In his role, Ed will lead the business development of HP's services for cards and payments across the region's leading financial services, retail and associated businesses.

Adshead-Grant has an extensive background in payments and financial services, with 18 years experience at leading software and service companies working across Europe, Asia and the Americas. He has developed payment strategies and operational plans for many financial and retail organizations. Ed has held a number of global strategy, product and client management roles with PWC, Bottomline Technologies and most recently First Data Corporation. He has a particular expertise in defining the optimum operating model and implementing outsourcing arrangements to create maximum value over the long term.

"European banks are starting to plan the next growth phase post the Global Financial Crisis and they expect innovation, agility and long-term stability," said Adshead-Grant, who is based in the UK. "With the speed of new entrants and consumer switching at an all time high in an increasingly connected, "instant-on" world, companies need a new depth and breadth of resource to support their business. HP has a comprehensive Card and Payments services and solution set. We can provide our clients with a competitive edge across all channels and an integrated payment hub, while embracing the increasing need for large scale analytical requirements."