MPE 2022 Awards brochure

1. The MPE 2022 AWARDS CEREMONY is a part of
the 15th annual MPE 2022 (Merchant Payments
Ecosystem) conference, July 5-7.
MPE AWARDS MEDIA PARTNERS
RECOGNISING & REWARDING EXPERTISE &
INNOVATION IN MERCHANT PAYMENTS ECOSYSTEM!

2. WELCOME BACK TO THE MPE 2022 AWARDS!
As the MPE 2022 Awards Chair, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the
prestigious Merchant Payment Ecosystem Awards for the 15th Annual Conference
for the Payments Industry, organised by the Empiria Group.
Last year, the awards were fully virtual, and the last in-person event was in 2020.
This makes it even more special for me be able to say that I look forward to
welcoming you all in person in Berlin! I know we’ve all missed it and Berlin is really
the home of MPE.
As always, we remain committed to our “Guiding Hand” theme, and after a difficult
couple of years, it is fitting that the underlying meaning for our theme this year is
“Growing Faster” and our popular statuette will reflect this.
As digital commerce continues to grow at a stellar pace, merchants now need more
from their payment providers than simply processing payments. With terms such
as experiential commerce and invisible payments becoming part of life, having
a customer experience strategy and delivering on it is no longer a wish, but a
necessity. Merchants must find competitive ways to engage with an increasingly
more digital customer base and create those seamless, personal (and enjoyable)
interactions that everyone has come to expect. Luckily, the payments industry
never disappoints and continues to rise to this challenge: 2020 has seen more
market consolidation, numerous collaboration initiatives, and much innovation.
I often wonder how our industry continues to demonstrate resilience and
cooperation in the face of adversity.
Now more than ever, we’re looking for that X-Factor of business success: those that
have identified and capitalised on opportunities, those that have been outstanding
in their markets, those that have created successful partnerships making them
much more than the sum of their parts, and for those that were exemplary in
serving their customers.
The Awards history began in 2010 as the first awards to recognize the outstanding
role of card acquirers, processors, PSPs and respective solutions and services
providers, and to honour companies and individuals who contribute to the evolution
of this fascinating industry.
Constantly reflecting market changes, MPE Awards recognise the best payment
companies & individuals in 13 categories, divided into three groups with different
voting/judging process:
The Judge’s Choice Awards featuring 11 categories. All shortlisted parties and winners
will be selected by the panel of independent expert judges.
The Best Startup Innovation Award: shortlisted start-ups will be voted by the by
judges before the MPE 2021 conference and the winner will be decided by MPE 2022
delegates.
The People’s Choice Award featuring 1 Category (MPE Influencer of the Year). The
winner will be determined via public online voting.
It is also my privilege to select the Chairman’s Award, and this year, it will go to the
Best Non-Profit/ Charities Initiative.
In addition, to honour our commitment to diversification, I am pleased to report that
we have a 50/50 balance between ladies and gents on our judging panel, and our
judges come from 6 countries!
The MPE Awards remain an important benchmark of global excellence in merchant
payments, and I wish the best of luck to all entrants! This year, the awards ceremony
will be a part of a glittering evening ceremony taking place on 6th July 2022 at the
fabulous InterContinental Hotel Berlin and we can’t wait to see you all in person
again!
FOREWORD BY MS. NEIRA JONES
CHAIR OF THE JUDGING PANEL, INDEPENDENT ADVISOR & INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER
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3. MPE Awards - are The Only European Awards recognizing TOP merchant
payments acceptance companies and their achievements.
With a category for each player of the merchant payment ecosystem, the
Awards are all-inclusive. No other European awards program provides such
industry-wide recognition in true reflection of the breadth and strength of our
industry.
Your benefits:
As a winner, you will benefit from Global Promotion from the MPE 2022
conference.
