The client is building a new European regulated financial institution in Riga, backed by an established international group and positioned at the intersection of payments and digital assets. The business is progressing toward full EMI authorisation in Latvia and is also pursuing a CASP licence under MiCA, creating a rare opportunity to lead both regulatory build-out and commercial growth. This is a founding CEO mandate for a hands-on executive who can combine regulatory credibility, strategic vision, and operational execution. For the right leader, this is a chance to build a serious cross-border financial services platform from the ground up in a market shaped by PSD2, safeguarding, AML/CFT, and MiCA. Latvijas Banka is the relevant authority for both EMI and CASP authorisation in Latvia, and MiCA authorisation requirements for crypto-asset service providers apply across the EU framework.

🔍 Responsibilities:
• Lead the company from principal approval through full EMI authorisation with Latvijas Banka, ensuring a well-managed and regulator-ready licensing process
• Act as the primary executive contact for Latvijas Banka and other relevant regulatory stakeholders, maintaining strong, credible, and transparent engagement
• Own the CASP/MiCA licensing strategy and execution plan, coordinating legal, compliance, risk, operations, and group stakeholders to meet all regulatory expectations
• Define and execute the company’s EU growth strategy across products, corridors, customer segments, and strategic partnerships
• Build the local entity from the ground up, including governance, operating model, hiring plan, control environment, and scalable internal processes
• Establish robust frameworks across safeguarding, AML/CFT, prudential compliance, treasury oversight, risk management, and board reporting
• Lead key commercial relationships with banking partners, EMIs, payment infrastructure providers, liquidity partners, and strategic counterparties across Europe
• Oversee revenue performance, budget discipline, capital planning, and operational efficiency in line with board expectations and regulatory obligations
• Recruit, lead, and develop a high-calibre local team across compliance, operations, finance, and product or technology functions
• Chair the Board of Directors and provide clear, strategic reporting to group stakeholders, balancing entrepreneurial growth with disciplined execution

🎓 Requirements:
• 8–10+ years of senior leadership experience in payments, fintech, EMI, PI, banking, or closely regulated financial services
• Proven experience operating within, scaling, or leading an EU-regulated EMI, Payment Institution, or similarly regulated business
• Strong understanding of the EU payments regulatory framework, including PSD2, EMD2, safeguarding, AML/CFT, governance, and prudential requirements
• Solid knowledge of MiCA and the operational, governance, and compliance expectations placed on CASPs in the EU
• Experience building a regulated business from an early stage, including licence execution, governance design, control frameworks, and team formation
• Commercially strong, with the ability to convert regulatory readiness into practical market strategy, partner growth, and client value
• Financially literate, with a sound grasp of treasury, liquidity, capital management, and the economics of regulated payments businesses
• Fluency in Latvian and English, with the credibility to represent the company confidently before regulators, board members, and external partners

✨ The Employer Offers:
• A true founding CEO opportunity with end-to-end ownership of a new EU-regulated financial institution
• The backing, infrastructure, and strategic support of an established international group
• A live regulatory pathway, including principal approval toward EMI authorisation and an active MiCA/CASP ambition
• A rare mandate spanning both traditional payments and regulated digital assets at a pivotal stage of EU market development
• Strong strategic visibility, direct board exposure, and meaningful influence over market entry, product direction, and team build-out
• Competitive executive compensation, performance upside, and equity participation aligned with long-term value creation
• The opportunity to build a high-impact business in Latvia as the country continues developing its fintech and digital asset ecosystem

The salary range reflects Latvia executive benchmarks, where CEO pay varies widely by scope and complexity, and this mandate sits above standard local leadership roles due to its regulated EMI and MiCA/CASP build-out scope.