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London, UK – May 15, 2025 – Spendesk, the leading spend and procurement management platform for SMEs and mid-market companies with integrated AI capabilities, announces the appointment of Laetitia Ismail as Chief Compliance Officer.
After more than a year of collaboration as an external consultant, Laetitia officially joined Spendesk in early 2025 to strengthen and develop compliance within Spendesk Financial Services, Spendesk's payment institution launched in April 2022. Her appointment demonstrates the company's ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest regulatory standards at all levels of the organisation. Reporting directly to Stéphane Dehaies, President of Spendesk Financial Services, she oversees the Risk, Compliance, and Internal Control teams at Spendesk Financial Services.
In the face of increasingly complex and constantly evolving European financial regulations, Laetitia ensures the maintenance of the highest compliance standards while supporting the sustainable development of Spendesk Financial Services' activities. Her expertise enables the anticipation of upcoming regulatory requirements and the proactive development of effective operational processes to address them. With the regular deployment of new payment services, such as international wire transfers capabilities in partnership with Wise Platform, establishing a robust compliance framework to protect users is more necessary than ever. She therefore develops solutions that combine compliance and ease of use, leveraging artificial intelligence to automate controls.
"In a constantly evolving environment, particularly marked by the imminent arrival of PSD3, compliance and risk management represent much more than regulatory obligations – they are essential drivers of growth, innovation, and trust," says Laetitia Ismail. "My goal is to continue developing our compliance culture by embedding it further into our operational DNA, perfecting its integration within our processes."
Laetitia Ismail, a recognised expert with 15 years of experience in compliance and regulation within the European fintech sector, joins Spendesk at a strategic stage in its development. Following the obtainment of its payment institution license in 2022 and the recent launch of new payment services, the company is strengthening its leadership position in the fintech and financial services sectors. She previously led the compliance department at Smile & Pay, a French company specialising in mobile payment solutions, for over six years, where she successfully orchestrated the obtainment of a payment institution license from the French Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority (ACPR). Laetitia also served as Senior Manager at Lyncas, a consulting firm specialising in regulatory and risk management. In this strategic role, she supported major European fintechs, focusing on regulatory auditing and operational support for institutions implementing their regulatory obligations.
"The appointment of Laetitia Ismail is a crucial step as we continuously develop our range of financial services," said Stéphane Dehaies. "Her vision and expertise in compliance are major assets for our sustainable growth. At Spendesk Financial Services, we have always considered compliance as an essential pillar of our activity. The teams have already established solid foundations. Under Laetitia's leadership, this collective and proactive approach will continue to create value, drive innovation, and strengthen the trust of our clients and partners."