Meet the Board: Robert Purcell, MBA, CPA, CFO, Paysafe Payment Processing

Introduce us to your day job, title and responsibilities.
I am the CFO Paysafe Payment Processing, a $800m business unit of Paysafe Group. I am responsible for all financial aspects of the Global Payments business including business risk assessment, credit, compliance, reporting, and business development through the management of his global staff of 130.

What inspired you to pursue a job in this industry? 
While at Intuit, I was introduced to the small merchant space and immediately fell in love. It’s the essence of the American dream to own your own business and Merchant Payments is right on the front lines. It’s the heartbeat of our country.

Why was it important for you to be involved in ACG 101 at the Board level? 
I spend roughly +50% of my time doing some sort of business development / business partnering. Serving on the board of ACG 101 seemed like a logical extension of this outside the walls of Paysafe…something I truly enjoy. 

What is your favorite thing about ACG 101? 
It's absolutely the networking aspect at the chance to connect professionals who can ultimately leverage each other and their network to create value. 

What excites you most about the direction of ACG 101, and how will you contribute to it? 
ACG 101 is redefining itself and focusing on emerging business and economic growth opportunities whether its cannabis, the growing adult beverage industry in our area, or technology…it's just super exciting.

3 Fun Facts:
My wife and I are wine lovers and my grandfather was the inventor of Jiminy Cricket. My 2 boys (20 and 16 yrs) are smarter than mom and dad…but don’t know it yet. 😊

Robert's Bio
Robert joined Paysafe in June 2018 through the acquisition of iPayment by Paysafe, a portfolio company of Blackstone and CVC.  Robert brings a wealth of financial and leadership experience across multiple disciplines.  Over the past several years in the payments industry, Robert has led, completed and integrated business and portfolio acquisitions, completed two debt-for-equity exchanges, and refinanced several rounds of debt all of which contributed to approximately 30% growth in firm value.   Most recently, Robert was instrumental in the $1 billion sale of iPayment to Paysafe. 

Prior to joining iPayment, Robert held numerous executive leadership positions most recently with Intuit, Inc. since 2010, serving as Vice President Finance, Intuit Financial Services.  From 1997 to 2009, Robert was with Amgen, Inc., a publicly traded Biotech company, where he served in various financial capacities of increasing responsibility, including leading the $16 billion acquisition of Immunex, the largest biotech deal in history (in 2001) and serving as the site CFO at Amgen’s facility in Rhode Island.  From 1993 to 1997, Robert was at Deloitte & Touche LLP, serving as Audit Senior, Business Assurance and Advisory Services.  Robert received his MBA degree from the University of Southern California and a BS in Business Administration from California State University, Northridge.  He is a licensed CPA (inactive) in California.  

CEO’s and General Managers have commended Robert’s excellent leadership, people management skills and ability to embrace innovation.  He operates on multiples levels and improves every organizational function by leading by example.  Robert leads by emphasizing the notion that exceptional results don’t just happen.  He drives a coordinated focus on four pillars: People, Processes, Technology, and Quality.  

Robert is a board member for Make A Wish Tri-Counties and Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) 101.  While at Amgen in Rhode Island, Robert served on the Board for Providence Children’s Hospital and the Governor’s Council of Economic Education Reform.  Robert is also a guest lecturer at Cal Lutheran’s Business School.  Most recently, Robert was named “CFO of the Year” by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal and was a nominee for Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” award.

Robert and his wife Jennifer have been married for 24 years and have two boys, Cole who is a sophomore at University of Washington and Aidan who is a junior at Newbury Park High School.