Wise reveals ex-Netflix CFO David Wells to replace fintech’s co-founder Taavet Hinrikus as board chair

Recently floated fintech Wise today revealed Netflix's former finance chief is to take over as its chair.

David Wells, who left the streaming giant in 2018, has served on the Wise board since 2019 and will take up his new role immediately. The executive worked at Netflix for 14 years, managing its huge growth from 2010 as CFO.

He succeeds Taavet Hinrikus, one of the fintech's co-founders and a Skype veteran.

Today Wells said he "looks forward to continuing Taavet's legacy".

The money transfer service's co-founder and CEO, Kristof Karmann, hailed Wells' "wealth of experience operating and scaling disruptive companies" and said he is looking forward to "working with him even more closely as we enter a new phase of growth".

He added: "Wise has benefited greatly from Taavet's leadership and I'm excited to see what he does next."

Founded in 2011 and formerly known as TransferWise, Wise became London’s biggest ever tech float in July when it came to market in a £8 billion direct listing.

Shares peaked at 1,140p in September. Wise stock rose 0.34%, or 2.6p, to 769p, on the announcement.