Digital transactions expert Esther Groen appointed partner at Innopay

Innopay has added Esther Groen to its partner team in the Netherlands. The former banker and consultant has been with the firm for two years and brings over two decades of experience to Innopay's leadership ranks.

“I look forward to the fact that I can contribute to the growth and ambitions of the company,” says Groen, who previously served ABN Amro and The Royal Bank of Scotland for more than a decade. There she worked in transaction banking – in her latest role she was responsible for the Global Transaction Services (GTS) unit in the EMEA region, based in the Netherlands.

She also played a key role in the migration of clients of RBS’s cash management business to other banks in the country, as part of RBS’s withdrawal out of the segment. Groen ensured a smooth process, including a proactive approach and transparent client communication. Earlier in her career, Groen worked for PNO Consultants for six years in a commercial role, and as a consultant at Amrop in Amsterdam, with offices in around 50 countries one of the globe’s larger executive search partnerships.

At the end of 2016, Groen joined Innopay, where she was appointed Lead Banking & Payments Director. In her new capacity, the 46-year-old will focus on expanding Innopay’s services in the area of digital transactions, the main focus area of the firm. The consultancy recently released a book outlining its vision in the realm (titled ‘Everything Transaction’), highlighting that collaboration is key for companies amid a climate of growing data complexity and in which consumers are set to increasingly demand control over their digital footprint. “The number of transactions is going to explode. Companies are underestimating the complexity of data handling and will need to work with others if they are to survive and thrive,” explained Innopay’s CEO Shikko Nijland in discussion with Consultancy.eu in the run up to the book’s launch.

“We are set to solve contemporary problems with an innovative view on the future,” said Groen. Elaborating on LinkedIn, she stated: “The way we transact and interact is rapidly shifting towards digital. It is forcing established value chains in for instance banking, payments, telecom, logistics, public and insurances, to open up. For customers, openness is all about having control over how, when and with whom they want to interact, transact and share data. Companies therefore need to offer relevant services to convince consumers to transact and share data with them, while safeguarding trust, legacy and privacy.” 

Commenting on her appointment, Nijland said that Groen’s “substantial experience with global transaction services” will enable the consulting firm to provide clients with an innovative vision on developments in the digital transactions realm. 

Becoming the firm’s first female partner – other partners include founder Douwe Lycklama, Vincent Jansen and Nils Jung – Groen added that she looks forward to be a source of inspiration for younger women with the aspiration of growing the firm’s ranks. “I think that this will encourage them to recognise that women can become leaders in technology, with the proper knowledge, experience and ambition.” 

Related: Innopay Experience Lab helps banks prepare for PSD2 and Open Banking.