Executive Briefing
Issue 1 April 2009
Welcome
News
Welcome to the first Executive Briefing of 2009. The year has started
strongly for First Data: in the past few months we extended our
relationships with a number of long-standing customers, announced
new agreements and entered new markets. Despite the weakening
global economic situation, First Data performed well in 2008 and
the international business once again made a significant contribution
to the company’s results.
Renewed agreement with Citibank
irst Data will continue to provide merchant
F
acquiring processing services to Citibank
in Australia until 2015, following the bank’s
decision to extend its contract for a further
five years.
Extended contract with HSBC
Newsflash
Exclusive with American Express
American Express has chosen First Data as its exclusive merchant
acquirer and merchant processor for American Express® Card
transactions in Poland.
> more
INTERVIEW
First Data has renewed its agreement with
HSBC to provide EFT processing support
in Australia for a further three years.
Processing agreement in Italy
First Data has signed a processing
agreement with Unicard SpA and will
also support consolidation of the cards
business of parent company,
Unipol Gruppo Finanziario.
more
>
Talking to SPAR
ustrian-owned retailer SPAR operates a large
A
network of grocery stores in Austria, and across
Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Czech Republic and
Croatia. With First Data’s support, SPAR recently
launched a network of branch independent ATMs
at more than 110 stores in Austria. Franz Hölzl,
SPAR’s head of IT Strategy, provides some insights
on the project.
> more
FIRST DATA INSIGHT
Cashcard Network upgrade
Cashcard recently installed the latest
Through-the-Wall ATM model from
Wincor-Nixdorf, the first in Australia.
> more
Prepaid solution for Starbucks
Starbucks, in cooperation with First Data,
has introduced prepaid cards to customers
in Korea. The re-loadable cards are proving
immensely popular – in March more than
30,000 were in circulation.
Cross border eCommerce
eCommerce provides merchants with a new gateway to the global
marketplace, presenting enormous revenue and growth opportunities.
A new white paper, produced by First Data’s eCommerce team,
provides an overview of cross-border eCommerce, explaining what
merchants need to know to harvest more international business.
Please contact us (see details below) to request a copy of the
white paper or click here to view the report on our website.
Technology Supplier of the Year
First Data has been recognised as US
Technology Supplier of the Year by
McDonald’s USA. The award is presented
for innovation, quality, partnership, customer
satisfaction and value.
> more
continued....
Executive Briefing
Issue 1 April 2009
APPOINTMENTS
Mercator Pika solution goes live
New Head of Europe, Middle East & Africa
Following a swift and successful migration,
First Data has begun processing payment
and loyalty cards for Mercator’s popular
Pika payment and loyalty programme in
several countries across south-eastern
Europe.
> more
Vincent Roland joined First Data in February as
senior vice president of the company’s card issuing
and merchant acquiring operations in Europe,
the Middle East and Africa.
more
>
Strong performance in 2008
General Manager, Brazil
Maria Fernanda Teixeira has joined First Data’s leadership team
in Latin America with responsibility for the delivery and expansion
of First Data’s operations in Brazil.
> more
First Data reported consolidated revenues
of $8.8 billion for 2008, up 9% on 2007.
First Data’s international operations
reported 2008 revenue of $1.8 billion,
up 13%.
Events
SERVICES UPDATE
PSD roundtable
eHealth payment solutions for an eGK world
The rollout of the Electronic Health Card (eGK) is one of the most
significant IT projects undertaken in the German healthcare sector and
will affect thousands of healthcare professionals. TeleCash, First Data’s
network services business, offers a range of cost-effective hardware
and payment solutions specifically designed to meet their needs.
> more
Capitalising on internet payments
First Data’s new Internet Payment Gateway solution could help
European merchants counter the economic downturn by opening
up new revenue opportunities online.
> more
Commercial cards and payments
Businesses and governments globally spend trillions of dollars each
year on business-to-business purchases. While cash and cheques are
still the dominant instruments used for corporate payments, more and
more B2B payments are made electronically. First Data offers a range
of payment solutions to help customers capitalise on the commercial
opportunities in this growing market.
> more
The challenges of implementing the
Payment Services Directive were the
focus of a roundtable discussion hosted
by First Data in Brussels in March.
> more
EuroCIS 2009
In February, TeleCash attended the annual
EuroCIS trade fair in Düsseldorf, where live
demos of our future orientated payment
solutions attracted many visitors.