• All winners will be given a 2022 MPE Awards logo and jury testimonials to
be used in their PR & marketing activities in addition to special coverage
from Merchant Payments Ecosystem Awards & conference
• Live Tweets during the Awards Gala Dinner announcing you as a winner
• MPE will promote short video interviews via different MPE channels
• A Winner banner to be used on your website/ social media
• Inclusion in MPE Awards PR announcing the MPE Award winners
• Pictures from the Awards Ceremony with a winner accepting the trophy
• Listing of you Your company’s logo on The Awards website
WHY THESE AWARDS
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4. Entries OPEN: December 1, 2021
Entries CLOSE: May 13, 2022
Judges Voting: May 16 – May 29, 2022
Public Voting: May 16 – May 29, 2022
Shortlisted Announced: June 2, 2022
MPE Awards Ceremony: July 6, 2022
YOUR AWARDS JOURNEY
FROM NOMINATION TO CEREMONY
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5. MPE INFLUENCER OF THE YEAR
MERCHANT ACQUIRER OF THE YEAR
MOST INNOVATIVE FRAUD/ PREVENTION SOLUTION
BEST USE OF DATA ANALYTICS & AI
BEST CROSS-BORDER MERCHANT SOLUTION
BEST IN-STORE PAYMENTS SOLUTION
BEST MERCHANT PAYMENT ACCEPTANCE PROVIDER
BEST PAYMENTS PARTNERSHIP
BEST PLATFORM/ MARKETPLACE PROVIDER
BEST USE OF CRYPTO/ BLOCKCHAIN IN THE MERCHANT PAYMENTS ECOSYSTEM
BEST USE OF OPEN BANKING FOR PAYMENTS
CHAIRMAN AWARD – BEST NON-PROFIT/ CHARITIES INITIATIVE
AWARDS CATEGORIES 2022
CATEGORY VOTED BY PUBLIC
CATEGORIES VOTED BY JUDGES:
CATEGORY VOTED BY JUDGES & MPE DELEGATES
BEST STARTUP INNOVATION
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6. Best PAAS Provider
Best Merchant Acquirer/
Merchant Processor
Best Use of Data
Analytics/ AI for
Fraud Prevention /
Security
Best Start-Up
Innovation
Best PSP/ ISO/
Facilitator /
Aggregator
Best Identity/
Authentication
Solution
Best Omni-Channel
or Multi-Rail Payment
Solution
Best Alternative
Payment Method
Best Merchant
Payments
Initiative of
the Year
Best POS/Payment
Solution
Best Payments
Partnership
Influencer of the
Year Award
Best Use of
Open Banking in
Merchant Payments
Ecosystem
ADAM SHARPE
Chariman’s Award-
Best Response to the
COVID19 Pandemic
MPE AWARDS 2021 WINNERS
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7. FAQ:
WHO CAN ENTER THE CONTEST AND
GENERAL CONDITIONS
There are 13 categories which can be entered by any merchant,
acquiring bank, non-bank acquirer, network service provider,
payment service provider, MNO, scheme, processor, payment
method or solution provider focused on payment industry.
HOW MANY CATEGORIES CAN BE
ENTERED?
You can enter maximum of three categories in a particular
year, however not with the same entry into 3 different
categories.
ARE THE AWARDS OPEN TO PAYMENTS
SOLUTION IN TEST/ PILOT PHASE?
Solutions must be live and out of test phase at the time of
submission. Pilot programmes will be accepted, but must
clearly be described as such and the judges will be looking for
evidence of success in the pilot.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO ENTER THE SAME
CATEGORIES AS FOR PREVIOUS YEARS?
Yes, you can enter the same category/categories with the same
or different product/service. You can also enter category/
categories you have not entered before with a product/service
you have submitted before. Winners from the previous years
should refer to the next rule.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO ENTER THE AWARDS IF
YOU WON THE PREVIOUS YEAR/YEARS?
Definitely, the only condition here is that you cannot enter neither
the same nor the rest of the categories with the same product/
service you won with previously. However, you can enter the same
category you won previously with a different product/service.
WHEN IS THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING
ENTRIES?
You can submit your nominations by May 13. Please note, that
no further extensions will be permitted unless by prior written
agreement from the MPE Awards organiser team.
WHEN WILL THE AWARDS FINALISTS &
WINNERS BE ANNOUNCED?
The MPE team will contact the Finalists on June 2. The MPE 2022
AWARDS Ceremony and Gala Dinner will be a part of the 15th
annual MPE 2022 (Merchant Payments Ecosystem) conference and
exhibition, July 5-7, Berlin. The winners will be announced at the
Gala Dinner on July 6.
