Peter O’Halloran Appointed CEO of Payzone, Returning to the Company After Two Decades

Payzone has named Peter O’Halloran as its new Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Jim Deignan, who has been with the company for 27 years. The appointment marks a return to the business where O’Halloran began his career in financial technology more than two decades ago.

With 21 years of experience across the Irish and international payments sectors, O’Halloran brings expertise in digital commerce, payment infrastructure and business development. His career has included senior leadership positions covering European, Middle Eastern, African and global markets.

International Experience in Payments and Fintech

Before returning to Payzone, O’Halloran held several senior positions at Fiserv, a global financial technology company.

Most recently, he led Carat, Fiserv’s enterprise merchant business, across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). During his tenure, the division expanded its revenue and market presence through organic growth and acquisitions.

Previously, as General Manager of Global Digital Commerce at Fiserv, he oversaw the development of the company's omnichannel payment gateway into a platform supporting merchants, acquiring institutions and banks across 100 countries.

His earlier career also included co-founding Branded Payment Solutions, a business specialising in prepaid cards, and introducing white-label managed services at Realex Payments.

In addition to his operational responsibilities, O’Halloran served on Fiserv’s EMEA Executive Committee and global leadership team. He also held the position of Non-Executive Chairman at Fiserv Polska SA and represented the company on European boards of the Merchant Risk Council and Merchant Advisory Group.

A Return to Payzone

O’Halloran’s relationship with Payzone dates back more than 20 years, when he joined the company and subsequently took responsibility for its gift card and loyalty business.

He later maintained his involvement with the organisation as a Non-Executive Director between 2019 and 2025.

Commenting on his appointment, O’Halloran said:

“Payzone has been part of my fintech story from the beginning. I worked with each of the company’s previous Chief Executives and I know its people, its culture and its drive to get things done. It is a privilege to return as CEO."

“As Ireland moves towards an increasingly digital, mobile, and sustainable future, Payzone’s role is more relevant than ever. I see many growth opportunities for Payzone across channels, markets, products and verticals and I look forward to working with the team and the Payzone Board, to build connected payment solutions that make daily life easier for people across Ireland.”

Supporting Payzone’s Continued Development

Headquartered in Sandyford, Dublin, Payzone is jointly owned by AIB and Fiserv. The company employs more than 130 people and handles over 300 million transactions annually, representing approximately €4.5 billion in payment value.

Elaine Downey, Chair of Payzone, welcomed O’Halloran’s appointment, highlighting his international industry experience and existing knowledge of the organisation.

“We are delighted to welcome Peter back to Payzone as Chief Executive."

"He brings extensive experience from more than two decades working in payments in Ireland and internationally, together with a strong understanding of Payzone, having started his fintech career with the company and subsequently serving on its Board."

"We look forward to Peter and his team building on Payzone’s strong position as Ireland’s largest consumer payments network, with a continued focus on making payments simple and convenient for customers.”

O’Halloran also serves as an Ambassador for Fintech Ireland. His academic background includes a BA in International Business and Languages from Dublin City University and the Autonomous University of Barcelona, an MSc in Electronic Commerce from Dublin City University, and a postgraduate diploma in Global Business Management from Harvard Business School.

His appointment comes as digital payments continue to evolve, with Payzone seeking opportunities to expand its services, products and market reach.

Source