Marqeta Names Jeff Parker as New SVP and Managing Director, International

Former WorldFirst CEO assumes responsibility for building Marqeta’s sales, business development, service offerings, and operations internationally

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Marqeta (NASDAQ: MQ), the global modern card issuing platform, today announced the appointment of Jeff Parker as its new SVP and Managing Director, International. Parker joins from WorldFirst, the international business payment provider, where he assumed the position of CEO shortly after its acquisition by Ant Group. In his new role, Parker will be responsible for building Marqeta’s go-to-market and operational functions internationally and advancing the company’s service offerings in its key markets across Europe and APAC.

Marqeta works with businesses worldwide to empower payments innovation built using its open modern API card issuing and payment processing platform. By giving developers the tools they need to build, test, launch, and iterate single integration payment programmes, Marqeta has supported organisations such as Klarna, Western Union, Lydia, and Capital on Tap to realise their market expansion ambitions and embrace new opportunities. Parker is tasked with leading Marqeta’s continued global expansion from the company’s London office, bringing to the table over 20 years’ experience in the financial services space accumulated across four continents, holding senior roles at Macquarie Bank and international payments businesses, OFX, and then WorldFirst, a company he ultimately led as CEO.

“I am proud to assume the role of SVP, Managing Director, International at such an exciting time for Marqeta. As more banks, Fintechs, e-commerce participants, and marketplaces look towards payments becoming an enabling function that can be embedded to provide seamless, frictionless experiences for their customers, I believe Marqeta is well positioned to answer this demand,” explained Parker. “Marqeta combines end-to-end maturity and scale with a high growth, flexible mentality which makes it suited to providing a holistic set of card issuing and banking-as-a-service capabilities for customers that adds value across the payment chain. I believe my experiences in senior leadership roles at businesses based worldwide puts me in a strong position to lead an established team that understands the importance of tailoring its products and services for local markets.”

Marqeta opened its European headquarters in London in 2018, with subsequent expansions into Melbourne in 2021 and Singapore in 2022. Marqeta’s mission is to set the standard in modern card issuing and to transform global money movement, removing barriers that might prevent its partners from offering transformative payments products to their customers.

“Jeff is an inspiring leader, and his hands-on experience driving strategic business development at major financial services organisations makes him a great choice to accelerate Marqeta’s international growth and embrace the opportunities ahead of us,” explained Jason Gardner, CEO, Marqeta. “Jeff’s understanding of our ambitions, people-focused culture, and core values, combined with his own expertise as an innovation champion and leader with a proven track record of success, make him a strong fit for Marqeta. On behalf of the entire company, we are thrilled to welcome Jeff as Marqeta’s new SVP and Managing Director for our international markets.”

About Marqeta
Marqeta’s modern card issuing platform empowers its customers to create customized and innovative payment cards. Marqeta’s platform, powered by open APIs, gives its customers the ability to build more configurable and flexible payment experiences, accelerating product development and democratizing access to card issuing technology. Its modern architecture provides instant access to highly scalable, cloud-based payment infrastructure that enables customers to launch and manage their own card programs, issue cards and authorize and settle transactions. Marqeta is headquartered in Oakland, California and is enabled in 39 countries globally. For more information, visit www.marqeta.com, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements expressed or implied in this press release include, but are not limited to, quotations and statements relating to changing consumer preferences; increasing consumer adoption of certain digital payment methods, products, and solutions; which payment, banking, and financial services products and solutions may succeed; technological and market trends; Marqeta’s business; and Marqeta’s products and services. Actual results may differ materially from the expectations contained in these statements due to risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the following: any factors creating issues with changes in domestic business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; the effect of and uncertainties related to the global COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. and global economies and demand for Marqeta’s services and products; and the uncertainties and direct and indirect effects of the significant military action against Ukraine launched by Russia, including threats of attacks against U.S. and European financial institutions as retaliation against financial institutions for sanctions imposed against Russia. Detailed information about these risks and other factors that could potentially affect Marqeta’s business, financial condition and results of operations are included in the “Risk Factors” disclosed in Marqeta's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as such risk factors may be updated from time to time in Marqeta’s periodic filings with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov and Marqeta’s website at http://investors.marqeta.com. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Marqeta as of the date hereof. Marqeta disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.