DO WE NEED TO ADHERE TO THE AWARD
ENTRY CRITERIA?
Companies sending the submissions must specifically address the
key criteria set out in the relevant category. When preparing your
submission, please review the criteria carefully, then ensure that it
contains sufficient robust information for a specific category.
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8. A STEP-BY- STEP GUIDE:
NOMINATION, ENTRY PREPARATION & SUBMISSION, SELECTION & VOTING
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY/NOMINATION?
1. Choose the category or categories in which you wish to compete based on their individual description listed below in this brochure
2. Provide name and contact information on you (the person submitting the entries) and your company’s name and core competence
in brief
3. Explain your product/service or solution to our judges while mentioning its name, aims, achievements, benefits and measurable
criteria. The measurable criteria are category-specific, should be strictly kept and represent the key selection factor when judged. The
measurable criteria can be found within each specific category of your choice below in this brochure.
4. Gather any/all marketing materials related to your entry’s subject and have them ready (preferably in PDF form)
5. Visit the MPE website at www.merchantpaymentsecosystem.com and click on the “MPE AWARDS 2022 ENTRY SUBMISSION” button
6. Select the category of your choice by clicking on the corresponding check box and copy/paste the information you prepared
in STEP 1- 4 into the appropriate text fields. Attach the supporting materials described in STEP 4
7. Hit the SUBMIT button
ENTRY GUIDELINES
1. Entry is free and must be submitted in English.
2. Please note that your entries should consist of a text with up to 500 words per online text entry field and additional text explaining
the entry in more depth (pdf only). Both must specifically address the criteria defined for the category of your choice. You can find these
criteria in the awards brochure.
3. We also require a shorter version (summary of your submission of no more than 150 words) to be published on the MPE website if
your entry is shortlisted.
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9. ENTRY RULES:
• All entries must be submitted in English and submitted online.
• We must receive submissions before the final deadline to qualify.
• Incomplete entries will not be judged.
• If deemed appropriate, judges reserve the right to re-allocate entries into another category.
• Due to high demand, we are unable to guarantee feedback on entries.
• Entrants accept that information which is not marked ‘Judges Eyes Only’ has the right to be published before or after the ceremony.
• You must follow the criteria and fully answer each section. Please note that each category has its own criteria.
• The judges may decline to make any award in any category if in their opinion there are insufficient entries of a winning standard.
JUDGING PROCESS
• The MPE 2022 Awards will be judged by an independent international panel, who is carefully selected and vetted to ensure no conflict
of interests.
• Similar to last year, our panel will be comprised of around 15 international judges. Judges will be allocated on average four to five
categories.
• Using a set criteria for each entry scoring, after scores have been gathered, a judging day will take place.
CONFIRMATION OF YOUR NOMINATION
Once you submit the form MPE team will confirm its receipt within 24 hours. Should there be any information missing, MPE Awards
team will notify you shortly after the submission of your materials to complete your entry.In case of questions, please write us at
awards@merchantpaymentsecosystem.com
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10. AWARDS COMMITTEE
The judges are hand-picked by the organiser each
year. The jury comprises of independent payment
consultants and journalists focused on payments.
The awards committee has no commercial
involvement in the MPE event whatsoever and is
compensated for their time spent on the entries
by having a free access to the event. The judging
committee uses specialised voting software, each
member judging independently on other jurors.
Their individual outcomes are then put together by
the organiser and announced respectively.
THE JUDGING PROCESS, VOTING
AND TIMINGS
11 categories voted by Judges. All shortlisted
parties (3 in each category) and winners will be
selected by the panel of independent expert judges.
1 category voted by Public & the Jury: featuring
category the Best Start-up innovation that goes to
the winner of Innovation Corner competition.
1 category voted by Public featuring category MPE
Influencer of the Year, selected in voting process.
The winner will be determined via public online
voting.
