Airwallex names James Teodorini new ANZ head & record volume

Airwallex has appointed James Teodorini as Head of ANZ, handing him responsibility for the company's operations across Australia and New Zealand at a time of rapid growth in its global payments business.

The Melbourne-founded fintech said Teodorini will oversee its regional strategy and commercial activities in the two markets. The business has reported annualised transaction volume of more than USD $235 billion, an increase of 127% year on year.

Teodorini joins from cross-border payments group Thunes, where he served as Head of Asia Pacific. He previously held senior roles at Visa, Currencycloud, Dent Reality and Button.

Airwallex operates a financial and payments platform for business customers. It provides tools for global payments, foreign exchange, revenue collection and spend management.

As Head of ANZ, Teodorini will lead efforts to expand Airwallex's presence among Australian and New Zealand businesses. The company is targeting firms that want integrated systems for managing international transactions and day-to-day financial operations.

Arnold Chan, Airwallex APAC General Manager, said the appointment coincides with a significant milestone for the business as it marks its tenth anniversary.

"James brings the commercial leadership and operational rigour needed to help modern businesses scale with our platform," said Arnold Chan, APAC General Manager, Airwallex.

Chan said the company selected Teodorini following a global search.

"James stood out for his deep understanding of global payments and proven ability to scale innovative financial software and platforms, amongst the exceptional leaders we met from around the world. We're thrilled to have him lead our ANZ business in its next phase of growth," said Chan.

Regional focus

Airwallex said Teodorini will work with businesses across sectors in Australia and New Zealand. The company positions its services as an alternative to traditional banking systems and legacy finance processes for companies with cross-border operations.

The appointment comes as Airwallex runs a new brand campaign in its home market and overseas. The campaign urges businesses to challenge older approaches to finance and adopt modern, integrated platforms for financial management.

Teodorini said he sees strong demand in Australia and New Zealand for financial technology that can support expansion.

"These markets are dynamic and ambitious, perfect for scaling innovative financial solutions that keep pace with modern business needs," said Teodorini.

The executive said he views the role as a return to the company's origins in Melbourne.

"It's a privilege to lead the region where Airwallex's story began in Melbourne in 2015. Its vision to support business to scale globally was clear. Ten years on, that vision continues to accelerate, testament to Airwallex's world-class team and how they are building the future of finance," said Teodorini.

Growth trajectory

Airwallex was founded in 2015 after its founders encountered payment and foreign exchange challenges while running a coffee shop in Melbourne. It has since expanded into a global business and is now one of a small group of Australian-founded unicorns.

The company now serves more than 200,000 business customers around the world. Its customer base ranges from startups to listed companies.

Airwallex has said its infrastructure supports payment acceptance, global accounts, corporate cards, billing and spend management. It holds 80 licences across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, and runs operations from 26 offices with a workforce of more than 2,000 employees.

Well-known Australian brands such as Canva and Qantas use Airwallex services. They use the platform to simplify financial workflows and manage global revenue streams.

Leadership background

Teodorini has more than a decade of leadership experience in financial services and technology across Asia Pacific and Europe. At Thunes, he led regional growth, opened new markets and scaled commercial operations across the Asia Pacific.

He previously helped build commercial teams in Europe and Asia at Currencycloud. He then supported the company through its acquisition by Visa and stayed on to lead Visa Direct sales in the Asia Pacific region.

Teodorini also worked on European go-to-market activities for US commerce platform Button. His background includes roles focused on revenue growth, capital raising and managing companies through periods of rapid change and acquisition.

He holds a BSc in Business Management from the University of Surrey.

Airwallex said Teodorini will now concentrate on driving its next phase of growth in Australia and New Zealand as the company scales its transaction volumes and broadens its product set.