Financial inclusion pioneer Accion reports the appointment of financial service industry leaders Raza Dean and Nick Talwar to the organization's board of directors.

"We are thrilled to welcome Raza Dean and Nick Talwar to the Accion Board of Directors," said Accion Board Chair Diana Taylor. "Both individuals bring unique and extensive experience in the financial services industry. This experience, combined with a global perspective developed over years of living and working abroad, will be instrumental in advancing Accion's effort to foster financial inclusion around the world."

Dean brings to the Accion board more than 30 years of experience in the global financial services industry and promoting business development and growth. As president of RMD Associates, he supports the growth and development of small- and medium-sized businesses. His professional experience crosses the banking, finance, manufacturing, distribution, and retail industries, and includes 16 years in commercial banking and 10 years in banking in the Middle East. He has held management positions with companies that include the Bank of Boston, Citibank, Boston Retail Partners, and United Saudi Commercial Bank. A native of Pakistan, Dean has lived and worked in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Greece. He currently resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Talwar brings to the Accion board a successful track record of launching, turning around, and scaling businesses that range from fintech startups to global multinational corporations. In his role as general manager for Amazon Lending in Seattle, Washington, Talwar has led the company's global expansion into the lending industry. His other work includes leading Visa's credit card business in North America, serving as chief revenue officer of online peer-to-peer lender Prosper Marketplace, and working as the country manager for Citibank Sweden, among others. From this experience, Talwar has built expertise in areas such as consumer and small business lending, payments, digital, and microfinance. In 2013, he was elected into the Young Global Leader program of the World Economic Forum.