1. Entries: people are allowed to nominate other people,
and people can nominate themselves
2. Judges draw up shortlist
3. Public voting: May 16 - May 29, 2022
4. Judges decide winner (final Word)
JUDGING
RULES FOR ONLINE VOTING (Category: Influencer of the Year)
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11. MPE ‘GUIDING HAND’
STATUETTE HISTORY
The Awards History & Concept
The MPE Awards’ history started in 2010 as the 1st European
awards to recognize the outstanding role of card acquirers,
processors, PSP’s, POS and payment solution providers and to
honor companies and individuals who helped move the industry
forward.
The MPE Awards Trophy was uniquely designed and
manufactured for the MPE Awards by recognized young
European artists at inception. The Awards statuette design
concept - “Guiding Hand” - represents how MPE sees the
acquirers, POS and payment solution providers.
The Awards Trophy & Artists
The MPE Awards do not reward its winners with laser-engraved
glass or „wannabe Oscars“. Instead, MPE went the harder way
of finding highly skilled artists and recognised artists whose
task is to create unique Guiding Hand statuettes, using valuable
materials with design changed from year to year, reflecting
the current trends and important happenings in the payment
industry.
From 2014 a Croatian artist Gordana Turuk created her new
organic glass and gold plated statuette to please the eye of the
winners.
She continues to design the MPE statuette also for 2022...
MPE AWARDS 2019 STATUETTE MPE AWARDS 2020 STATUETTE MPE AWARDS 2021 STATUETTE
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12. MERCHANT ACQUIRER OF THE YEAR -
DESCRIPTION
Detailed definition
Measurable criteria
This award will go to the merchant acquirer who has demonstrated success in their merchant relationships through the
provision of excellent products and services. Size doesn’t matter. Geography doesn’t matter. This category is open to all
acquirers who strive to be best of breed.
1. Target market (generalist or specialist), Customer Service development, Growth Trends (for both acquirer and
merchant) over 18-24 months, and Innovation
2. Effective go-to-market strategy, showing differentiation
3. Demonstrate value add and illustrate benefits (commercial or otherwise) to merchants and their end customers
(references and/or testimonials required) and provide relevant metrics
4. Service levels achieved, solution performance, and scalability
5. Provide detailed and relevant metrics that illustrate commercial success and viability (e.g., new customers won,
market share improvement, customer success, communications, etc.)
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13. MOST INNOVATIVE FRAUD/ PREVENTION
SOLUTION - DESCRIPTION
Detailed definition
Measurable criteria
This award will go to the provider who launched an innovative solution in the last 18 months that can demonstrate
tangible benefits to merchants regarding fraud prevention, identity, or authentication (e.g., support of SCA migration).
The entry must include quantifiable data to show the product’s impact on its clients through use of technology (e.g.,
analytics, AI, biometrics, etc.). The data analytics must be relevant to the fraud area.
1. Provide detailed and relevant metrics that illustrate commercial success and viability, ideally comparing metrics
pre-product launch and after implementation
2. Include details of evidence of innovation or differentiation which provide a competitive advantage
3. Demonstrate value add and illustrate through a case study the benefits to merchants and all stakeholders
(references and/or testimonials required)
4. Provide detailed and relevant metrics that illustrate the commercial success and impact of the product
5. Illustrate how the solution’s deployment simplified the client’s existing business while making it more secure
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14. BEST USE OF DATA ANALYTICS & AI -
DESCRIPTION
Detailed definition
Measurable criteria
This Award goes to the company that uses Data Analytics or AI to support merchants in any way that is NOT involved in
Fraud prevention. To stress, this is not about Fraud Prevention using AI/Data analytics but covers areas such as loyalty,
customer engagement, customer & merchant support/service, etc. Either technology, platform, or merchants may enter
the award.
1. How effectively it uses Data Analytics or AI
2. Ease of use for the end-user
3. Value add for end-users and the merchants
4. Impact on the market and the merchants
5. Provide detailed and relevant metrics that illustrate the commercial viability of the initiative
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15. BEST CROSS-BORDER MERCHANT
SOLUTION - DESCRIPTION
Detailed definition
Measurable criteria
This award is for a payments provider that supports cross-border e-commerce expansion (globally or in multiple high-
growth markets) at scale while optimizing authorization rates and reducing fraud.
