Cross-border payments company Damisa has appointed Nick Watkins as Chairman of the Board, strengthening its leadership team as it prepares for a Series A funding round expected to begin later this year.
The appointment comes as the London-based fintech continues expanding its regulated cross-border payments infrastructure, which uses stablecoin rails to enable faster settlement for businesses operating across emerging and high-growth markets.
In his new role, Watkins will advise Damisa’s leadership team and help guide the company’s operational development as it scales internationally. His appointment coincides with a period of growth for the company, whose core payment corridors are now live and supporting business customers moving funds across borders.
Watkins brings more than three decades of experience in treasury, finance and operational management across some of the world’s largest financial institutions. During his career, he has held senior positions at Goldman Sachs, Partners Group and UBS. He spent nearly nine years in senior management at Partners Group, where he most recently served as Global Head of Service Provider Management. He currently serves as Chief Financial Officer at OCEAN and sits on the advisory board of Evoco AG.
“I am honoured to join Damisa as Chairman and work alongside such a talented team,” Watkins says. “I look forward to drawing on my experience across start-ups and global financial institutions to support the company during this next stage of growth. My ambition is for Damisa to become the standard for global B2B cross-border financial infrastructure.”
The appointment reflects a broader trend across the fintech sector, where companies preparing for institutional fundraising often strengthen governance by adding experienced executives and board members. A seasoned chairman can help guide strategic decisions, support relationships with investors and regulators, and oversee operational expansion as companies move into new stages of growth.
Damisa operates in a segment of the payments industry that has attracted increasing attention as businesses seek alternatives to traditional correspondent banking. Stablecoin-based payment infrastructure has gained momentum in recent years because it can reduce settlement times from several days to just hours while improving transparency and lowering costs for cross-border transactions. The technology is increasingly being adopted for business-to-business payments, treasury operations and international settlements, particularly in regions where access to global financial services remains limited.
According to the company, Damisa’s infrastructure enables businesses to collect, settle and manage funds across more than 70 currencies using both traditional fiat currencies and stablecoins. The platform also provides real-time transaction visibility and transparent pricing while operating under regulatory licences across multiple jurisdictions.
Jordan Lawrence, Co-Founder and CEO of Damisa, said Watkins’ experience aligns with the company’s next stage of development as it prepares to raise additional capital.
“Nick has spent three decades working at the highest levels of global finance. He understands the rigour required to operate infrastructure at scale, as well as the discipline needed to do it well,” Lawrence says. “His judgement and experience will be invaluable as we grow across our core markets and prepare for a Series A funding round. We are delighted to welcome him as Chairman.”
The planned Series A fundraising is expected to support Damisa’s continued international expansion and further development of its regulated payments, settlement and treasury infrastructure. As demand for faster and more efficient cross-border payment solutions continues to grow, the company is positioning itself to serve businesses operating across both established and emerging markets through an always-on financial infrastructure built on stablecoin technology.
