ACI Worldwide, a leading global provider of real-time electronic payment and banking solutions, today announced that Paul Thomalla, senior vice president, Corporate Relations & Development, has been appointed to Ecommerce Europe’s Payments Experts Taskforce, which supports the development of online payments strategies.

The Payments Experts Taskforce was launched by Ecommerce Europe to assess opportunities and challenges in eCommerce arising from the changing dynamics of the fintech sector. The taskforce will assist Ecommerce Europe, which represents more than 35,000 online retailers across Europe, in developing comprehensive financial and digital strategies. It will also advise national associations and the e-Payments Working Committee on technical issues and market trends, and establish technical links to the Euro Retail Payments Board (ERPB) and other stakeholder groups.

ACI Worldwide serves payment providers and retailers throughout Europe with its UP eCommerce Payments solution, combining extensive global reach through a network of more than 350 card acquirers and alternative payment methods with integrated real-time fraud management. ACI’s leading role in eCommerce payments is affirmed through recent industry recognition, including MPE Awards 2017 (International Award), PayFORUM 2017 (Cross-border Payments), and FStech Payments Awards 2016 (Best Online Payments Solution).

“Major changes like PSD2’s Regulatory Technical Standards for Secure Customer Authentication, implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and the use of electronic identification and trust services will present significant challenges for the online retail sector,” said Paul Thomalla. “It is an honor to be invited to join the Ecommerce Europe Payments Experts Taskforce, but more importantly, to have the opportunity to shape strategies that will help the sector successfully navigate current and future changes.”

“The rapid adoption of digital payments methods across both physical and online retail is driving improved operational efficiencies, better liquidity management, and improved customer satisfaction,” added Marlene ten Ham, Secretary General of Ecommerce Europe. “The expertise and experience of senior payments industry executives such as Mr. Thomalla will be instrumental in helping Ecommerce Europe and its members strike the right balance between customer convenience, technological neutrality and payment security.”

ACI Worldwide has also been at the forefront of championing the nexo standards, which aim to remove barriers that exist due to individual country protocols for card payment acceptance, and advance universal payments interoperability standards. Paul Thomalla joined the nexo executive board in June 2016 to support the adoption of these standards by retailers and organizations throughout Europe and globally.