After seven unforgettable years, I’ve made the decision to step down as CEO of NMI.
When I joined NMI in 2018, we were processing 550 million transactions a year through 1,000 partners. Today, it’s 5.8 billion transactions through 4,000 partners for over 1 million merchants. Payments volume has grown nearly tenfold — from $45 billion to over $440 billion — and our reach, our team and our ambition have scaled with it.
These numbers are humbling, but they only tell part of the story.
What excites me most is how close we are to realizing something we’ve long believed: that the best payment experience is the one you never even notice happen. A tap, a checkout, a moment of magic. No friction, no delay, just trust. That’s the standard we’ve been building toward and I truly believe NMI is poised to make it a reality at scale.
Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of working with one of the most talented, passionate and resilient leadership teams. Together, we’ve transformed the business, expanded our capabilities and set a bold strategic course for the future. Our success has been a true team effort, and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together.
I’m incredibly grateful to our investors — Francisco Partners, Insight Partners, and Great Hill Partners — for their trust, challenge and support. A special thanks to Byron Lichtenstein, whose strategic insight has been instrumental to our growth. And to Peter Christodoulo, our Chairman, a personal friend and true partner in this journey. Their belief in our vision, and in our ability to execute it, has helped shape NMI into the company it is today.
What I’m most proud of is the team we’ve built, the culture we’ve nurtured and the role we’ve played in helping our partners bring modern, embedded payment experiences to life. NMI has expanded not just through innovation and product launches, but through a series of five strategic acquisitions that have deepened our capabilities and broadened our reach.
As I hand the reins over to Steve Pinado, I do so with complete confidence. Steve brings the right mix of experience, vision and heart to lead NMI into its next phase, and I look forward to supporting him and the team through a smooth transition as strategic advisor. I know he’ll be well supported by the strong executive team already in place, who will continue executing on our strategy.
On a personal note, this transition will also give me the gift of more time with my wife, Sona and our daughters, something I value deeply after years of travel, early mornings and late nights. I’m looking forward to being more present with them while still staying connected to NMI in a meaningful way.
To the entire NMI community — our customers, partners, employees, investors and friends — thank you. Thank you for trusting me, challenging me and believing in what we could achieve together. I’ll always be cheering for NMI!
