Worldline governance evolution
Worldline governance
evolution
Paris La Défense, 21 March 2024 –
Worldline [Euronext : WLN], a global leader in payment services,
today announces an evolution of its governance and the cooptation
of Wilfried Verstraete as independent director
ahead of its anticipated future election as Chairman of the Board
of directors.
New Chairman of the Board of
directors
Worldline’s Board of directors met on March
20th, 2024, and upon recommendation of the Nomination Committee,
decided to coopt Wilfried Verstraete as independent director,
replacing Bernard Bourigeaud. Wilfried Verstraete will be proposed
for election by the Board as Chairman of the Board of directors
following the company General meeting on June 13th, 2024.
Wilfried Verstraete today joins the Strategy and
Investment committee as well as the Nomination committee and will
immediately be involved in the Company’s strategic priorities, as
well as in the expected Board of directors evolution.
The nomination of Wilfried Verstraete marks a
new chapter in Worldline’s development and will allow the Company
to successfully enter this new transformation phase. It is
consistent with the Board’s willingness to elect a seasoned,
international executive, with a proven track record of deep
transformation in complex industries within the financial sector.
Whilst leading Euler Hermes for c. twelve years, Wilfried
Verstraete managed to deeply transform the Group from a traditional
trade credit insurer into a leading data-focused fintech providing
cutting-edge digital solutions to its clients.
In order to facilitate a smooth transition, and
in line with governance best practices, the Board of directors has
asked Mr. Georges Pauget, interim Chairman of the Board of
directors since December 14th, 2023, to continue in its current
role until the election of Wilfried Verstraete as Chairman.
Further reduction in the size of the
Board of directors
The Board of directors is committed to continue
the process of reducing the number of its members initiated in
2022, and confirms its willingness for significant renewal as it
embarks into a new phase of its strategic journey. It has therefore
been decided that, following its next General meeting, the Board
composition would be reduced from 15 to 12 Board members - plus two
employee directors, whose designation follows a dedicated
procedure.
As previously announced and whilst preserving a
balanced representation of shareholders and strategic partners, the
Board will continue with its reduction process whilst maintaining
international profiles with a diverse skillset. Some existing Board
members will therefore be replaced by new independent directors
whose recruitment is currently in-progress, and expected to be
finalized by end of April, 2024.
Finally, the Board of directors decided that
amongst these 12 Board members, one non-independent Board member
will be designated by Crédit Agricole. This decision takes into
account Crédit Agricole’s significant shareholding, as well as its
strategic and long-term partnership with the Company through the
creation of a joint venture for digital payment services for
merchants in France announced on March 20th, 2024.
The Board of directors will provide further
details on its renewed board composition once it has been fully
finalized, by the end of April 2024.
Georges Pauget, Chairman of Worldline’s
Board of directors, declared: “On behalf of the Board, I
am glad to welcome Wilfried Verstraete who has all the professional
and personal qualities required to accompany the transformation of
the group and to prepare with him this transition. As Chairman of
the Board, he will bring a wealth of expertise working in complex
and evolving industries, and will form with our Chief Executive
Officer a complementary and efficient team to execute this new
phase of Worldline’s strategic journey.”
Wilfried Verstraete, declared:
“I am honored to join Worldline’s Board of directors with the
perspective of assuming its Chairmanship, and I thank the Board
members and its Chairman Georges Pauget for their trust. Worldline
is one of the leading global actors of an essential sector offering
innovation, technology and payment services to merchants and
financial institutions, and I am thankful for being able to
contribute to its long-term development. I will be engaged,
alongside the management team in this new transformation phase,
with a focus on ensuring governance quality and well functioning in
the best interest of the Company and its stakeholders. I am looking
forward to joining the Strategy and Investment Committee as well as
the Nomination committee and start contributing to the Company’s
strategic priorities and its expected Board of directors
evolution.”
Gilles Grapinet, Board member and CEO of
Worldline, declared: “I welcome the decision of the Board
to propose the nomination of Wilfried Verstraete as future Chairman
of Worldline’s Board of directors, and I look forward to our
collaboration serving the Company. His international experience and
knowledge of the financial industry will be key assets for
Worldline as we embark into a new phase of our strategic journey
following 10 years of development which cemented our position as a
recognized European payment leader.”
ABOUT WORLDLINE
Worldline [Euronext: WLN] helps businesses of
all shapes and sizes to accelerate their growth journey – quickly,
simply, and securely. With advanced payments technology, local
expertise and solutions customised for hundreds of markets and
industries, Worldline powers the growth of over one million
businesses around the world. Worldline generated a 4.6 billion
euros revenue in 2023.
Worldline’s corporate purpose (“raison d’être”)
is to design and operate leading digital payment and transactional
solutions that enable sustainable economic growth and reinforce
trust and security in our societies. Worldline makes them
environmentally friendly, widely accessible, and supports social
transformation.
INVESTOR RELATIONS
Laurent MarieE
laurent.marie@worldline.com
Guillaume DelaunayE
guillaume.delaunay@worldline.com
COMMUNICATION
Sandrine van der GhinstE
sandrine.vanderghinst@worldline.com
Hélène CarlanderE
helene.carlander@worldline.com
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DISCLAIMER
This document contains forward-looking statements
that involve risks and uncertainties, including references,
concerning the Group's expected growth and profitability in the
future which may significantly impact the expected performance
indicated in the forward-looking statements. These risks and
uncertainties are linked to factors out of the control of the
Company and not precisely estimated, such as market conditions or
competitors’ behaviors. Any forward-looking statements made in this
document are statements about Worldline’s beliefs and expectations
and should be evaluated as such. Forward-looking statements include
statements that may relate to Worldline’s plans, objectives,
strategies, goals, future events, future revenues or synergies, or
performance, and other information that is not historical
information. Actual events or results may differ from those
described in this document due to a number of risks and
uncertainties that are described within the 2022 Universal
Registration Document filed with the French Autorité des marchés
financiers (AMF) on April 28, 2023 under the filling number:
D.23-0371, and its Amendment filed on July 28, 2023.
Revenue organic growth and Operating Margin before
Depreciation and Amortization (OMDA) improvement are presented at
constant scope and exchange rate. OMDA is presented as defined in
the 2022 Universal Registration Document. All amounts are presented
in € million without decimal. This may in certain circumstances
lead to non-material differences between the sum of the figures and
the subtotals that appear in the tables. 2023 objectives are
expressed at constant scope and exchange rates and according to
Group’s accounting standards.
Worldline does not undertake, and specifically
disclaims, any obligation or responsibility to update or amend any
of the information above except as otherwise required by law.
This document is disseminated for information
purposes only and does not constitute an offer to purchase, or a
solicitation of an offer to sell, any securities in the United
States or any other jurisdiction. Securities may not be offered or
sold in the United States unless they have been registered under
the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities
Act”) or the securities laws of any U.S. state, or are exempt from
registration. The securities that may be offered in any transaction
have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities
Act or the securities laws of any U.S. state and Worldline does not
intend to make a public offering of any such securities in the
United States.
- PR_Worldline governance evolution
- Wilfried Verstraete_Biography
Grafico Azioni Worldline (TG:WO6)
Storico
Da Nov 2024 a Dic 2024
Grafico Azioni Worldline (TG:WO6)
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Da Dic 2023 a Dic 2024
