eWise payment platforms have been powering leading consumer payment and account aggregation solutions for over 10 years. Through our exclusive partnership with NACHA, we're transforming the face of payments in the U.S.
 

At eWise, we’re passionate about taking the complexity out of payments and ensuring every consumer around the world has a fast, simple and secure way to pay – DIRECTLY FROM THEIR BANK. No middleman, ever. We believe paying for something, whether it's your electric bill or a new pair of shoes, should be as easy as pulling cash from your wallet, only safer.

Leadership

Alexandre Gonthier – CEO

As CEO of eWise, Alex is responsible for the global growth and operation of the eWise payment platform that powers Secure Vault Payments in the U.S. 

Alex has a long track record as founder and executive of several successful companies in the online and mobile payment sector. As CTO of Paymo, he was responsible for innovation, development and support of the mobile payment platform, which merged with Boku in 2009.  Alex also founded and led iPIN as it grew to become the leading Internet and mobile payment software platform, processing millions of payment transactions every day for global telecom operators and banks.  iPIN merged with Network 365 to form Valista, now part of Aepona.

A serial entrepreneur, Alex has vast experience in founding and growing technology companies on both sides of the Atlantic. In addition to his active leadership and technology roles, Alex is a business angel and fund-raising advisor to startups. In this role, he has contributed to the development of companies like online private sales club BuyVIP, mobile ad platform ScreenTonic (now a part of Microsoft), mobile messaging vendor Mobile 365 (now a part of Sybase), and WiFi specialist Ruckus Wireless.

Craig Olsen – EVP/GM US Payments, Secure Vault

As general manager of US Payments, Craig oversees the sales, marketing and services organizations that support the enablement and management of the NACHA-sponsored Secure Vault bank payment solution.

Craig brings significant online and mobile payments experience to eWise having held executive (COO and President) level positions with iPIN and Valista, whose payment platforms process millions of transactions per day, supporting companies like HSBC, AT&T, Verizon, AOL, McDonalds, Shell and General Motors.

In addition to his payments experience, Craig has led organizations focused on solutions in product offer (PLM) management (COO of Ceon, now Convergys), enterprise billing (VP Convergys) project and portfolio management (SVP at Niku, now CA) as well as data and telecom services (SVP Teligent, VP/GM MCI).

Alexander Grinberg – Founder and EVP/GM Account Aggregation

As General Manager of Account Aggregation, Alex is responsible for strategy, sales and operations for eWise Account Aggregation solutions.

As a founder of eWise, Alex has been the driving force behind the eWise Account Aggregation business for over 12 years, establishing a global footprint of delighted customers in the financial services sector.

Prior to founding eWise, Alex served in senior legal and operations roles with Oracle and IBM in Australasia and Europe.

Mike Kontorovich – CTO

In his role as CTO, Mike is instrumental in the design & development of the core eWise solutions.

Mike brings over 20 years of expertise in software development & management, including his role as Managing Director of eTeam Software. Mike was also previously the Director of Engineering at Ardent Software (USA) and later Informix Software (USA), specializing in Internet Tools development. He holds an Honors Degree in Computer Science from University of New South Wales.

Jonathan West – CFO

As CFO, Jonathan oversees all financial and administrative operations for eWise. Jonathan has over 20 years experience in Finance, HR, Corporate Governance and Taxation.

Prior to joining eWise, Jonathan served as a chartered accountant in public practice in New Zealand, and in various functions for Glaxo Wellcome (a multi-national pharmaceutical company), and Interpublic Group (a multi-national marketing organization). 

Board of Directors

Phillip Riese – Chairman

Phillip brings more than 30 years of strategic planning, corporate leadership and financial services industry expertise to his role as Chairman of the Board for eWise. He spent 18 years at American Express in a variety of leadership positions, and retired in 1998 as President of the Consumer Card Services Group after overseeing the turnaround of the company's flagship businesses.

Prior to his tenure at American Express, Phillip was a Division Executive at Chase and a Partner in a South Africa-based management consulting company. From 1998 to 2000, he served as CEO and Director of financial services technology firm OptiMark and remained a Director through 2002. From 2001 to 2003, he was CEO and a Director at AirClic, a wireless services company.

Phillip holds a Bachelors in Commerce degree from Leeds University (United Kingdom) in 1970 with a joint focus on Economics and Textile Engineering. He received an MBA from the University of Cape Town in 1972 and a Masters Degree in Management from the M.I.T. Sloan School of Management in 1977, where he was a Sloan Fellow.

Eric Archambeau – Director

Eric has extensive high tech management experience in Silicon Valley and Europe and is widely known for his deep insights and experience in social networking, data mining and electronic marketplaces. A French Native, Eric enjoys over 20 years of founding, financing and investing in young technology companies. Eric has served as a General Parnter with Wellington Partners since early 2005, with a focus on Digital Media, Software, Cleantech and Electronics.

Eric has an MBA from Santa Clara University, an MSME from the University of California at Berkeley, an Engineer degree in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, and a PhD in Computer Science from Grenoble University.

Dharmash Mistry – Director

Dharmash serves as a Partner of Balderton Capital, one of the largest venture groups in Europe with circa $2bn under management and seven Partners.

Prior to joining Balderton, Dharmash spent 15 years acquiring and developing businesses globally in the media, retail and consumer goods sectors. Most recently, he was part of the management team that successfully sold Emap's consumer magazine business to H. Bauer for £1.1bn. He spent eight years at Emap, where he held a range of executive roles, including Managing Director of Emap Consumer Media and Emap Performance.

Dharmash currently serves on the OFCOM advisory committee for England, and holds a MEng and BA in Engineering, Economics and Management from Oxford University.

Peter Rowley – Director

Peter has over 40 years international IT industry expertise including operations, sales & marketing, and identifying, growing and maximizing business opportunities for emerging technologies.

Peter holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of New South Wales.

Tom Smith – Director

Tom is a co-founder and managing partner of TTV Capital. He retired from IBM in 2000 after 30 years of service. From 1996 to his retirement, Tom served as vice president, Small and Medium Business, IBM Americas. Prior to that, he was the southern area general manager appointed in 1986, with responsibility for IBM’s sales, marketing and services business for thirteen states.

Tom earned a B.S. degree in industrial management from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1969 and completed the executive program at Dartmouth’s Amos Tuck School of Business in 1986.

Alexandre Gonthier – Director

Alexander Grinberg – Director