MoneyGram has named a new chief digital officer, a little over a year after the global money-transfer company created the position.
On Monday, Dallas-based MoneyGram said Josh Gordon-Blake would assume the executive leadership role. He previously co-founded money-transfer business Pangea, which was acquired by Enova International, a lending platform for non-prime consumers and small businesses, in 2021.
"We're excited to … utilize his breadth of experience to fast-track the growth of our modern fintech platform and suite of digital products and services," MoneyGram CEO Alex Holmes said in a press release.
Josh Gordon-Blake, the new chief digital officer of MoneyGram, will oversee core remittance services, cryptocurrency integration and new product launches for MoneyGram's website and app.
MoneyGram formed the chief digital officer position in April 2023 when it appointed Seth Ross to the role. Ross was tasked with leading MoneyGram's direct-to-consumer business and global digital strategy. The company hired four new leaders in February who reported to Ross and whose roles tied into its digital strategy. MoneyGram also has pursued several fintech partnerships over the last two years, such as with peer-to-peer lending app Zirtue.
The creation of the new role followed a yearslong push by MoneyGram to design its products more intentionally for consumers, rather than for transfer agents such as Walmart.
Gordon-Blake will focus on expanding MoneyGram Online, or MGO, globally. MGO is the website and app that lets users send and receive money around the world, pay bills online or trade cryptocurrency. Gordon-Blake will oversee its core remittance services, cryptocurrency integration and new product launches.
At this point, MoneyGram faces dozens of competitors in cross-border payments as well as faster processing times from traditional banks. In its quest to differentiate itself, Holmes said in December that the decades-old company is planning to expand blockchain and crypto service, better tailor its mix of cash and digital payment services to local markets, and target new demographics.
In February 2022, the company agreed to be acquired by private equity firm Madison Dearborn Partners for about $1 billion in cash. MDP completed its acquisition in June 2023.
"We see tremendous opportunity for MoneyGram's leading financial technology solutions, particularly in light of the continued, rapid digitization of the global economy," Brendan Barrett, a managing director on MDP's Financial and Transaction Services team, said in a press release at the time.
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