Why Our New CEO Was Already on the Team

At Paysend, we believe the best stories of leadership come from within. This article is part of a new series where we share perspectives from our leaders – highlighting the values, ideas and people practices that shape our company.

Introducing Hunter

In this piece, Hunter Morgan Davis, our Global Head of People & Culture Strategy and Development, shares his view on why Ben Chisell’s appointment as CEO is not only a natural step, but also a reflection of Paysend’s commitment to internal growth and development.

The Path to Leadership: Why We Promote from Within

For us, promoting Ben is more than a single appointment. It’s a testament to our philosophy: building the world’s largest digital payments network means investing in our people as much as our technology.

With Ben leading, we’ll continue to develop existing Paysenders while also bringing in new talent, always guided by our mission to break barriers and make money transfers simple, secure and accessible for everyone.

We know flexibility and collaboration matter. That’s why, even with four key offices in London, Belgrade, Dublin and Miami, our team stretches across 38 countries. No matter where they are, we work to ensure every Paysender feels connected, empowered and able to thrive.

Cultivating Talent and Raising the Bar

One of the things I value most here is that career paths aren’t linear. We see growth as a rock wall, not a ladder — sometimes you climb up, other times you move sideways to discover a new path.

Take Elena Iurchenko, who began in Customer Support before moving into Finance and now Product. Or Andrej Balenovic, who also started in Support and is now a Customer Experience Manager in Enterprise Operations. These journeys show that when we invest in our people, they can redefine what’s possible.

We embed growth into our daily work. Instead of backward-looking reviews, we use feedforward to set goals and fuel development. It’s not a twice-a-year tick-box exercise, but part of the DNA of how Paysenders support each other every day.

By investing in our people, we’re not just filling positions; we’re strengthening our foundation and our future. The collective experience and deep company knowledge of our team are our greatest assets. Fundamentally, we believe that when you hire great people, you should do everything you can to help them thrive.

Hiring for Impact

Speaking of great people, that's exactly what we aim to do when we look externally. We are not a company that just throws more people at a problem; we're deliberate and thoughtful. We want to ensure we bring in "bar raisers." These are people who are not only technical experts but also those who can help bring those around them up to their level. Our hiring process starts with a culture-first approach and then, in subsequent stages, assesses if you can truly raise the bar. We’re looking for people who can bring that extra spark, the ability to innovate, collaborate and inspire the entire team.

Looking Ahead

This is an incredibly exciting time for us. Our ability to grow leaders from within while welcoming new talent who inspire everyone around them is part of what makes Paysend so special.

Ben’s appointment as CEO shows exactly why we believe the best leadership stories start inside our own walls. With his experience, vision and the collective passion of every Paysender, I’m confident our best days are still ahead.