Yaspa names Mandy Thompson as its first marketing lead in the U.S.

Yaspa has appointed Mandy Thompson as its first marketing manager in the United States, in an effort to reinforce its presence in the North American market. Thompson, based in Atlanta, brings over twelve years of experience in the payments sector, specifically in strategic marketing focused on prepaid and incentive solutions, as the company highlighted in announcing the appointment.

Yaspa strengthens its position in the U.S. payments and fintech market

With the arrival of Mandy Thompson, Yaspa aims to consolidate its brand in key sectors, including iGaming, forecasts, and other adjacent regulated markets. Thompson, who was previously Senior Strategic Marketing Manager at Blackhawk Network, will be responsible for brand strategy and positioning for Yaspa's growth in North America.

The company noted that Thompson will lead the construction of Yaspa's recognition and value proposition, reporting directly to Kate Marsden, Chief Marketing Officer. Her immediate priorities include designing campaigns for related vertical markets, such as digital payments in iGaming, an area where the convergence of payment innovation and identity management is crucial for regulated expansion.

Experience and expanding team in Atlanta

Thompson joins a team that continues to grow in Atlanta. Yaspa emphasized that Thompson will work alongside Max Collinge, Vice President of Product, who moved to Atlanta in January to lead product innovation and local delivery. Other key team additions in the U.S. include Peter Kula, head of sales in the country, and Jackson Esoda, Senior Solutions Manager.

Regarding her appointment, Thompson stated:

"I am thrilled to join Yaspa and the team at such a pivotal time for its development. The U.S. payments and fintech market is evolving rapidly, and with regulatory changes at a critical juncture, Yaspa's smart solutions address precisely the strategic point between payments and identity. I look forward to working with Kate, the marketing team, Max, and the Yaspa US team in the Atlanta office." — Mandy Thompson

Kate Marsden, global marketing director of Yaspa, added:

"Mandy brings deep knowledge and operational experience to our activities in the U.S. Yaspa is entering a key phase in North America, and we anticipate that her leadership will contribute to the growth of the brand in this market. Welcome to the team, Mandy." — Kate Marsden

Role and career of Mandy Thompson in the payments sector

Before joining Yaspa, Thompson held key roles at Blackhawk Network, where she led go-to-market initiatives at the corporate level and marketing programs for prepaid and incentive payment solutions. Her time at Blackhawk Network reinforced her knowledge in structuring proposals aimed at businesses and executing product strategies in regulated environments, which Yaspa considers essential for its growth in the U.S. fintech sector.

Thompson's experience at the intersection of payments, innovation, and regulatory compliance will be used to develop Yaspa's visibility and offerings. Furthermore, her arrival strengthens the local leadership core in Atlanta, enabling a quicker response to the regulatory evolution of the payments ecosystem and the emergence of new demands in the iGaming sector.

Strategic priorities and regulatory context in the U.S.

The appointment comes at a time when the U.S. fintech industry is undergoing significant regulatory adjustment, and key players are investing both in technology and specialized talent. Yaspa identifies the U.S. market as crucial for its expansion and aims to accelerate the deployment of smart payment solutions that respond to the authentication and security requirements of regulated sectors.

The growth of the team in Atlanta also responds to the need for rapid adaptation to regulatory frameworks and transformation of offerings for clients in sectors like sports betting and online gambling. From Yaspa's perspective, this approach will allow them to anticipate the demands of operators and facilitate partnerships that broaden the customer base in jurisdictions where regulation is evolving quickly.

Yaspa's perspective on regional brand development

Yaspa expects the addition of Mandy Thompson to reinforce its positioning and drive new business opportunities in vertical markets under regulation. With local teams focused on product, sales, and solutions, the company plans to enhance targeted campaigns and strategies tailored to the regulatory and business characteristics of each territory.

Yaspa's management is confident that Thompson's leadership will represent a step forward in their consolidation objectives in North America, where competition among providers of payment and identity solutions is particularly intense, and where regulatory agility is key to attracting new iGaming operators.