• Rob Fairfield, currently Chief Operating Officer, succeeds Rob Straathof who will transition to Board Advisor and Chairman of the Partner Committee
  • Leadership change reflects Liberis' strategic evolution as it accelerates global expansion and multi-product platform development
  • Rob Straathof will maintain strategic oversight of partnerships and business strategy in new advisory capacity 

01 August 2025, London – Liberis, a leading global embedded finance platform, today announced the appointment of Rob Fairfield as Chief Executive Officer, effective from 1st August 2025. Fairfield, who has served as Chief Operating Officer since 2020, will succeed Rob Straathof, who will transition to Board Advisor and Chairman of the Partner Committee. 

Under Straathof's leadership, Liberis has grown significantly. In 2015, Liberis operated solely in the UK and had a single strategic partner, Worldpay. Today, Liberis operates in 15 countries and has 48 strategic partners including eBay, Vagaro, Nexi, and Clover. Through these partnerships, more than 1.2 million small businesses have access to Liberis’ platform.  

“Rob Fairfield has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic mindset, and the capability to drive growth. The board is delighted to announce him as Liberis’ new CEO.” said Manoj Badale, Co-Founder of Blenheim Chalcot and Chairman of Liberis. “We are grateful to Rob Straathof for his vital role in transforming Liberis into a global leader in embedded finance. We look forward to continuing our collaboration in his new capacity as Board Advisor.”  

"I'm honoured to take on this role at such an exciting time in Liberis' journey," said Rob Fairfield, incoming CEO of Liberis. "We're entering a new chapter of growth, building on the strong foundations Rob Straathof has established. Our focus remains on expanding our AI-powered financial platform to deliver intelligent, personalised solutions that help small businesses thrive. As we deepen relationships with global partners and accelerate entry into new markets, Liberis is committed to pioneering the next generation of embedded finance." 

Tom Bason, who has been with Liberis for over 15 years, will continue to serve as Chief Financial Officer. Nima Montazeri, who has been with Liberis for the past two years, will continue as Chief Product and Technology Officer. 

The Liberis executive team has also been strengthened by the appointment of several financial services and fintech leaders in recent months. US-based Trang Tran, joined Liberis as Chief Commercial Officer, and is responsible for driving business growth, particularly in the US market. Meanwhile, Chief Legal Officer Jane Moon and VP of Risk Kunal Ghandi are responsible for ensuring Liberis upholds its legal, regulatory and risk obligations. 

ENDS 

About Liberis  

Liberis is on a mission to unleash the power of small businesses all over the world - delivering the financial products they need to grow through a network of global partners.    

At its core, Liberis is a technology-driven company, bridging the gap between finance and small businesses. They use data and insights to help partners understand their customers’ real time needs and tech to offer tailor-made financial products.  Empowering small businesses to grow and keep their independent spirit alive is central to their vision.   

Since 2007, Liberis has funded over $3bn to fuel small businesses globally, but they believe there is much more to be done.   

Learn more about Liberis by visiting: https://www.liberis.com/ .  

Media Contact: Liberis@cognitomedia.com