TNS appoints Michael Johnson to lead global payments

Transaction Network Services has appointed Michael Johnson Global Managing Director for its Payments Market business, putting a long-serving executive in charge of the company's global payments division.

Johnson will lead the business across its product portfolio and markets, working with regional management teams and the corporate leadership group on strategy and growth.

He joined TNS in 2017 as Vice President of APAC Operations, overseeing network operations across Asia Pacific. A year later, he became Managing Director for Asia Pacific Payments and later assumed responsibility for the ADVAM suite of solutions after TNS acquired the business.

The appointment comes as payments groups face rising demand for secure payment infrastructure and growing pressure to manage increasingly complex transaction networks across multiple markets.

Before joining TNS, Johnson spent 15 years at First Data Australia and New Zealand, where he rose to Vice President of Global Service Delivery. He also served as Chief Executive Officer of PAX Technology Australia.

Originally from New Zealand, he began his career in London as a Project Manager at Centrica Telecommunications before moving to Sydney in 2002.

Johnson described the backdrop to his new role in a company statement.

"I'm honored to take on this global role at such an important time for both TNS and the payments industry," said Michael Johnson, Global Managing Director, TNS Payments Market. "As payment ecosystems continue to evolve, our customers need a trusted partner that can simplify complexity while delivering secure, resilient and scalable infrastructure that their mission-critical commerce depends on. Building on TNS's strong heritage in payments, I'm looking forward to working with our global teams to help customers innovate with confidence and support their growth wherever they operate."

Leadership shift

Johnson's familiarity with the company's payments and connectivity operations contributed to the decision. TNS provides managed network and payments services to merchants, financial institutions and self-service operators.

TNS serves more than 2,800 organisations across more than 50 countries. Its offering spans payment acceptance, connectivity and transaction processing through a single managed provider model.

Chief Executive Officer Mike Keegan said Johnson's internal experience and relationships across the group would support the next phase of the payments business.

"Michael's knowledge of TNS's payments and connectivity products, services and customers, as well as his strong relationships with TNS employees across all groups and regions, will ensure that we remain focused on delivering on the significant opportunities we have in our Payments Market business," said Mike Keegan, Chief Executive Officer, TNS. "As the team collaborates in pursuit of those opportunities, I look forward to what will be achieved under Michael's leadership."

Payments focus

The change gives TNS a senior executive with direct operating experience in both regional and product leadership roles at a time when payment providers are under pressure to support merchants and financial institutions across in-store, unattended and online channels.

For TNS, the appointment also signals a continued emphasis on its payments and connectivity activities, which sit at the centre of its business model. Founded in the US in 1990, the company has built its presence around managed services for network connectivity and payment processing.

After several years in Asia Pacific leadership roles, Johnson now takes responsibility for the global Payments Market business, bringing experience from both international payments groups and terminal providers. His remit will span strategy and commercial development across the division's markets and products.