James Neville (Yaspa)
Overview
James Neville is an influential figure in the fintech industry, best known for co-founding and leading Yaspa, an innovative financial technology company. With a background as CTO at prominent businesses like Worldpay and Just Eat, Neville has established himself as a leader in payment and identity verification solutions. Yaspa, rebranded from its original name Citizen in 2017, quickly gained recognition for enhancing financial transactions' speed, cost-efficiency, and security using open banking technologies.
Recent Developments
In 2025, Yaspa has made significant strides under the leadership of James Neville:
- July 2025: Yaspa expanded its presence into the US market after securing $12 million in investment, facilitated by Discerning Capital among other investors, to adapt its service to the needs of U.S. operators, focusing on compliance and player protection.
- July 2025: Chris Lowe was appointed as Chief Financial Officer to support Yaspa’s financial strategy in its expanded operations into new geographic markets, notably in regulated gambling.
- February 2025: Yaspa's collaboration with Playbook Engineering brought about enhanced solutions in iGaming payments, leveraging open banking technologies for improved payment speed and security.
- May 2024: Yaspa received a government grant from Innovate UK to develop a platform focusing on safer gambling, utilizing AI for real-time risk detection.
Personal Information
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | James Neville |
| Born | Unknown |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Co-founder and CEO of Yaspa |
| Known For | Leadership in fintech, co-founding Yaspa |
| Education | MBA from Bayes Business School, University of Essex |
Early Life and Education
Though specific details about James Neville's early life are sparse, his formative years included a significant focus on education. Neville attended the University of Essex, where he completed his undergraduate studies, and later obtained an MBA from Bayes Business School. These academic achievements laid a strong foundation for his future ventures in the tech and fintech industries.
Career and Notable Achievements
James Neville embarked on his professional journey with roles significantly impacting digital and financial technology sectors:
- Worldpay (2014-2015): As CTO, he spearheaded innovations during a time of regulatory changes like GDPR and PSD2.
- Just Eat: Held key positions that enhanced his expertise in digital payments and consumer technologies.
- Yaspa (2017-present): Co-founded the company initially named Citizen, rebranded to Yaspa. Under his leadership, the company developed a comprehensive real-time payment platform connecting identity and payment solutions, significantly impacting sectors including iGaming and retail.
Current Work and Impact
James Neville is focused on advancing Yaspa’s technology to integrate comprehensive identity and payment processing solutions using open banking. His work not only promotes faster transactions and secure payments but also drives industry standards towards safer financial interactions, particularly in high-risk sectors like gambling. His initiatives in Yaspa continue to influence the financial technology landscape significantly by setting new precedents in integrating AI with financial transactions.
James Neville Sailing
James Neville has also been actively involved in sailing, with participation in notable events such as those organized by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC). His enthusiasm for sailing complements his professional ventures, illustrating a knack for navigating both business challenges and the complexities of competitive sailing events.
Conclusion
James Neville’s innovative approach to financial technology through Yaspa highlights his pivotal role in shaping modern payment solutions. By leveraging open banking technologies and AI, he has significantly contributed to enhancing financial transaction processes. His leadership is expected to continue influencing fintech advancements, particularly in securing and streamlining payment systems globally.