executive.
• Competitive compensation
• Low operational workload until full authorisation is granted, with a focus on governance, strategy and regulatory matters.
• Option to transition into a full-time CEO role once the licence is granted and operations commence.