WILMINGTON, Del., May 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Dekkers Davidson has joined Barclaycard US, the payments business of Barclays in the United States, as Head of its US mobile business. Mr. Davidson will report to Amer Sajed, Chief Executive of the Barclaycard US unit, and serve on the executive committee for the business.As leader of the mobile business, Davidson will oversee all efforts to understand the US market potential of mobile payments and commerce, identify the right approaches, partnerships and technologies to leverage Barclaycard's global leadership and experience in mobile banking and contactless technology – to allow consumers to shop and pay for things on the go and access unique shopping offers and experiences.
"We believe that mobile represents the future of payments and for commerce," said Mr. Sajed. "Mobile payments can be a competitive differentiator in attracting new customers and in making payments easier and more rewarding for existing customers. We will combine the mobile telecommunications expertise and new business launch experience Dekkers brings with our understanding of the needs of the US consumer to create a powerful business."
Davidson joins Barclaycard US from Oliver Wyman, a leading global management consulting firm that combines technology industry knowledge with expertise in strategy, operations, risk management, organizational transformation and leadership development. While at Oliver Wyman, Davidson was practice leader for the North American telecommunications sector and worked with many of the leading mobile network operators (MNOs) and Smart Phone makers operating in North America and Europe. He has had experience advising the ISIS consortium over the previous two years.
In January of 2011, Barclaycard and Orange announced the first contactless mobile phone payment solution for UK consumers which will launch by early summer.
There are now more than 11 million contactless-enabled Barclaycards and Barclays debit cards, helping retailers reduce queuing and cut the cost of card transactions. Barclays and Barclaycard are the leading providers of contactless terminals in the UK with 56,000 live and accepting payment throughout the country for retailers such as Pret A Manger, Subway, and EAT.
The Absa unit of Barclays was the first bank in South Africa to introduce mobile banking – allowing customers to conduct banking transactions such as payments, account transfers and balance checks while on the go.
"With device manufacturers, software developers and payments providers all aligned toward the same future, the US market is ready for mobile payments," said Davidson. "Barclaycard's global expertise and know-how will help our existing and future co-branded card partners successfully transition into mobile, as we work with leading solution partners to pave the way for consumer and merchant adoption. I feel fortunate to have joined one of the world's leading mobile payments companies at such an exciting time in the payments space."
Prior to his time at Oliver Wyman, Davidson held several executive leadership roles in the mobile, networking and retail sectors. Davidson was a Venture Partner at Fidelity Ventures where he focused on wireless retailing, mobile payments and commerce investments. Before that, he was Chief Executive Officer at Cetacean Networks, a next generation data networking startup funded by leading venture capitalists. At Rogers Cantel, Inc., Canada's largest wireless carrier, he was President of the Ontario region responsible for driving s business turnaround – and helping to launch the first wireless prepaid service in North America. Davidsonlaunched Sprint PCS in the New England Market as Area Vice President and directed the startup wireless operation in the New England area. Earlier in his career, Davidson was a Visiting Instructor at Harvard Business School and Domestic Telecom Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce. Davidson began his career with AT&T as an account executive.
Davidson holds a master's degree in business administration from Harvard University and a bachelor's degree from St. Lawrence University.
About Barclaycard US
Headquartered in Wilmington, Del., Barclaycard US creates customized, co-branded credit card programs for some of the country's most successful travel, entertainment, retail, affinity and financial institutions. The company employs 1,400 associates and was named a Top Workplace in Delaware in 2010. For more information please visit www.barclaycardus.com.
Barclaycard, part of Barclays Global Retail Banking division, is a leading global payment business that helps consumers, retailers and businesses to make and accept payments flexibly, and to access short-term credit when needed.
The company is one of the pioneers of new forms of payments, and is at the forefront of developing viable contactless and mobile payment options for today and cutting edge forms of payment for the future. It also issues credit and charge cards to corporate customers and the British Government. Barclaycard partners with a wide range of organizations across the globe to offer their customers or members payment options and credit.
Barclaycard operates in the United States, Europe, Africa and the Middle and Far East.
For further information about Barclays, please visit www.barclays.com.
SOURCE Barclaycard US