> more
Visa Prepaid Roadshows
First Data joined forces with Visa to
participate in a series of roadshows
designed to examine the key drivers of
successful prepaid card management.
Held in Warsaw, Milan, Istanbul and
Frankfurt, the events were open to all Visa
members. First Data’s prepaid and local
market experts received positive feedback
from delegates.
continued....
Executive Briefing
Issue 1 April 2009
Contact us
For further information on First Data or any of the items covered in this newsletter, please contact:
Asia Australia & New Zealand Hong Ren on +86 10 8522 1685 extension 168 or email hong.ren@firstdata.com
Sarah Hughes on +612 9959 7077 or email sarah.hughes@firstdata.com.au
Germany Greece Latin America & Canada Middle East South Africa Turkey
UK & Ireland
Other European Countries All General Enquiries Claudia Klein on +49 69 7933 1686 or email claudia.klein@firstdata.de
Sofia Roumeliotou on +30 210 624 4543 or email sofia.roumeliotou@firstdata.gr
Julie Holan on +1 321 263 3838 or email julie.holan@firstdata.com
Sunayana Kripalani on +971 50 4514263 or email sunayana.kripalani@firstdata.com
Lee-Anne Porter on +27 11 510 0294 or email lee-anne.porter@firstdata.com
Aysu Balik on +90 212 319 76 46 or email aysu.balik@firstdata.com
Helen Owen on +44 1268 297278 or email howen@firstdatacorp.co.uk
Silvio Piskernigg on +43 1 717 73 3393 or email silvio.piskernigg@firstdata.at
Fabienne Knecht on +44 1268 296882 or email fknecht@firstdatacorp.co.uk
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Executive Briefing
Issue 1 April 2009
American Express appoints First Data as its exclusive
merchant acquirer in Poland
Warsaw, March 4, 2009
First Data and American Express announced a new merchant services agreement in Poland. Under the terms
of the agreement First Data will become the exclusive merchant acquirer and merchant processor for American
Express® Card transactions in Poland.
First Data will assume responsibility for the range of merchant services including signing new merchants to accept
American Express branded cards, managing relationships with existing merchants and processing merchant transactions
on the American Express network. First Data will also be responsible for managing and implementing new solutions for
American Express merchants in Poland, including migration to the EMV standard. American Express Card acceptance
will remain available to Polish merchants through a number of acquiring agents, overseen by First Data.
“This exclusive agreement gives First Data’s Polish operation a sustainable, competitive advantage, unmatched by any
other bank or competitor in the region,” said Nigel Bidmead, senior vice president and head of First Data’s international
retail business. “We believe that we will be able to further grow card acceptance for American Express in Poland and
introduce a totally new level of service quality to our merchants.”
“In First Data we have an ideal services provider,” said Pascal J. Guignard, vice president and general manager
of Global Network Services in Europe, Middle East and Africa, American Express. “In addition to their tremendous
expertise in merchant acquiring they have had a strong presence in Poland since 1991. Through this agreement,
American Express will be well positioned to enhance the value provided to merchants. Together we will continue
to focus on expanding card acceptance and usage at merchant locations that attract high spending American
Express cardholders from both within and outside Poland.”
First Data will leverage its considerable payments expertise including almost 20 years of experience in Poland to increase
American Express’ market penetration. “We will use our highly skilled sales force to offer American Express products to
merchants throughout Poland,” said Janusz Diemko, managing director of First Data in Poland. “I am confident that this
cooperation with American Express will influence the growth of the Polish cards market as a whole.”
In addition to this agreement, American Express has had a card issuing agreement with Millennium Bank Polska SA
(owned by Banco Comercial Portugues) since 1999. Today the bank issues a wide portfolio of American Express branded
cards to consumers throughout Poland. American Express will continue to maintain its travel and corporate card business
in Poland, serving the needs of American Express Card-members and other travellers
Nigel Bidmead, Senior Vice President and Head
of First Data’s international retail business with
Pascal J Guignard, Vice President and General
Manager of Global Network Services in Europe,
Middle East and Africa, American Express.
