I work with investors, boards and CEOs of banking-technology companies to evaluate investments, govern transformation and accelerate profitable growth across Europe and the Middle East.
Selected board, executive, advisory and investment experience
Gulf International BankBoard of Directors•Addiko BankSupervisory Board•Public Investment FundBoard Representative•TawridBoard of Directors•FinTech ForumCo-founder•FidorCEO•GIZS / paydirektCEO•PayUIndependent Risk Advisory Committee•McKinsey & CompanySenior Advisor•Deutsche BankDirector of Strategy•
Gulf International BankBoard of Directors•Addiko BankSupervisory Board•Public Investment FundBoard Representative•TawridBoard of Directors•FinTech ForumCo-founder•FidorCEO•GIZS / paydirektCEO•PayUIndependent Risk Advisory Committee•McKinsey & CompanySenior Advisor•Deutsche BankDirector of Strategy•
Gulf International Bank, Board of Directors
Addiko Bank, Supervisory Board
Public Investment Fund, Board Representative
Tawrid, Board of Directors
FinTech Forum, Co-founder
Fidor, CEO
GIZS / paydirekt, CEO
PayU, Independent Risk Advisory Committee
McKinsey & Company, Senior Advisor
Deutsche Bank, Director of Strategy
01For investors & boards
Protect the thesis. Govern the transformation. Build enterprise value.
Independent board and operating perspective for investments where financial services, technology and regulation intersect, from pre-deal assessment to portfolio governance and exit readiness.
Challenge the market, product, technology, management and execution logic before capital is committed.
02Governance
NED & supervisory-board mandates
Convert the investment thesis into a governed operating agenda with clear accountability and constructive challenge.
03Value creation
Senior Operating Advisor
Support management on the 100-day agenda, technology choices, international growth and institutional readiness.
04Oversight
AI, cyber & transformation
Bring board-level scrutiny to the technology decisions that carry the most enterprise risk and the most upside.
02For banking technology leaders
Sharpen the proposition. Accelerate adoption. Expand with discipline.
Board-level growth strategy for CEOs who need to align product, market position and institutional buying behaviour, without losing strategic focus or independence.
Supervisory Board experience through the strategic refocus toward a digital consumer and SME specialist across Central and South-Eastern Europe.
Fidor & GIZS / paydirekt2013 to 2018
Technology and payments from the operator's seat
Former CEO roles spanning open-API banking technology, digital operating models and the build-out of a major German payment platform.
Deutsche Bank1989 to 2010
From banking apprentice to Director of Strategy and Innovation
Twenty-one years across banking, online distribution, technology architecture and innovation, including the first Deutsche Bank laboratory for Banking IT.
McKinsey & Company2010 to 2013
Senior Advisor for banking technology programmes
Advised major banks on technology strategy, core-platform decisions and large-scale transformation across Europe and the Middle East.
Fidor TecS2013 to 2015
CEO of a pioneering open-API banking platform
Led the technology business behind one of the first open-API banking platforms in Europe.
GIZS / paydirekt2016 to 2018
CEO of the German banking payment venture
Built the joint payment venture of the German savings banks, integrating the network and taking the platform to market.
PayU2017 to 2024
Independent Risk Advisory Committee
Independent risk oversight for a global payments group across emerging markets.
Hauck & Aufhäuser Innovative Capital2022 to 2026
Supervisory Board
Supervisory mandate covering Germany's first regulated crypto fund structures. Concluded June 2026.
For startups
Angel investor
I invest selectively in founders who combine sector relevance, technological substance and disciplined execution. My active portfolio spans financial infrastructure, investment and tokenization platforms, and immersive technology.
I am particularly interested in ventures where financial services, technology and new digital business models intersect.
Notes for boards, investors and technology leaders.
Occasional essays on banking technology, governance and the decisions that carry the most enterprise value. Sent by Frank, no third parties involved.
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Books & speaking
Long-form thinking. Global conversations.
Two books and more than 200 presentations across over 20 countries, translating structural change into decisions leaders can act on.
Frank Schwab
