Olga Baranova

olga baranova

Management Consultant at NatWest

United Kingdom

Bio Summary

Olga Baranova is an accomplished payments specialist with over 20 years experience, delivering profitable business initiatives. Leading the development and execution of market entry strategies with Corporates and Fintech’s including Visa, Mastercard, Samsung Pay, NatWest and Crypterium. Working with issuing and acquiring banks, processors and vendors, brings an analytical approach to solving complex problems to deliver profitable outcomes on time and budget.

Fluent in Russian (mother tongue) with British and Russian passports Olga has a B.Sc. (Hons.) – First Class St. Petersburg State University, St Petersburg

Key Achievements • eDirham (UAE federal payments program sponsored by the Ministry of Finance of UAE): Successfully designed and delivered eDirham card and eDirham digital wallet product and market entry strategy. Designed eDirham Scheme business rules and operational framework. • Crypterium: Successfully delivered the Global card-issuing partnership with Visa prepaid card issuing partner, for a start-up this was an exceptionally challenging negotiation. • NWG: Led the migration of the NatWest Group Debit card portfolio from MasterCard to Visa impacting 17m cardholders, 11 brands and 50+ products) Delivered on time on budget. Helped NWG to optimise their Debit card portfolio which led to 20% year on year growth.

Key Expertise • Subject matter expert in payments, technology and banking. • Payments digital strategy: cards, digital wallets and push payments. • Product strategy and go-to-market roll-out strategy (Global & European). • Crypto-based card products, International Schemes’ requirements and regulations. • Relationship management. Client facing, brings business development, consultancy, engagement and advisory skills. Persuasive and influential. • Global card issuing partnership sourcing, RFI, and negotiation. • European and MENA payments landscape, value chain and regulatory environment. • Management and development of successful teams.

Employment History

NatWest

Management Consultant

NatWest

June 2021 - present

London, UK

Reporting to the Head Of Payment Schemes, Partnerships and Commercial at NatWest Group with the remit to support Debit card portfolio migration from Visa to MasterCard (NB: NatWest Group is one the largest Debit card issuers ...see more
Ministry Of Finance

Lead Consultant & Product Owner

Ministry Of Finance

January 2019 - October 2020

Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Reporting into the Programme Director with a remit to provide subject matter expertise for this critical Federal Payments Transformation Programme, to convert from a Single-Issuer, Single Acquirer ecosystem to a Multi-Issuer, ...see more
Crypterium

Product Delivery Director

Crypterium

April 2018 - November 2018

London, UK

Reporting to the CEO with a remit to lead the strategy and product development. • Developed prepaid product strategy and go-to-market roll-out strategy. • Built and delivered the RFI which resulted in signing a 5-year ...see more
PayTech Consulting

Senior Consultant / Associate

PayTech Consulting

August 2016 - November 2017

London, UK

PayTech Consulting is a European based card and payment management consulting company, providing consulting services to card issuers, acquirers, payment schemes, oil companies, telcos and other operators in the payment card m ...see more
Digital Duco

Associate Partner

Digital Duco

July 2015 - April 2018

London, UK

Digital Duco provides Exceptional People for Outstanding Businesses. Digital Duco is a Specialist recruitment solution provider working with companies on a global scale providing world class & ethical talent finding services. ...see more
Capco

Principal

Capco

June 2015 - August 2016

London, UK

Principal Consultant, Payments Practice, Banking Domain Part of the leadership team responsible for the development of Capco’s Payment Practice. • Supported the design and delivery of the marketing plan and practice pr ...see more
Accourt

Senior Consultant

Accourt

July 2014 - August 2015

London, UK

Accourt is a leading provider of consulting services to the UK and broader European financial services industries. Accourt specialises in addressing issues affecting the European payments community.
Visa

eComm Business Development Senior Manager, V.me by Vis

Visa

March 2002 - May 2014

London, UK

Responsible for V.me wallet sales to Issuing banks in UK, Ireland, Poland and Nordics

Education

Bachelor's in Geography

Petersburg State University, St Petersburg

1990

Language Skills

Country Experience

Denmark Ireland Norway Poland Sweden United Arab Emirates United Kingdom

Skills

Business

Product Development,

Project Management,

Benchmarking & Best Practice,

Business Case,

Business Planning,

Feasability Studies,

Growth Strategy,

Innovation Strategy,

Operating Model,

Portfolio Strategy,

Strategic Planning,

Contract Management,

Business Development

Business Unit Strategy,

Corporate Strategy,

Finance

Portfolio Management

Education and Training

Program Management

Marketing and Public Relations

Competitive Analysis,

Market Research

Transportation, Supply Chain, and Logistics

Strategic Sourcing,

Vendor Due Diligence