Liberis, a leading global embedded finance platform, today announced the appointment of Rob Fairfield as Chief Executive Officer, effective from 1st August 2025. Fairfield, who has served as Chief Operating Officer since 2020, will succeed Rob Straathof, who will transition to Board Advisor and Chairman of the Partner Committee.
Under Straathof's leadership, Liberis has grown significantly. In 2015, Liberis operated solely in the UK and had a single strategic partner, Worldpay. Today, Liberis operates in 15 countries and has 48 strategic partners including eBay, Vagaro, Nexi, and Clover. Through these partnerships, more than 1.2 million small businesses have access to Liberis’ platform.
“Rob Fairfield has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic mindset, and the capability to drive growth. The board is delighted to announce him as Liberis’ new CEO.” said Manoj Badale, Co-Founder of Blenheim Chalcot and Chairman of Liberis. “We are grateful to Rob Straathof for his vital role in transforming Liberis into a global leader in embedded finance. We look forward to continuing our collaboration in his new capacity as Board Advisor.”
"I'm honoured to take on this role at such an exciting time in Liberis' journey," said Rob Fairfield, incoming CEO of Liberis. "We're entering a new chapter of growth, building on the strong foundations Rob Straathof has established. Our focus remains on expanding our AI-powered financial platform to deliver intelligent, personalised solutions that help small businesses thrive. As we deepen relationships with global partners and accelerate entry into new markets, Liberis is committed to pioneering the next generation of embedded finance."
Tom Bason, who has been with Liberis for over 15 years, will continue to serve as Chief Financial Officer. Nima Montazeri, who has been with Liberis for the past two years, will continue as Chief Product and Technology Officer.
The Liberis executive team has also been strengthened by the appointment of several financial services and fintech leaders in recent months. US-based Trang Tran, joined Liberis as Chief Commercial Officer, and is responsible for driving business growth, particularly in the US market. Meanwhile, Chief Legal Officer Jane Moon and VP of Risk Kunal Gandhi are responsible for ensuring Liberis upholds its legal, regulatory and risk obligations.