1. The ability to offer local acquiring and card acquiring optimization / intelligent card routing
2. Number of countries served (and which countries), the number of local payment methods offered, and regional
presence (local offices - local expertise)
3. The simplicity of integrating local payment methods (time to market)
4. Number of settlement currencies
5. Illustrate the success of the initiative through the use of appropriate metrics including to what extent the company
improves false positives / false negatives
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16. BEST IN-STORE PAYMENTS SOLUTION -
DESCRIPTION
Detailed definition
Measurable criteria
This award will go to the organization that has developed the most innovative in-store payment acceptance solution
that provides value and differentiation for merchants and a great payments experience for customers.
1. Uniqueness of the solution & level of innovation
2. The amount of value and competitive differentiation delivered to the merchant
3. Improved merchant revenue and reduced false declines, providing an enhanced customer experience
4. Ease of adoption, performance, and other appropriate metrics
5. Merchant & end customer feedback/testimonials
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17. BEST MERCHANT PAYMENT ACCEPTANCE
PROVIDER - DESCRIPTION
Detailed definition
Measurable criteria
This award is open to PSPs, ISOs, Facilitators, Aggregators, Payments Orchestrators, PAAS Providers & Acquirers and
will go to the provider who can demonstrate real benefits to merchants either in terms of omnichannel or multi-rail
payment acceptance service provision facilitation, open banking, payment orchestration, embedded finance, innovative
commercial constructs, or other demonstrable and quantifiable merchant benefits (fraud reduction/chargebacks).
1. Target market, whether geographic or specialist, and rationale
2. Include details of evidence of innovation or differentiation which provide a competitive advantage
3. Demonstrate value add and illustrate benefits to merchants and all stakeholders (references and/or testimonials
required)
4. Provide detailed and relevant metrics that illustrate commercial success, viability, solution performance, flexibility,
and scalability
5. Ease of deployment and interface with merchants existing systems
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18. BEST PAYMENTS PARTNERSHIP -
DESCRIPTION
Detailed definition
Measurable criteria
This category awards two organizations who have formed a business partnership and, by working closely together, have
delivered outstanding value that goes far beyond a customer-supplier relationship.
1. The depth and nature of the partnership
2. Uniqueness/ Innovation of the partnership proposition and evidence of how both organizations have benefitted
from the partnership
3. Long term impact of the partnership and sustainability
4. Evidence of outcomes achieved as a result of the partnership (customer uptake, measurable benefits)
5. Illustrate the mutual success of the partnership
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19. BEST PLATFORM/ MARKETPLACE
PROVIDER - DESCRIPTION
Detailed definition
Measurable criteria
This award will go the organization offering the best, most comprehensive, most useful platform or marketplace
supporting merchants or other players in the merchant payments ecosystem such as banks, PSP, service providers,
consumers with solutions in any area of the ecosystem.
1. Uniqueness and/or differentiation from other providers (e.g. free or advantageous membership plans, various sales
model options - fixed sales, auction, mixed sales, social media selling integration.)
2. Demonstrable value add for users of the platform or marketplace (include testimonials, case studies etc., to prove
your statements)
3. The scope of services provided, the scope of users of the platform or marketplace.
4. Demonstrate commercial viability through the use of appropriate metrics
5. Inclusion of seller and buyer protection program
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20. BEST USE OF CRYPTO/ BLOCKCHAIN IN
THE MERCHANT PAYMENTS ECOSYSTEM
DESCRIPTION
Detailed definition
Measurable criteria
This award will go the organization offering an exceptionally flexible, functional, and innovative CRYPTO/BLOCKCHAIN-
based solution for payments or other uses in the merchant payments ecosystem.
1. Evidence of innovation, uniqueness and/or differentiation
2. Robustness and security of your crypto payment gateway, data storage, and transmission management
3. Merchant onboarding process - integration with third-party validation systems (document digitization, documents
authenticity, validation check)
4. Availability of merchant transaction reports (balance and transaction history overview), speed of data distribution
across all involved parties
5. Demonstrate the commercial viability of the initiative
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21. BEST USE OF OPEN BANKING FOR
PAYMENTS - DESCRIPTION
Detailed definition
Measurable criteria
It is awarded to the company that best uses open banking data or a payment initiation solution that drives end-user
payments to or from merchants. Includes enabling loans at the point of sale and all account-to-account payments.
