Zilch, a UK-based buy now, pay later (BNPL) fintech, has appointed Boriana Tchobanova as the company’s new chief operating officer (COO). Tchobanova is to succeed Rakesh Harji, who departed Zilch in July after nearly seven years in the role.
Tchobanova will already be familiar with the remit of COO, having previously served in the position during her 15-year tenure at American Express. She later moved to the group’s travel management division, American Express Global Business Travel, where she has worked as senior vice president and chief transformation officer since 2020.
According to a company statement, Tchobanova will work to “deliver major initiatives that will support the organisation’s growth, unlock new revenue opportunities, and improve efficiencies”.
Zilch is reportedly on the lookout for international acquisition opportunities as it continues to gear up for a potential initial public offering (IPO), according to a Sky News report in July.
The company says it has also enlisted MHP Group to “deploy its specialist advisors across strategic communications, public affairs, creative campaigning, and capital markets advisory”. The communications agency has previously worked with the likes of Coinbase, which went public in 2021, and Airwallex, which is targeting a stock market floatation next year.
Zilch also secured £100 million in securitised debt financing led by Deutsche Bank in June last year, and boosted its lending capacity further this week with a new £30 million loan facility from US Bank.
The fintech, founded by CEO Philip Belamant, Serge Belamant, and Sean O’Connor in 2018, was last valued at around $2 billion following a $110 million Series C funding round in 2021.
Source: https://www.fintechfutures.com/
