Singapore, March 4, 2026 — Standard Chartered has appointed Naveen Mallela as Global Head of Payments, effective May 4, 2026, as the bank consolidates its payments capabilities under a unified structure.
Mallela will be based in Singapore and report to Mahesh Kini, Global Head of Cash Management. In his new role, he will lead an integrated payments organisation that brings together collections, clearing and payments teams, reflecting growing client demand for end-to-end solutions.
The bank said the combined structure is intended to support delivery across the full payments lifecycle, including both traditional payment rails and emerging tokenised and on-chain payment flows.
The appointment comes as Standard Chartered continues to invest in its cash management business, focusing on technology upgrades, process re-engineering and partnerships to address evolving cross-border payment requirements.
Michael Spiegel, Global Head of Transaction Banking at Standard Chartered, said the business is moving toward a more scalable, product-led model designed to support clients operating across both conventional and digital payment ecosystems.
Roberto Hoornweg, CEO of Corporate and Investment Banking, said the integration of clearing and digital asset capabilities reflects the increasing convergence of traditional and on-chain payment models, with Mallela expected to play a key role in the next phase of growth.
Mallela joins from JPMorgan Chase, where he was Global Co-Head of Kinexys, the bank’s blockchain-based payments and digital asset unit. He brings more than 25 years of experience in transaction banking and payments infrastructure.
The Banking Outlook Insight:
Banks are restructuring payments businesses around integrated platforms, signalling a shift toward unified infrastructure that combines traditional rails with digital asset capabilities.
Source: Standard Chartered