People Moves: Naveen Mallela

Standard Chartered has announced the appointment of Naveen Mallela as Global Head of Payments, effective 4 May 2026. Based in Singapore, Naveen reports to Mahesh Kini, Global Head of Cash Management, as the bank seeks to restructure its payments architecture to meet evolving client demands.

Naveen joins the firm from JP Morgan Chase, where he served as the Global Co-Head of Kinexys (formerly known as Onyx). During his tenure at JP Morgan’s permissioned blockchain business unit, he focused on the development of real-time, 24/7 cross-border payments and digital asset settlement.

With over 25 years of experience in global transaction banking and payments innovation, he possesses a track record of modernising infrastructure and scaling next-generation financial solutions.

In his new capacity, Naveen will lead an integrated payments organisation. This role involves merging the bank’s Collections, Clearing, and Payments teams into a single entity to provide end-to-end solutions.

Michael Spiegel, Global Head of Transaction Banking, notes the strategic shift, saying: “Our Cash Management Business is entering a defining chapter as we build a scalable, product-led franchise that enables clients to manage across both traditional and emerging digital payment ecosystems, positioning them for long-term growth in an increasingly integrated financial landscape.”

The unified team is tasked with designing flows across the entire lifecycle, encompassing both traditional methods and emerging tokenised or on-chain systems.

This appointment aligns with Standard Chartered’s ongoing investment in its Cash Management franchise, which has focused on re-engineering processes and forming partnerships to address cross-border needs.

The bank’s leadership expects Naveen’s specific background in blockchain to bridge the gap between legacy and digital systems.

Roberto Hoornweg, CEO, Corporate and Investment Banking, says: “As client needs evolve and payments increasingly integrate traditional and on-chain settlement models, Naveen’s experience in leading payments innovation will be pivotal as we scale our next phase of growth by combining clearing and digital assets capabilities in a client-centric way.”