Technology

Paddle bolsters leadership team with new CPO, CFO and VP of People ahead of the next stage of global expansion

Published

2 years ago

February 29, 2024

New CPO Stuart Bailey is former CPO of Silverbird and CurrencycloudCFO Philip Watson previously worked as Senior Vice-President, FP&A at ZoomInfoColine Marchal joins as VP of People from European insure-tech InsifyThe senior hires arrive as Paddle reaches the milestone of $1 billion annual run rate in payments, having launched its new Billing product and inaugural AI Launchpad in 2023

LONDON and NEW YORK, Feb. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Paddle, the payments infrastructure provider for software companies, today announces it has appointed Stuart Bailey as its new Chief Product Officer, Philip Watson as Chief Financial Officer, and Coline Marchal as VP of People.

The senior appointments follow a landmark year in which Paddle launched Billing, the complete billing solution for SaaS; conducted its inaugural AI Launchpad, a 6-week programme to help ambitious AI founders accelerate growth; and celebrated the milestone of $1 billion in annual run rate in the payments that it manages for its growing customer base.

Incoming CPO Stuart Bailey is an experienced product leader in the fintech sector, adept at building and growing high-performing product teams in startups, scale-ups and large corporations. Stuart was previously CPO at Silverbird, a digital payments platform for international trade, and Currencycloud, the cloud-based platform for B2B cross-border payments that was sold to Visa in 2021. Stuart will be responsible for Paddle’s strategic product direction, ensuring Paddle continues to create products that deliver value to the thousands of software sellers using its platform.

New CFO Philip Watson brings over 12 years of experience in the enterprise software sector. Prior to Paddle, Philip worked at the private equity firm Hg Capital, where he was the Portfolio Finance & Operations Director, leading the Portfolio Finance team in operationalizing value creation for Hg’s portfolio companies. Before his time in private equity, Philip spent over 7 years at ZoomInfo, where he founded the FP&A, sales commissions, and financial technology teams and helped to grow the business to over $1.2b ARR. As CFO of Paddle, Philip will be responsible for managing the financial functions of the company as it moves into the next stages of its growth journey.

Paddle has also appointed Coline Marchal as VP of People. Coline was previously VP of People at European insure-tech Insify and Senior Director of HR, EMEA, at cloud-based reporting compliance platform Workiva. Coline brings nearly 15 years of experience in the HR function to the role, and thrives in fast-paced scale-up environments. She has been integral in the ground-up building of HR teams and speciality HR projects spanning mergers & acquisitions and company transformations. She will be responsible for expanding Paddle’s people operations and strategy in line with Paddle’s digital-first approach that empowers Paddle team members to work from anywhere, with trust and autonomy.

Jimmy Fitzgerald, CEO of Paddle, said: “Although 2023 was a challenging year for software in many ways, it was an incredibly positive one for Paddle. In August we launched one of the most significant products in our history with Paddle Billing, which paves the way for us helping tens of thousands of new software companies over the next decade. We also launched our inaugural “AI Launchpad” – a 6-week program designed to accelerate growth for SaaS founders – and saw customer wins in the games sector, a new market where we see big opportunities to support global games developers.

“We’re excited to build on this in 2024 and to continue helping our thousands of fast-growing software customers grow and thrive. I’m a strong believer in the idea that people are a fundamental part of a company’s success, and that selecting a strong team is critical. I’m therefore delighted to bring onboard Stuart as CPO and Philip as CFO with their strong track records helping ambitious businesses such as ours master their product and financial functions, as well as Coline, who will be integral in helping us to continue scaling our people and talent management strategy.”

Paddle is used by over 3,500 software companies in more than 200 markets worldwide to manage the likes of their checkout, payments, subscriptions and taxes. These new hires follow Jimmy Fitzgerald transitioning from Chief Operating Officer to CEO, former CEO and co-founder Christian Owens taking on a new role as Paddle’s Executive Chairman, and Rob Fletcher moving from Chief Customer Officer to President and Chief Operating Officer.

