Smith joins PayPoint UK as managing director

PayPoint UK has announced that Seamus Smith will become the company’s new managing director.

Smith joins from American Express, where he was vice president & general manager, EMEA for American Express Global Network Services. In his new role he will have responsibility for the UK and Irish retail network business.

PayPoint delivers payment services through a combination of local shops, internet and mobile distribution channels. The company handles more than £10bn annually, from 590m transactions.

In March, the Department for Work & Pensions announced that Citibank, in conjunction with PayPoint, will take over the UK welfare payment contract from Post Office Ltd. A new ‘over-the-counter’ welfare payment service at PayPoint outlets will begin next year.

PayPoint, in partnership with Yodel, launched returns service Collect+ in February 2009, which operates through the payment specialist’s network of 3,500 stores.

Commenting on the appointment, Dominic Taylor, chief executive of PayPoint, said: “As the senior executive team concentrates on delivering our growth strategy across the group, the UK and Irish retail business needs its own dedicated management to focus on leading this business forward. I am delighted to welcome Seamus in this role.”

Smith added: “PayPoint plays a key role in delivering cost-effective payment collections for its clients and driving footfall and incremental sales to the thousands of retailers in its retail network.

“The on-going development of innovative retail services and new concepts such as ‘cash out’, along with the opportunities to capitalise on the synergies between the retail network, mobile payments, internet payments and Collect+ make this is an exciting time to be joining PayPoint.”