Pay it forward

Scott Thompson, president, PayPal

Before Scott Thompson became president of PayPal, he was the company’s chief technology officer. Because of his skill in bringing together the power of technology and digital innovation, the company continues to pave the way for e-commerce and new areas of payment markets
Built to focus solely on digital payments, PayPal is made of three leading online payment services: the PayPal global payments platform, the Payflow Gateway and Bill Me Later. To further PayPal’s vision of giving customers a safe and easy way to send and receive money, Thompson embraces opportunities to take risks as a leader. With a comprehensive understanding of the financial industry, he is always putting himself in the shoes of customers to find new and better ways to deliver the company’s services.
Under Thompson’s leadership, PayPal has remained a frontrunner, achieving numerous firsts in the payment industry. It is the first major payments company to offer a micropayments option for digital goods as well as to offer mobile payments, an area that is now seeing significant growth. In 2009, he led PayPal to open its platform to third-party developers. Although the company was the first major player to do this, the decision has allowed for the integration of the PayPal payment system in websites, mobile applications and other devices, opening it up to countless new opportunities.
Thompson recognizes that every member of the PayPal team contributes to the company’s entrepreneurial culture. That’s why he is committed to making PayPal’s culture fun and unique, encouraging a creative, diverse environment to share ideas and experiences. With the support of a loyal and driven team, Thompson makes the bold moves the company needs to expand into international markets and establish itself as a global leader in online payments. Today, PayPal has more than 94 million active accounts in 190 markets and 24 currencies worldwide.
How to reach: PayPal, (408) 967-7400 or www.paypal.com