About Paddle

Paddle, the payments infrastructure provider for software companies, powers hyper-scale growth across acquisition, renewals and expansion. With Paddle, companies are finally able to transform their payments infrastructure into a strategic growth lever to respond faster and more precisely to every growth opportunity. Paddle has 300 employees serving over 3,500 software sellers in 245 countries and territories globally. Backed by investors including KKR, FTV Capital, Kindred, Notion, and 83North, Paddle aims to define the next wave of B2B SaaS leaders. Visit www.paddle.com or www.twitter.com/PaddleHQ for more information

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/paddle-bolsters-leadership-team-with-new-cpo-cfo-and-vp-of-people-ahead-of-the-next-stage-of-global-expansion-302074605.html

Technology

Yalla Group Releases 2025 ESG Report

Published

49 minutes ago

April 23, 2026

DUBAI, UAE, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Yalla Group Limited (“Yalla” or the “Company”) (NYSE: YALA), the largest Middle East and North Africa (MENA)-based online social networking and gaming company, today published its 2025 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report. The report outlines the Company’s 2025 ESG performance and future strategy across five key pillars: responsible governance, environmental stewardship, trust, people, and community engagement, underscoring its enduring commitment to sustainable development.

Tao Yang, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Yalla, stated, “In 2025, we made tangible progress across our ESG priorities. We expanded our use of renewable energy, integrated energy-efficient technologies and deepened AI applications across daily operations, advancing toward our carbon neutrality goal while strengthening business performance. We also invested in building a more diverse and inclusive workplace where our people can thrive and deliver their best, supporting our sustainable growth. True to our mission of connecting our users and enriching lives across the MENA region through our social and gaming ecosystem, we will continue to innovate with purpose, leading responsibly to create positive, enduring impact and lasting value for all stakeholders.”

Mr. Saifi Ismail, President of Yalla, added, “Our fifth annual ESG report highlights our dedication to promoting sustainability, innovation, and responsible growth. Cultural respect and community engagement remain central to how we operate, enabling us to foster a sense of belonging in our digital entertainment community across the MENA region. This year, we also strengthened our cybersecurity infrastructure, building greater user trust in our platforms. Looking ahead, we will continue to invest in ESG initiatives and leverage advanced technologies to cultivate a safe, engaging and innovative digital ecosystem, driving progress toward a more sustainable future.”

For more information on the Company’s ESG initiatives and to access the complete ESG report in English and Arabic, please visit the ESG section of the Company’s investor relations website at https://ir.yalla.com/esg.

About Yalla Group Limited

Yalla Group Limited is the largest MENA-based online social networking and gaming company, in terms of revenues in 2022. The Company operates two flagship mobile applications, Yalla, a voice-centric group chat platform, and Yalla Ludo, a casual gaming application featuring online versions of board games, popular in MENA, with in-game voice chat and localized Majlis functionality. Building on the success of Yalla and Yalla Ludo, the Company continues to add engaging new content, creating a regionally-focused, integrated ecosystem dedicated to fulfilling MENA users’ evolving online social networking and gaming needs. Through its holding subsidiary, Yalla Game Limited, the Company has expanded its capabilities in mid-core and hard-core games in the MENA region, leveraging its local expertise to bring innovative gaming content to its users. In addition, the growing Yalla ecosystem includes YallaChat, an IM product tailored for Arabic users, WeMuslim, a product that supports Arabic users in observing their customs, and casual games such as Yalla Baloot and 101 Okey Yalla, developed to sustain vibrant local gaming communities in MENA. Yalla is also actively exploring outside of MENA with Yalla Parchis, a Ludo game designed for the South American markets. Yalla’s mobile applications deliver a seamless experience that fosters a sense of loyalty and belonging, establishing highly devoted and engaged user communities through close attention to detail and localized appeal that profoundly resonates with users.

For more information, please visit: https://ir.yalla.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to” and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Yalla Group Limited’s beliefs, plans and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Yalla Group Limited’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Yalla Group Limited does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

Yalla Group Limited
Investor Relations
Kerry Gao – IR Director
Tel: +86-571-8980-7962
Email: ir@yalla.com

Piacente Financial Communications
Jenny Cai
Tel: +86-10-6508-0677
Email: yalla@tpg-ir.com

In the United States:

Piacente Financial Communications
Brandi Piacente
Tel: +1-212-481-2050
Email: yalla@tpg-ir.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yalla-group-releases-2025-esg-report-302750991.html

SOURCE Yalla Group Limited

Technology

Citizens Bank Data Breach: Edelson Lechtzin LLP Launches Investigation Into Exposure of Personal Information

Published

49 minutes ago

April 23, 2026

National class action firm offering free case evaluations to individuals impacted by the Citizens Bank cybersecurity incident

NEWTOWN, Pa., April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a national class action law firm, is investigating data privacy claims arising from the Citizens Bank, N.A. data breach. Citizens Bank appeared on the Everest gang’s dark web ransomware leak site on or about April 20, 2026.

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating data privacy claims arising from the Citizens Bank, N.A. data breach.

