Anil Kapur Joins First Data as Head of Global Business Solutions for India

First Data, a global leader in commerce-enabling technology, today announced that Anil Kapur has joined the organization as Head of Global Business Solutions for India. First Data is a leading card issuing processor and merchant acquirer in India.

A widely recognized business leader in India, Kapur has 25 years of leadership experience across retail banking, payments, and remittances. Kapur will be based in Mumbai and will join the regional leadership team for Ivo Distelbrink, executive vice president, head of APAC for First Data.

“I am delighted to welcome Anil to First Data, especially given his extensive experience in in the Indian banking and payments industries,” said Distelbrink. “Anil’s leadership will be invaluable as we embark on our next set of growth initiatives for our First Data business in India.”

In India, First Data serves the top national and international banks, corporations, and small and mid-sized merchants. In 2009, First Data established an alliance with ICICI Bank to form ICICI Merchant Services. Additionally, First Data powers a significant portion of all eCommerce transactions in India through the First Data payment gateway. The company was also the first to introduce multi-payment and digital self-service channels for merchants through mobile applications.

Kapur comes to First Data from Western Union, where he built the company’s business in India from the ground up into a market leader in remittances. Additionally, under his leadership, Western Union in India grew into the company’s largest distribution network, with more than 90,000 locations nationwide.

Prior to Western Union, Kapur held a number of leadership roles in retail banking with ANZ Grindlays Bank across India and the Middle East. Most recently, Kapur founded InTandem Advisors, an advisory firm that works with global and Indian financial services and payment companies. The firm is focused on building brand and distribution networks in the Indian marketplace.

Anil holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Connecticut in the United States, with a business degree from Delhi University Hansraj College. He is married with two daughters.