Payments
10 merchant underwriting experts
These ten risk professionals have led or managed merchant underwriting and merchant credit work in payments. A reader can learn how payment providers assess and approve the merchants they take on.
Professionals to explore
01—10Akane Kuchma, MBA
LinkedInExperience: Lead Credit Portfolio Consultant Large Merchant Underwriting · Wells Fargo
Lead Credit Portfolio Consultant Large Merchant Underwriting at Wells Fargo since May 2025. Former Onboarding Underwriting and Compliance Leader at PayPal (2023–2025), a role the profile describes as holistic enterprise onboarding review covering commercial credit analysis and compliance investigation, and Global Special Credit Underwriting at PayPal (2020–2022). Former Underwriter, Special Credit & High Risk Desk at Stax Payments (2022–2023).
Alex Oskilanec
LinkedInExperience: VP, Underwriting and International Risk · Payroc
VP, Underwriting and International Risk at Payroc since April 2022, listed alongside a Director Of Underwriting role at Payroc dated from November 2018 with no end date. Former Portfolio Risk Analyst at Vantiv (2013–2018) and Leasing Credit Analyst at Bank of America (2012–2013).
Ali Hussain
LinkedInExperience: Director, International Underwriting · Checkout.com
Director, International Underwriting at Checkout.com since July 2024. Other listed Checkout.com roles are Senior Manager - UK & EEA Underwriting (2022–2024) and Manager, Enterprise Underwriting (2021–2022). Former Global Credit Underwriting Manager (2020–2021) and Senior Credit Analyst (2017–2020) at Worldpay.
Brian Howard
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Underwriting & Transaction Risk · Priority Commerce
Former Vice President, Underwriting & Transaction Risk at Priority Commerce (2025–2026) and Director - Risk, Underwriting, and Merchant Payments at Autobooks (2024–2025). Senior Credit Risk Manager at Plaid since May 2026. Former APAC Credit Risk Lead (2022–2024) and North American Credit Risk Manager (2019–2022) at Square.
Cayne Gower
LinkedInExperience: Head of Underwriting (Europe) · Braintree
Former Head of Underwriting (Europe) at Braintree (2015–2020). Head of Credit & Fraud Oversight and Policy at Checkout.com since June 2024, and VP Credit Risk there (2020–2025). Former Senior Credit Risk Manager at Worldpay (2012–2015) and Senior Credit Analyst at First Data Merchant Services (2007–2012).
Farah Gupta
LinkedInExperience: Director, Platforms Underwriting · Checkout.com
Senior Director, Credit Risk at North since December 2024. Former Director, Platforms Underwriting at Checkout.com (2021–2024), Sr Manager, North America & LATAM Underwriting at PayPal (2020–2021) and Manager, North America Underwriting at Braintree (2019–2020). Also listed: Director, Risk Operations Strategy & Enablement at Checkout.com (2021–2023).
Fuji Le
LinkedInExperience: Director - Risk & Underwriting · Planet Payment
Former Director - Risk & Underwriting at Planet Payment (2012–2014) and Head of Underwriting at TreviPay (2022). Former Director - Risk Strategy & Global Portfolio Management (2023–2025) and Sr. Manager, Risk Operations Management (2009–2012) at PayPal, and Director of Payment Operations at Phreesia (2015–2021). The profile describes risk expertise across products including merchant acquiring and payment processing.
Kathrin Koeberle
LinkedInExperience: Group Head of Underwriting and Financial Crime Prevention · emerchantpay
Group Head of Underwriting and Financial Crime Prevention at emerchantpay since December 2022, and former Key Account Manager there (2020–2023). Former Account Manager (2019–2020) and Sales Operations Manager Assistance (2016–2019) at WIRECARD GLOBAL SALES GMBH.
Michael Campbell
LinkedInExperience: Chief Credit Officer and Head of Merchant PCI · Worldpay
Former Chief Credit Officer and Head of Merchant PCI at Worldpay (2007–2012) and Vice President Credit at Chase Paymentech Merchant Services (1996–2007). President at Newtek Merchant Solutions since 2018. The profile describes experience in merchant bankcard credit, policy, fraud, regulatory matters, card scheme rules, data security and portfolio management.
Mirabel Tay
LinkedInExperience: Head of Platform Underwriting · Checkout.com
Head of Platform Underwriting at Checkout.com since July 2024. Other listed Checkout.com roles are Head of APAC & MENA Underwriting (2023–2024) and Director, Head of APAC Underwriting (2022–2023). Former APAC Underwriting Manager at PayPal (2019–2022).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's merchant segment to yours, since underwriting small businesses at volume differs from underwriting large enterprises, platforms or high-risk merchants. Also consider region, since card scheme rules, regulation and fraud patterns vary across markets.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What information do you require before approving a new merchant, and how do you decide when to ask for more?
- 02How do you size and monitor a merchant's credit exposure after onboarding?
- 03How do you balance approval speed for sales with protection against losses and fraud?
Reaching merchant underwriting experts
How can I contact one of these merchant underwriting experts?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 8 companies, including Wells Fargo, Payroc and Checkout.com, based on profile data retrieved on October 4, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach merchant underwriting experts?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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