Good morning. Seun Sodipo is the brand new chief monetary officer at Plaid, a fintech startup that connects monetary establishments. Sodipo brings a seasoned background in guiding high-growth companies by strategic transformation and scaling.
Seun Sodipo, CFO of Plaid
Courtesy of Plaid
Beforehand, Sodipo served as CFO at Glossier, the place she led the corporate’s evolution from a direct-to-consumer pioneer to a fast-growing omnichannel magnificence model throughout North America and Europe. Earlier than Glossier, Sodipo was head of product finance and technique at fee service supplier Stripe, partnering with the chief product officer and senior management. She started her profession in funding banking at Centerview Companions and later labored as a non-public fairness investor at Helios Funding Companions and Insignia Capital Group. At Plaid, Sodipo succeeds Eric Hart, who has returned to Expedia Group.
In April, Plaid accomplished a $575 million funding spherical led by Franklin Templeton, with participation from main buyers together with Constancy and NEA. The spherical valued the corporate at roughly $6.1 billion.
Notably, the deal included a young provide, permitting buyers to buy present shares and supply liquidity to Plaid workers. It additionally helped handle tax obligations tied to expiring inventory items.
Whereas this valuation displays a drop from Plaid’s $13.4 billion peak in 2021, after its failed acquisition by Visa, the funding indicators renewed investor confidence following the broader “fintech winter,” Fortune reported. Trying forward, Plaid CEO Zach Perret hinted to Fortune‘s Leo Schwartz earlier this year that an IPO could be on the horizon in the next few years, calling the failed Visa deal a “blessing in disguise.”
At Plaid, Sodipo will lead the company’s world finance operate because it strikes past core information infrastructure to a broader suite of intelligence companies, providing merchandise in id, funds, credit score, and fraud. Her appointment highlights Plaid’s dedication to constructing a multi-product platform on the middle of digital finance, in line with the corporate.
Getting into the subsequent period of digital finance
I requested Sodipo about her prime priorities as Plaid expands in a aggressive fintech panorama.
As CFO, her precedence is driving sustainable, long-term progress. Which means investing in areas of sturdy buyer demand, strengthening information and analytics capabilities, and sustaining disciplined execution to stability innovation with profitability, she stated. Including: “Our focus is to power the infrastructure that enables this next era of digital finance while building a durable, independent company positioned for decades of growth.”
Sodipo’s mix of fintech, funding, and operational expertise is about to assist Plaid’s readiness for its subsequent part.
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Leaderboard
Andre Ramos was appointed U.S. CFO of TD Financial institution, efficient Dec. 1. Ramos will lead the U.S. finance group, driving monetary technique, efficiency administration, and treasury administration. He joins TD from JPMorgan Chase, the place he spent 11 years in enterprise CFO roles. Most lately, he served as shopper banking CFO. Earlier than that, Ramos held senior management roles in finance (playing cards, auto, enterprise banking and funds), treasury and pricing, at JPMorgan Chase, American Specific, HSBC, and Citi.
Renae Cormier will resign as CFO from Semler Scientific Inc. (Nasdaq: SMLR), efficient Oct. 30, to pursue one other alternative, in line with an SEC submitting. Douglas Murphy-Chutorian, who presently serves as president and CFO, to function interim CFO and principal monetary officer. Murphy-Chutorian will assume these further duties alongside his present obligations beginning Oct. 30.
Massive Deal
Subsequent yr shall be pivotal for know-how leaders, marked by the speedy rise of AI, mounting cyber threats, and a race to modernize legacy programs, in line with ISACA, a worldwide skilled affiliation that advances digital belief
The 2026 Tech Tendencies and Priorities International Pulse Ballot is predicated on ISACA’s a survey of two,963 professionals in digital belief fields comparable to cybersecurity, IT audit, governance, danger, and compliance.
Sixty-two % of respondents recognized AI and machine studying as prime know-how priorities for 2026. Essentially the most vital cyber threats for subsequent yr are AI-driven social engineering (63%), ransomware/extortion assaults (54%), and insider threats (35%).
Nonetheless, solely 13% say their group is “very prepared” to handle generative AI dangers, whereas 50% are “somewhat prepared” and 25% “not very prepared.”
Expertise can also be a priority: 62% anticipate to rent for digital belief roles, however 44% anticipate problem filling them with certified candidates, and solely 18% have a robust expertise pipeline. Greater than a 3rd (39%) anticipate to rent for extra digital belief roles in 2026 than they did in 2025.
ISACA additionally presents recommendation on how organizations can put together for the approaching yr, comparable to making ready for regulatory complexity and worldwide compliance necessities.
Going deeper
Overheard
“I would tell you it’s a lot, probably three or four times a week. Sometimes it might be breakfast. Sometimes it might be lunch. But hey, one of the perks of the job—you get to eat at McDonald’s a lot.”
—McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski stated in a publish on Instagram final week how typically he eats on the iconic fast-food chain.
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