1. How effectively the solution uses open banking to drive payments to or from a merchant
2. Ease of use for the end-user
3. Value-add for end-users and merchants
4. Impact in the market and to the merchants, including how any security issues are managed
5. Provide appropriate metrics to demonstrate commercial viability
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22. CHAIRMAN AWARD - BEST NON-PROFIT/
CHARITIES INITIATIVE - DESCRIPTION
Detailed definition
This category is awarded by the chairman and co-chairman and its theme is different every year. For 2022, the Chairman
Award will go to the organization which, on its own or in partnership with others, has delivered the best merchant
initiative in support of the 3rd sector.
Measurable criteria
1. Clear problem statement of what the initiative is trying to solve
2. Demonstrable value add for the target users of the initiative (include supporting testimonials, case studies, etc.)
3. Uniqueness and/or differentiation from other providers
4. The scope/ impact of services provided
5. Commercial viability and potential for deployment in other markets
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23. BEST START-UP INNOVATION AWARD -
DESCRIPTION
Detailed definition
“Startup company” competing in IC must fit the following criteria:
This award will go to the winner of the Innovation Corner competition for the most innovative start-up company in
Merchant Payments Ecosystem.
1. Is a part of the next generation of merchant payment and POS service providers.
2. Stands behind a breakthrough idea or product that might disrupt established practices
3. Represents a new breed of payment providers with big ambitions and powerful proposition and acts as a catalyst
for the next generation of merchant payments
4. The company must be out of the starting blocks and fully operational and Its solutions and services have already
been launched at least in trial and are in their essence either game-changing, breakthrough, innovative or unique
5. The solution/service the company offers provides a value proposition with a measurable ROI.
Please find more information about Innovation Corner Competition & entry submission process HERE
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24. MPE INFLUENCER OF THE YEAR -
DESCRIPTION
Detailed definition
Measurable criteria
To be awarded to the individual (or team) who has provided a significant contribution to the development of the Merchant
Payments Ecosystem either on a domestic or international basis.
1. Describe the services (current role) the individual or team provides within the merchant payments ecosystem
2. Provide a brief biography of the nominee
3. What really differentiates the nominee in his/her marketplace?
VOTED ONLINE
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25. MPE 2022 AWARDS JURY MEMBERS
Special thanks goes to Awards Jury Members:
1. Neira Jones, (MPE 2022 Awards Chair) Independent Advisor & International Speaker, United Kingdom
2. Roger Alexander, Expert (MPE 2022 Awards Co-Chair), VALITOR hf, United Kingdom
3. Gary Munro, CTO, CHYP, United Kingdom
4. Alex Rolfe, Managing Director, Payments Cards and Mobile Magazine, United Kingdom
5. David Parker, CEO Polymath Consulting, United Kingdom
6 Melisande Mual, MD The Paypers, The Netherlands
7. Volker Schlönvoigt, Director, Edgar, Dunn & Company, United Kingdom
8. Andrea Toucinho, Director of Studies, Prospective and Training, PARTELYA CONSULTING, France
9. Mark McMurtrie, Director, Payments Consultancy Ltd, United Kingdom
10 Claire Maslen, Chief Marketing Officer, Consult Hyperion, United Kingdom
11. Janusz Diemko, Payments Consultant, Angel Investor and Mentor, Poland
12. Emilia D’Anzica, Founder, Customer Success Consulting, Growth Molecules, US
13. Yvonne Eskenzi, Owner, Eskenzi PR, United Kingdom
14. Stanley Skoglund, Co-Founder & Director, Minerva, United Kingdom
15. Dorota Zimnoch, Global Head of Digital Strategy, Volvo Financial Services, Belgium
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26. STAY IN TOUCH WITH US
mpe@merchantpaymentsecosystem.com
www.merchantpaymentsecosystem.com
Organized by:
Before submitting your entry, please review
„HOW TO PREPARE SUBMISSION“ the TIPS FROM
MPE 2022 Awards JUDGES – posted on the MPE
AWARDS WEBSITE
OUR TIP!