Executive Briefing
Issue 1 April 2009
First Wincor-Nixdorf ‘Through-the-Wall ATM’ installed in upgrade
of Cashcard Network in Australia
First Data’s Cashcard business is implementing a series of improvements to its network with the support of ATM
suppliers, Wincor-Nixdorf. More than three thousand lobby ATMs have been rolled out to the market during the
past six months, culminating most recently in the upgrade of Cashcard’s ‘Through-the-Wall’ fleet.
Grant Lines, managing director of First Data in Australia & New Zealand, was on hand to cut the ribbon for the official
launch of the first Wincor-Nixdorf ‘Through-the-Wall ATM’ to be installed in Australia, which took place at First Data’s
site in Sydney.
“We’ve always offered a premium package of ATM services to the Australian market through our Cashcard brand,
and the replacement of the fleet continues this trend,” said Grant Lines. “With an enhanced user interface and the latest
ATM technology I’m confident that our Cashcard ATM Network will maintain its status as the largest independent deployer
of ATMs in the country.”
The ATM replacement project will continue throughout 2009 and a further 800 devices are scheduled for replacement.
Executive Briefing
Issue 1 April 2009
First Data to provide issuing and acquiring processing
for Unipol Banca’s affiliate Unicard
First Data will support the consolidation of Unipol Gruppo Finanziario’s cards business into Unicard
Milan, Italy, December 18, 2008
First Data has signed a five year processing agreement with Unicard SpA, a cards unit affiliated to Unipol Banca.
Unipol Banca is owned and controlled by Unipol Gruppo Finanziario (UGF), the fourth largest insurance group in Italy,
which announced its intention to consolidate the group’s entire card business into Unicard.
Unicard manages the acquiring business of COOP, a leading Italian retailer, including COOP’s Visa co-branded and private
label credit cards, and is currently undergoing MasterCard certification. First Data will support Unicard’s transformation into
what will become UGF’s dedicated cards business, responsible for all merchant acquiring and card issuing processing
for credit, debit and prepaid cards for the group.
Services provided by First Data cover a large part of the value chain and range from innovative front-end services
in card application management, transaction processing, authorisations, clearing and settlement, to providing card
account management and sophisticated fraud management solutions for merchants.
“We believe that First Data has the breadth of services and experience we need and is also committed to supporting
our Italian group with local market insight,” said Dario Tagnochetti, general manager of Unicard. “We are exploring
several new and innovative products with First Data, our payments services provider of choice.”
A First Data spokesperson in Italy said, “Unipol and Unicard have entrusted First Data to support their strategic move,
which confirms our reputation as a world-class service provider in Italy, a market where payments services outsourcing
is gaining momentum.”
Executive Briefing
Issue 1 April 2009
McDonald’s® USA names First Data as 2008
US Technology Supplier of the Year
Oak Brook, Illinois, January 12, 2009
McDonald’s recently awarded the second annual US Technology Supplier of the Year Award to First Data, a leading
provider of electronic commerce and payment solutions for businesses worldwide. McDonald’s unveiled the award
at its US Technology Supplier Summit, an annual gathering of key US McDonald’s technology suppliers, held at the
company’s Oak Brook, Illinois headquarters.
Since 2002, First Data has been a key collaborator in enabling McDonald’s to continuously provide customers
with convenient and relevant payment options.
“First Data has proven integral to the McDonald’s system since our relationship began six years ago,” said David Grooms,
vice president and CIO of McDonald’s North America. “They’re a key supplier, supporting McDonald’s IT strategy to improve
efficiencies at the register, making it possible for our customers to enjoy greater speed and service when they order.”
The McDonald’s US Technology Supplier of the Year Award is given to the technology product supplier that makes the most
significant impact on, and contribution to, McDonald’s USA. The award recognizes criteria including impact on the McDonald’s
system, innovation, quality, partnership, customer satisfaction and value.
“First Data is extremely honoured to be the recipient of McDonald’s Technology Supplier of the Year award,” said Ed Labry,
president of First Data’s USA division. “As an innovator in the payments space, we pride ourselves on offering McDonald’s
the highest level of technology and service to help make their restaurants an even more convenient place for customers
to enjoy the food they love.”
Executive Briefing
Issue 1 April 2009
First Data’s solution goes live for Mercator’s Mercator Pika payment
and loyalty programme
Europe, February 2, 2009.
First Data has started processing payment and loyalty cards for Mercator, a leading retail chain in south-east
Europe. The launch of the services, which are now live in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina,
came 10 months after First Data signed a processing agreement with Mercator.
