Andy Hayes

Background

About Andy Hayes

With 25 years of experience, primarily in the Payments and Financial Services industry—I have built a career on leading strategic and operational change, solving complex problems, and helping teams navigate challenges with clarity and confidence. To me, leadership is about more than just driving results—it is about bringing people together, creating an environment where they can do their best work, and making sure that technology and risk management align with core business needs. I have led global teams through major M&A transitions, integrated modern cloud technologies, and helped shape strategies that balance innovation with resilience, ensuring an appropriate and balanced risk management footprint. I have a deep understanding of the payments and financial services industry, from payment processing and open banking to regulatory compliance and cloud-based architectures. I stay ahead of emerging fintech trends, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, and crypto, ensuring that businesses can innovate while managing risk effectively. What drives me most is collaborating with people—mentoring and building strong relationships to get things done. Throughout my career, I have grown into leadership roles, taking on increasing responsibilities while staying true to my values of integrity, adaptability, and clear communication. I am a Mental health & wellness advocate and qualified Mental Health First Aider. in August 2025, I qualified as a Trauma-Informed Conscious Breathwork Practitioner. I founded the European Men's Mental Health Circle at Elavon with sixty members, hosting bi-weekly support sessions. I am also an Endurance sports enthusiast, focused on building resilience and life coping skills as an Ultra-Distance Mountain Runner with Kilcoole Athletics Club in County Wicklow, competing nationally & internationally. Core Demonstrated Skills and Responsibilities: Change Management Leadership, Team Management & Mentoring Strategic Planning and Implementation Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management Information Security Alignment Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Operational Resilience and Technology Enhancement Product Strategy and Development Data-Driven Decision Making Professional Certifications: Cloud: AZ-900 AWS Agile / Methodologies: SAFe® Agilist Program Management: PRINCE2; APM PMQ Security: CISSP; PCI Practitioner; ISO 27001 Lead Auditor National Diploma Sport Psychology