What Happened

On or about April 20, 2026, samples of sensitive financial data from Texas-based Frost Bank and Citizens Financial Group showed up on Everest’s dark web site. The Everest gang has reportedly given the banks six days before it publicly releases the stolen data. This is a common tactic used by hackers to extort large payments. The Everest gang claims to have approximately 3.4 million records belonging to Citizens Bank

Information Exposed

Affected personal data includes names, home addresses, and account numbers.

Who May Be Impacted

Individuals who received a data breach notification from Citizens Bank may face an increased risk of identity theft and fraud.

Your Legal Options

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating a potential class action to pursue legal remedies on behalf of individuals whose sensitive personal data may have been compromised in the Citizens Bank breach. The firm will evaluate your rights and potential claims at no cost.

Recommended Protective Steps

Review account statements and credit reports regularly and remain vigilant for suspicious activity. Confirm whether your information was involved in the Citizens Bank incident and preserve any letters or emails you received about the breach. Consider placing fraud alerts and credit monitoring.

Speak confidentially with a data privacy attorney today: Marc Edelson, Esq., Edelson Lechtzin LLP, 411 S. State Street, Suite N-300, Newtown, PA 18940; Phone: 844-696-7492 ext. 2; Email: medelson@edelson-law.com; Web: www.edelson-law.com. Or click HERE to request a free consultation.

About Citizens Bank

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is an American bank holding company headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. The company owns the bank Citizens Bank, N.A., which operates in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia, as well as Washington, DC.

About Edelson Lechtzin LLP

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. In addition to data breach litigation, the firm handles class and collective actions involving securities and investment fraud, federal antitrust violations, ERISA employee benefit plans, wage theft, and consumer fraud

Media and Partnership Inquiries: Use the contact information above to connect with our team regarding interviews, co-counsel opportunities, and referral partnerships.

Legal Notice: This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/citizens-bank-data-breach-edelson-lechtzin-llp-launches-investigation-into-exposure-of-personal-information-302751088.html

SOURCE Edelson Lechtzin LLP

Technology

Registration for the 2026 National Summit in San Diego, CA is Officially Open!

Published

49 minutes ago

April 23, 2026

Leading independent technology distributor Sandler Partners opens registration for their 3-day National Summit, an event dedicated to helping empower Partners to grow their business.

REDONDO BEACH, Calif., April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sandler Partners announces that registration is now open for the 2026 Sandler Partners National Summit, taking place October 26–29 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront in San Diego, CA.

The National Summit is the largest event of the year for the Sandler Partners community—bringing together 600+ Partners, Sandler leadership, and 75+ Providers for three days of insight, collaboration, and opportunity. The event is designed to equip attendees with the knowledge, connections, and strategies needed to navigate a rapidly evolving technology landscape and drive business growth.

Partners, potential Partners, and sponsoring technology Providers can register today by clicking HERE.

“I had the opportunity to connect with the Sandler team, delve into the latest technologies and Partner programs, and build relationships that will help expand the services we deliver to our clients,” states a West Coast Partner and 2025 attendee. “I’m coming back inspired and ready to put some of these new partnerships and ideas into action.”

Shaped by Partner feedback, the Summit focuses on what matters most—delivering practical insights, relevant education, and meaningful connections. Attendees will engage in Growth, Sales, and Technology sessions, explore emerging solutions, and collaborate with peers to exchange ideas, discover new approaches, and strengthen relationships across the community.

TECHNOLOGY PROVIDERS, PLEASE NOTE: Only sponsoring Providers are allowed to attend this event. Those interested in participating as a sponsor can learn more by contacting Tina S. Dyksterhouse, Vice President of Marketing at Tina@SandlerPartners.com.

About Sandler Partners and Their Community Approach
Sandler Partners helps empower their network of leading independent Sales Partners to bring organizations around the world a comprehensive range of technology solutions, including Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Connectivity, Cloud, Colocation, Mobility, Internet of Things, and Continuity. Their community focus helps support Partners to identify solutions swiftly and unbiasedly from a diverse Provider portfolio of 250+ suppliers. Partner sales agents, VARs, and MSPs gain access to a robust support network, Sales Engineering expertise, marketing resources, and powerful sales tools like SCOUT, Solutions Finder, Scout for Solutions, and the Marketing Center within the Sandler Portal. This helps give their Partners what they need to do what they do best – deliver quality, value, performance, features, unparalleled expertise, and service to their clients. Members of the Sandler Partner community can rely on the industry’s strongest negotiated agreements and a team dedicated to ensuring all their commissions are found, tracked, and paid.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/registration-for-the-2026-national-summit-in-san-diego-ca-is-officially-open-302749840.html

SOURCE Sandler Partners