Pay.UK, the not-for-profit operator of the UK's national retail payments systems, has appointed David Morris as its new chief operating officer (COO), the company announced on Thursday.

Morris, who previously served as the organisation's chief technology officer, steps into this newly created role effective immediately.

The appointment is part of a strategic move to enhance operational excellence and drive innovation at Pay.UK, with a particular emphasis on fraud prevention and security. By aligning operations and technology under one leadership, the company aims to foster greater collaboration and efficiency in managing critical national infrastructure.

In his new role, Morris will oversee payment operations, technology, standards and rules, and first line risk. He will be supported by a dedicated COO office and two new senior executives: a director of payments and a director of technology, both of whom are yet to be appointed.

David Pitt, chief executive officer of Pay.UK, said: "These changes reflect our commitment to continuous improvement and our focus on delivering the safest and most efficient payment system for the UK economy."

Pitt added that Morris's extensive experience and deep understanding of the payments industry make him well-suited to lead the new function, particularly in the fight against fraud.

Morris expressed enthusiasm for his new position, stating: "I am delighted to be taking on this new role, which will underpin Pay.UK's continued focus on safety and security of our payments systems, and also ensure we can be the smartest way to pay now, and in the future."

In addition to Morris's appointment, Pay.UK is seeking to add a chief transformation officer to its executive leadership team. These leadership changes have received full support from Pay.UK's board and regulators.

Pay.UK operates key payment systems including Faster Payments, Bacs, and Direct Debit, playing a crucial role in the UK's financial infrastructure.

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