Mercator operates more than 1,500 hypermarkets, supermarkets and grocery stores in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia,
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. First Data is providing issuing processing services for Mercator’s popular
loyalty programme ‘Mercator Pika’, which was launched a decade ago and enjoys the participation of more than one
million members. In addition, First Data is providing network services and acquiring processing across all geographies,
enabling Mercator’s stores to accept payment cards from all the major international and domestic schemes in the region.
Domagoj Mandarić, First Data’s managing director in south-east Europe, said, “Mercator’s selection of First Data
as its partner in the card business highlights First Data’s ability to deliver complex cross-border projects and provide
sophisticated services to retailers.”
Matija Vojsk, an advisor to Mercator’s management board, said: “Mercator aims to create benefits for our customers
by providing excellent retail services, high-quality goods and competitive prices across south-east Europe. Mercator Pika
Card is a customer benefit programme that has been very successful since its introduction to the market. We always strive
to provide first class service to our customers and have selected First Data to support us in delivering additional loyalty
benefits through our Mercator Pika Card and to create a competitive advantage as we enter new geographic markets.”
Executive Briefing
Issue 1 April 2009
Spotlight on PSD implementation challenges
Practical challenges in implementing the European Union’s Payment Services Directive (PSD) were the focus
of a First Data-sponsored roundtable in Brussels on March 17.
The PSD, which comes into force on 1 November 2009, will lead to the creation of a new non-bank financial entity called
a ‘payment institution’ and also to major changes in the processing of payment transactions across the European Union.
Already in force at European level, the PSD is now being transposed into law in each of the EU Member States.
Among the challenges being faced and discussed at the roundtable event were:
1 Lack of clarity around card product pricing transparency, redress and disputes, and the settlement process
2 Differing national implementation timescales and interpretations
3 Clients in a country with different interpretations of the PSD
4 Regulators who are reluctant to provide clarifications
5 Lack of clarity on how payment institutions will work in practice.
Feedback from all 18 attendees was extremely positive, with the European Commission particularly pleased that these
issues were being raised. Dialogue with all attendees will continue throughout the rest of the year to ensure that the
PSD is implemented as consistently and as effectively as possible.
Executive Briefing
Issue 1 April 2009
Innovative solutions on show at EuroCIS 2009
Visitors showed strong interest in TeleCash’s stand at this year’s EuroCIS 2009, the foremost trade fair for retail
IT and security in Germany, which took place in Düsseldorf in February. Discussions at the TeleCash stand centered
on our acquiring solutions, including the recently launched First Merchant Solutions business, and contactless payments.
The event provided an excellent opportunity for merchants to see, live, TeleCash’s patented technology for archiving
payment transactions as well as the near field communication technology used in First Data’s GO-TagTM solution.
“We were pleased by the increased footfall to our stand,“ said Thomas Haarmann, managing director of TeleCash.
“A number of visitors commented on the future orientation of our solutions, indicating that we have precisely the
solutions needed to address the retail sector’s demands.”
.
Executive Briefing
Issue 1 April 2009
eHealth payment solutions for an eGK world
The German healthcare sector is preparing for the rollout of new electronic health insurance cards (known as eGK),
to approximately 80 million consumers. Although the rollout will be phased, according to the Germany Ministry of Health,
its implementation will affect more than 200,000 pharmacies, health and dental practices. These organisations will have
to invest in new card-reading devices to ensure compliance and integration with the new eGK infrastructure.
First Data’s subsidiary TeleCash GmbH & Co. KG is one of the leading network service providers handling card payments
in Germany and offers a selection of services to customers impacted by the launch of eGK card terminals. The company
has been equipping doctors, pharmacists and hospitals with card payment terminals since 1990 and has a considerable
track record in developing future orientated technologies.
“For those involved in the healthcare sector, the launch of the eGK presents a number of considerations, from ensuring
that your chosen terminal will be able to support the future development of the eGK, to finding effective ways to fund
hardware and maintenance programmes,” explained Thomas Haarmann, managing director of TeleCash. “The solutions
provided by TeleCash have been developed specifically with the requirements of healthcare professionals in mind,
and are designed to meet their operational and security needs not just now but throughout the future development
of the eGK.”
