The Non-Executive Director of Australian buy-now-pay-later darling Zip, Ms Dianne Challenor is all set to retire from her position, effective October 1st 2020. Zip Co says Challenor has been on the board since February 2018. Simultaneously, Zip Co announced that Ms Pippa Downes will step into Challenor’s shoes from October 1st itself as the Company’s Director. Additionally, she will be the Chairman of Zip’s Audit and Risk Committee.

About Pippa Downes – The newly appointed Zip Co board member

Ms Pippa has immeasurable experience in investment banking. Previously, Downes has worked with Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and UBS. She also holds a Bachelor of Science (B. Sc.) degree from the University of California Berkeley and a Masters of Applied Finance from the Macquarie University. 

Ms Downes is a seasoned and experienced director. She is a Non-Executive Director of Ingenia Communities Group, ALE Property and Australian Tech Innovators Pty Ltd. Formerly, she was the Director of Windlab Ltd and ASX Clearing and Settlement Companies and currently is a Commissioner of Sport Australia.

Downes says Zip Co is a mind-blowing Australian success story and she’s truly looking forward to working with the Zip team and being part of this journey. She adds that the buy now pay later market is shaking up the payments world and that is a great thing for merchants and customers, here and across the world. 

Philip Crutchfield, Zip Co Chairman says Pippa is a well-experienced and listed company Director who’ll surely be a tremendous asset to the board and governance of Zip, especially when the fintech firm executes its global expansion plan. 

SEE ALSO: A new & promising $280 million Aussie fintech firm Plenti to hit the ASX

Dianne Challenor’s journey

On leaving the BNPL firm, she says her time at Zip was wonderful and has immense admiration and respect for the business Pete and Larry have built. She added that the world of payments is exciting and it was a total pleasure to work with them and other board colleagues and wished the Zip team the best.

According to Zip website, Dianne’s Director bio says that she is the General Manager of GTS Westpac Institutional Banking where she is responsible for its Global Corporate & Institutional specialised sales, service and product teams. 

Before joining the Westpac Group, Challenor held the position of Managing Director & Head of Transaction Services APAC for JP Morgan, based in Hong Kong. She pursued her MBA from the Macquarie Graduate School of Management in Australia and a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) degree. 

SEE ALSO: ANZ Bank’s Group Transformation General Manager Rob Marchiori to Exit

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Image Taken And Modified: Zip Co