Transact Network Directors

Transact Network's directors have extensive experience in the electronic finance and banking industries. With a clear vision for the future and a pulse on the industry you can rest assured that your Programs are in the best of hands.

Kiran Sidhu - Executive Chairman, Founder

Mr. Sidhu is the Executive Chairman and Founder of Transact Network. Prior to founding Transact Network, Mr. Sidhu was a seed investor in various technology and biotechnology ventures. Mr. Sidhu funded and oversaw the development of BuzzDash that was sold to the Tribune Group in 2009. Mr. Sidhu was also an early stage investor in two biotechnology companies: Vasgene Therapeutics and Inovio Biomedical Corporation. Mr. Sidhu was also a co-founder of, Nano Universe, an early stage Internet incubator, which he led through an LSE-AIM listing as its Finance Director. Previously, Mr. Sidhu was Chief Financial Officer at On Stage Entertainment. He led On Stage through a NASDAQ small company listing. Mr. Sidhu has been a senior associate with Merrill Lynch Investment Banking in Mergers and Acquisitions and a manager with Price Waterhouse's Strategic Consulting Group. Mr. Sidhu holds a Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the Wharton School of Business and an A.B with Honors in Computer Science from Brown University.

Deependra Bhartari - Chief Operating Officer*

Mr. Bhartari is the Chief Operating Officer at Transact Network. Mr. Bhartari has extensive experience in payments, technology, operations and developing systems to detect and prevent online fraud. Mr. Bhartari was instrumental in the successful growth of Party Gaming (now BWIN Party Gaming) as their Director of Transaction Services working with Party Gaming from start up through to their successful LSE listing. Prior to joining Transact, Mr. Bhartari was the Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Next Education India Pvt ’ one of the largest digital education solutions providers across South Asia. Mr. Bhartari has completed B-Tech from Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai.

J. Francisco A. Turner - Business Development Director

Mr. Turner is responsible for developing new prepaid products and solutions, seeking new business opportunities, as well as overall client relationship management and strategic relationships. Mr. Turner has a comprehensive background in operational finance, private equity and investment banking in the technology, telecommunications, media and real estate sectors. Previously, Mr. Turner was a founder and the Director of Finance of a privately held real estate development company. Mr. Turner was also an investment professional with Spectrum Equity Investors, a private equity firm managing $4.7 billion of capital. With Spectrum Equity, he invested in and worked closely with portfolio companies such as Jazztel, Eurostructures and others. Prior to Spectrum, Mr. Turner was an Associate and Analyst with the investment bank, Bank of America Robertson Stephens, focused on Corporate Finance and Merger and Acquisitions helping execute over 25 transactions raising over $9 billion in capital. Mr. Turner graduated from Harvard University with an A.B. in Romance Languages. He additionally attended the Universidad Complutense de Madrid studying the European Union and Western European politics.

Damian Asquez - Finance Director

Mr. Asquez joined Transact Network in November 2008 and is responsible for financial reporting, management reporting, finance operations and also assumes day-to-day operational management of the BIN sponsorship business. Prior to Transact Network Limited, Mr. Asquez was Head of Accounts Receivable at PartyGaming Plc. During this time he managed an international payment portfolio of US$ 250 million and reconciliation of up to US$ 6 billion of transactions annually. He also assisted with the listing of the company and the successful implementation of an ERP system including the development of a propriety reconciliation tool.  Mr Asquez was also a Management Accountant at Legal & General Plc managing an annual expense budget of £250 million with an extensive cost centre structure that covered over 3,000 employees.  He pioneered unit cost analysis on assurance products and developed financial management reports for the Board.  Mr. Asquez holds a degree in Accounting from University of Wales, Cardiff. He is also a fellow member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

Kriya Patel - Sales Director

Mr. Patel has an extensive background in the finance sector spanning nearly 13 years. He is an industry-leading figure in prepaid and was most recently chief operating officer of Newcastle Cards Solutions at Newcastle Building Society, Newcastle's renowned and market leading prepaid card division. Under his direction, NCS grew to become the largest prepaid card issuer in Europe and the fifth largest in the world, settling more than US$1.6 billion of transactions in 2009. During his tenure, NCS achieved many notable firsts including initiatives in gift, teen, travel and money share cards, and also issued Europe's first prepaid contactless cards. Mr. Patel has held the following senior positions of Head of Mortgage Solutions, Head of System Solutions, IT Manager for third party services and senior project manager during his time at NBS. Mr. Patel has a Bachelor of Science in Business Information Systems from Sheffield Hallam University and a diploma in Management Development from Northumbria University. Mr. Patel is also a qualified ITIL practitioner.

Justine Gilder - Head of Risk and Compliance

Ms Gilder joined Transact Network in December 2010 to manage the risk and compliance departments ensuring that Transact Network continues to maintain the highest regulatory standards whilst providing innovative products to industry.  Originating in banking, Ms Gilder has an extensive background as a compliance professional within the financial services industry.  Previously as a Director of Global Advisory Services, she provided outsourced compliance functions and consultancy services to licensed entities which included money service businesses, fiduciary companies, fund managers and investment dealers specialising in creating and implementing risk frameworks.  Ms Gilder is also the appointed Money Laundering Reporting Officer for Transact Network responsible for the Transact Network's compliance with local and European Anti Money Laundering legislation and its reporting requirements. On behalf of Transact Network she is also a member of the Electronic Money Association and a member of the Gibraltar Association of Compliance Officers, previous memberships include the Gibraltar Funds and Investment Association where she participated as a member of their Compliance Committee.

Peter Howitt - Head of Legal Affairs

Mr. Howitt joined Transact Network full time in March 2010. Previously, he worked for nearly 10 years as a commercial lawyer with specialisms in regulatory, M&A and multi-jurisdictional corporate matters. Mr. Howitt was in- house counsel at PartyGaming PLC prior to and following its successful IPO. During Mr. Howitt's time at PartyGaming PLC, he worked on a wide range of matters - this included leading the legal aspects of the acquisition of Gamebookers (for approximately $USD130m). Before moving to PartyGaming PLC in 2005, Mr. Howitt worked as a commercial solicitor in the City of London for Reed Smith LLP. Mr. Howitt worked for a range of companies in the financial and commercial sector. Mr. Howitt is legal counsel to the board of Transact and is responsible for the day to day running of its legal affairs. On behalf of Transact Network he is also a member of the Electronic Money Association and he has recently joined the Gibraltar Banking Association. Mr. Howitt has a BA (Honours) in Law from Sheffield University.

*Appointment Subject to Regulatory Approval