Icon Solutions has announced an expansion of its strategic partnership with NatWest, marked by the appointment of Ian Povey, CIO Payments Technology, and Lee McNabb, Head of Payments Strategy and Partnerships, as Board Observers. This collaboration aims to further modernize NatWest’s payments technology and strategy, aligning with global standards and enhancing service delivery.

Key Appointments:

Ian Povey:

• Renowned payments product and technology executive.
• Oversees the modernization of NatWest’s payments technology estate.
• Responsible for the continuous availability of payments as a critical industry participant.
• Serves on the Board of Directors of SWIFT.

Lee McNabb:

• Extensive experience in banking, product management, risk, and strategy.
• Joined NatWest in 2018 after 13 years at the Co-operative Bank.
• Responsible for NatWest’s payments strategy and regulatory changes.

Strategic Investment and Technological Advancement:

• NatWest’s strategic investment in Icon Solutions in March 2024.
• Selection of the Icon Payments Framework (IPF) in September 2023 to accelerate payments modernization.
• Alignment with new global ISO 20022 payment data message standards.

Comments from Key Figures:

Ian Povey: “NatWest and Icon have been working collaboratively to modernize payments since 2019. IPF empowers us to enable change from within, allowing us to deliver new payment services quickly, safely, and cost-efficiently.”

Lee McNabb: “Our partnership with Icon is key to NatWest’s payments strategy, reflecting our ongoing commitment to investing in and embracing new technologies and capabilities.”

Tom Kelleher, Co-Founder and Commercial Director at Icon: “We are very pleased to welcome Ian and Lee to the Icon Board. Their combined experience and expertise further strengthen our capability to evolve IPF and our service offerings to simplify payments transformation.”

The appointments of Ian Povey and Lee McNabb as Board Observers solidify the strategic partnership between NatWest and Icon Solutions, highlighting a commitment to technological advancement and strategic alignment in the payments industry. This collaboration promises to drive innovation and efficiency, ensuring robust and modernized payment services for NatWest’s customers.