Fidel API bolsters leadership team with trio of hires from Visa, Google & Talkdesk

Fidel API, a financial infrastructure API provider, has made a raft of new senior appointments.

Kevin Akerman joins as VP of Global Strategic Initiatives, Mounir Mouawad joins as VP of Payments and Emerging Products and Carlos Vilhena joins as Head of Engineering.

Fidel API, which is headquartered in London, is backed by investors including Nyca Partners, QED Investors, Citi Ventures, RBC Capital and Commerce Ventures. Its infrastructure allows banks and fintechs and other companies to develop digital services on top of card networks such as Visa and Mastercard through payments data.

Akerman joins from Visa where for the past 11 years he led its product strategy and business development in the US, and most recently in Europe. He will focus on building out Fidel's enterprise partnerships.

Mouawad will be responsible emerging products and leading developer teams. He joins Fidel API from Google, where he oversaw the product strategy and European operations for Google Pay. He also led the launch of Google Pay across 20 markets in two years and frequently served as an advisor to regulators on open banking.

Vilhena, who as a long history in fintech, previously working at Talkdesk, will lead Fidel API’s engineering efforts. 

“We are delighted to welcome Kevin, Mounir and Carlos across three core areas of our business during an important stage of growth for Fidel API. Each individual brings a breadth of experience that will help us continue the incredible momentum we’ve experienced this year,” said Dev Subrata, Chief Executive Officer of Fidel API. 

“In particular, Kevin is a long-time partner and helped establish our first commercial agreement with Visa. His invaluable expertise in the payments ecosystem and knowledge of the global card networks will play a critical role in driving commercial opportunities.”