TeleCash’s eHealth solutions feature:
➞Devices that have been rigorously tested and hold the relevant manufacturer certifications, including approval from
the Gesellschaft für Telematikanwendungen der Gesundheitskarte (Society for Telematic Health Card Applications)
➞A range of financing models, including alternatives to outright purchase, for example, leasing
➞Comprehensive service package providing prompt replacements to minimise the impact on customers’ businesses
➞Helpline available five days a week from 7.00 am to 8.00 pm to deal with customer enquiries
➞Expanding product range including pipeline of online connectors, network services and other applications to facilitate
the use of electronic signatures and other services to support future developments in the eGK
➞Ability for customers to upgrade their standard rollout terminals with minimal effort and cost to align with future stages
of the development in the online healthcare telematic infrastructure.
For more information about TeleCash’s eHealth solutions please contact Anusche Saharkhiz on +49 69 7933 2346,
email: anusche.saharkhiz@telecash.de
.
Executive Briefing
Issue 1 April 2009
Internet payments offer new revenue streams in Europe
First Data’s new Internet Payment Gateway solution could help European merchants counter the economic downturn
by opening up new revenue opportunities online.
The solution is available in the UK, Germany and Italy and is being rolled out to other countries in Europe, Middle East
and Africa. It is designed to meet the needs of both small and large retailers who operate either exclusively online or
in a brick and click environment. Merchants will find our Internet Payment Gateway a fast, simple and secure route
to eCommerce that takes away the pressures of a growing list of compliance requirements.
The Internet Payment Gateway has three components:
➞Connect - for retailers seeking the simplest method of accepting payments over the internet by connecting
their existing web site to a hosted payment page
➞Virtual Terminal - for retailers/contact centres who wish to turn internet-enabled PCs into point-of-sale terminals
capable of accepting payments over the internet without installing any software
➞First Data’s Application Programming Interface (API) - for retailers with their own technical development resources
who are looking for a more customised integration and capability.
“The Internet Payment Gateway, which is offered exclusively by First Data, offers a number of important benefits,”
said Jonathan O’Connor, director of eCommerce retail solutions. “It’s available on a white labelled basis so merchants
or banks can brand the solution for a seamless and integrated consumer experience. Also, First Data’s reputation for
reliability and data security offers peace of mind that is critical in such a fast growing area of electronic payments.
We offer a scalable, reliable internet payment solution that can take responsibility for the complex compliance
requirements so merchants can dedicate their time to increasing their revenues.”
The Internet Payment Gateway is offered through TeleCash, our network services provider in Germany, and our joint
ventures in Italy (BNL Positivity) and the UK (Bank of Scotland Merchant Services). The solution is also available to
First Data’s banking clients who can offer the Internet Payment Gateway to their retail customers on a white labelled basis.
For more information on the First Data Internet Payment Gateway, contact Jonathan O’Connor at joconnor@firstdata.com
or + 44 (0) 785 2000 107.
You can view additional product specifications at http://www.firstdata.com/support/manuals_and_guides/global_gateway.htm
.
Executive Briefing
Issue 1 April 2009
Smart solutions for business-to-business payments
In spite of the global growth of electronic payments, 75% of all non-cash business-to-business payments are made using
cheques, according to the Forte Consulting Group. Therefore, it’s no surprise that financial institutions, corporates and
government entities see major advantages in expanding the use of electronic payment products for business-to-business
transactions.
For financial institutions, commercial payments are an opportunity to expand relationships with key corporate clients,
offering them better management information and reduced payment processing costs. Government agencies benefit from
more control and transparency as well as increased payments efficiency. Meanwhile, small businesses are a significant
and often untapped segment for commercial payments. For them, electronic payments offer opportunities to reduce costs,
simplify payments and get access to improved management information.
Des Cahill, managing director, Commercial Services, First Data, recently outlined some of these benefits of commercial
payments at London’s Global Commercial Cards and Payments Summit.
“Many businesses are striving to make their purchasing processes more efficient and cost effective, and the automation
of accounts payable can offer compelling returns,” explained Des Cahill. “People are realising that consumer payment
solutions don’t travel into the commercial world and this is where First Data can help. We have years of experience in
developing solutions specifically for corporates and offer a carefully-adapted range of products to give our customers
a universal and easily implemented B2B solution.”
The advantages of commercial payments vary by market sector and payment type – but some benefits are common to all:
Cost Savings Reduced costs in the payment process and the ability to negotiate better terms with preferred vendors
through activity analysis.
