HSBC announced two new senior technology roles to drive forward the bank’s digitalisation, including to improve customer experience and to create innovative growth opportunities.

Kate Platonova has been promoted internally to Chief Data and Architecture Officer. Catherine Zhou joins the bank as Global Head of Venture, Digital Innovation and Partnerships. Both roles will report to Group COO, John Hinshaw.

Contactless payments have taken a leap forward during 2020, in part driven by concerns around the potential spread of COVID-19. In the Nordics, the contactless payment ratio has grown from around 57 per cent in early January to 75 per cent of all in-store card payments in late October this year, according to data from Nets, a leading Nordic payment provider.

London-based cryptocurrency firm Koinal reaches agreement with Huobi to integrate its fast checkout system.

Landmark Information has today launched its new Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) management platform - RiskHorizon™ - focused on delivering rich, comprehensive assessments to a broad audience of investors, property asset owners and managers, from private equity and investment houses to corporates and their lawyers. The platform provides thorough and actionable global ESG due diligence of their corporate investments and acquisitions.