Automation Replacement of paper-based processes with electronic payments to reduce administrative costs,
improve internal policy compliance, automate reconciliation and provide expense analysis.
Cash flow Better management of cash outlays via a wide range of billing and payment options for commercial
card activity.
Risk control Improved risk management and control of cards issued to employees through broad spending controls
such as velocity limits and preferred vendors.
Acceptance Global acceptance for Visa, MasterCard and American Express commercial cards.
For businesses launching a commercial card for the first time or banks expanding their existing payment product portfolio,
First Data offers a flexible, multi-channel solution suite that will address the requirements of small businesses and large,
multinational corporations.
“Beyond expense management, one of the key advantages of commercial cards and payments lies in the wealth of
management information that can be extracted from the data accumulated,” adds Des Cahill. “Our solutions can replace
card scheme and third party management information systems with a single application to manage commercial card
products from a variety of schemes. We can provide customers with real-time control of the financial activity of their
business. At the heart of our solutions lies a deep understanding of customer needs.”
For more information about commercial payments and how First Data can help your organisation,
please contact Des Cahill, telephone +353-1-676 2700 or email dcahill@deecal.com.
Executive Briefing
Issue 1 April 2009
Meet Vincent Roland, Senior Vice President, Europe, Middle East & Africa
Vincent Roland joined First Data as leader of the company’s card issuing and merchant acquiring operations in Europe,
Middle East & Africa. Vincent replaces Nadeem Shaikh who has taken responsibility for strategic sales of First Data’s
global issuer processing business as well as a new international business line co-ordinating and driving sales and
service delivery to financial institutions.
Vincent has executive management responsibility for all First Data’s activities within Europe, the Middle East and Africa,
leading a workforce approaching 5,000 employees and overseeing operations in more than 20 countries. In this interview,
Vincent provides some insight into his background and the priorities in 2009…
Having been at First Data several weeks now, what are your initial thoughts about the company?
I have been getting to know the many different parts of the organisation during the past few weeks and am
tremendously excited by the deep industry, business and customer understanding demonstrated by the people
I’ve met so far. First Data certainly has the talent and experience to become the real market leader right across
the region. There are very few companies around capable of delivering such scalable global and local solutions,
which our customers will increasingly demand as markets open up and consolidation takes place.
Which of First Data’s products and services do you see as the most innovative?
First Data clearly has considerable strength in delivering innovative solutions throughout the payments value chain.
I have seen many differentiated value propositions during the past few weeks, ranging from processing to customer
services and even printing. Once we combine all these elements across our acquiring, networking and issuing value
chains, we will present an extremely compelling service offering, delivering benefits to our customers that none
of our competitors will be able to match.
What are your top priorities for this year?
Our first priority will be to deliver committed service levels to our customers. A leading company must deliver
on its promises and I want to meet or exceed our customer’s service level expectations. Like most other companies,
we will also be focussed on managing our bottom line, making sure that we maintain a healthy balance between
revenues and costs. Our third priority will be to support and stimulate First Data’s globalisation and consolidation
initiatives. Although our investments will be challenged by the economic recession, we will continue to make progress
on the development and deployment of our global solutions, both to satisfy our customers’ needs and to further
enhance our competitiveness.
continued....
Executive Briefing
Issue 1 April 2009
Meet Vincent Roland (continued)
Can you tell us a bit about your background?
I previously led Atos Worldline’s business in northern Europe as its chief executive officer, which included responsibility
for the group’s merchant acquiring line of business, as well as accountability for mergers and acquisitions. For almost
10 years I worked with Banksys, working on the terminals, cards and network operations and, from 2005 as its chief
executive officer culminating in the business’s reorganisation and eventual sale to Atos Origin. Prior to joining Banksys,
I spent nearly 15 years in the telecommunications industry working directly with customers in various sales, marketing
and product strategy roles.
Executive Briefing
Issue 1 April 2009
First Data appoints new General Manager for Brazil
São Paulo, Brazil, April 2, 2009
First Data has announced the appointment of Maria Fernanda Teixeira to the role of general manager for Brazil.
Maria Fernanda is responsible for First Data’s business and operations within the country and is charged with increasing the
company’s market penetration while continuing to deliver service excellence and a compelling solutions offering to clients.
Maria Fernanda brings close to 30 years’ experience and extensive knowledge of the Brazilian financial services industry.
She recently served as president of Latin America for ICT Group, a global provider of customer management and business
process outsourcing solutions. Prior to this, she spent 23 years at EDS culminating in the position of vice president of
Operations for Latin America.
First Data has had a presence in Brazil since 2002 and continues to support the growth of payment cards in the country.
Under the leadership of Maria Fernanda, First Data’s local team in Brazil will work closely with financial institutions to
provide market-tailored payment processing solutions for debit, credit and private label cards that will support the needs
of their customers and the expansion of card usage in the country. In addition, First Data will further develop its bill
payment service making it easier for consumers to pay bills at the point of sale.
Maria Fernanda offers her leadership skills and experience to several business and community organizations. She is
Founder and President of the São Paulo Women’s Executive Group and also a committee member of the American
Chamber. She earned a bachelor of business degree from Methodist University and attained a specialty in economics
and marketing from Fundação Getulio Vargas.
Executive Briefing
Issue 1 April 2009
An interview with SPAR
SPAR Österreichische Warenhandels-AG is a leading Austrian retail organisation operating 1,400 SPAR-, EUROSPAR
and INTERSPAR super- and hypermarkets. 100 percent of SPAR’s shares are still held by those families who founded
the company in 1970. In Austria, SPAR is pursuing a dual sales strategy. About half of its stores are operated by
independent merchants, for whom SPAR plays the role of wholesaler and network manager. The other 50% belong
to SPAR AG. In recent years, SPAR has successfully expanded into neighbouring countries such as Italy, Slovenia,
Hungary, the Czech Republic and Croatia. In the past nine months, with First Data’s support, SPAR has rolled out
its own branded ATMs at more than 110 stores in Austria. We spoke with Franz Hölzl, head of IT strategy, to learn
more about the project.
Bank branch independent networks, whilst common in other parts of Europe, are a relatively
new concept in the Austrian retailing environment. Why did SPAR decide to set up a network
of bank branch independent ATMs?
SPAR is passionate about innovation. We always strive to bring new services to our customers, our product offering
or our services. We observed the trends in consumer payments throughout Europe and were convinced that an in-store
ATM network would be well accepted by our Austrian customers.
Were there any special considerations or particular challenges you encountered in implementing
the ATM network?
In Austria, cash has remained a very important means of payment, much more than in other European countries. If you look
at the ATM population in this country, you would call the market saturated. The question, however, is whether all those ATMs
sitting at bank branches were in the right places from a consumer perspective - and we decided to challenge this.
How has working with First Data helped you overcome these issues?
What value have we brought as your project partner?
First Data made it possible for us to set up our own ATM network at our supermarkets. The established banks in Austria
had been very reluctant to support our vision. Once we’d made the decision to set up an ATM network, things developed
very rapidly as we had set ourselves a very ambitious goal. We wanted the first ATMs to be up and running in time for
the European soccer championships taking place in Austria later that year. Thanks to great cooperation between our
own and First Data’s project teams we achieved that!
How have customers responded to the ATMs?
As we had expected, consumer reactions have been very positive everywhere. We do, however, see that actual usage
of this new service varies significantly from site to site. We carefully monitor how usage is developing, and also have
access to the detailed transaction data that First Data provides in relation to many other store-specific factors. This gives
us valuable insight to enable us to further optimise the network. First Data also suggested a number of interesting vehicles
for usage promotion.
continued....
Executive Briefing
Issue 1 April 2009
An interview with SPAR (continued)
Do you have any plans to extend the network in and outside Austria?
In the first phase we have chosen those markets with the highest footfall in our Austrian network to be equipped with ATMs.
As consumers in this country get more and more acquainted with this new service, we will definitely respond to increasing
demand. Looking abroad, the situation varies considerably by country. In Slovenia and Croatia cash is used much less at
the point of sale. Obviously these markets leapfrogged the ATM phase and went straight into cards. In the Czech Republic,
on the other hand, our hypermarkets are already equipped with ATMs.
SPAR was the first Austrian supermarket chain to offer its customers credit card payments.
What new payment related services does SPAR see on the horizon to drive growth?
We anticipate that electronic payments will become more and more convenient, yet remain the safest payment method.
We carefully monitor the developments of the payments industry, and will certainly live up to our role as an innovator
in the Austrian grocery retail business.