EMVCo has reaffirmed its commitment to industry engagement with the launch of an enhanced EMVCo Associates Programme (EAP), increasing the number of organisations that are eligible to provide strategic input and further encouraging merchant involvement.
The EAP was established in 2010 to facilitate industry engagement and enable the payments community to play an active role in the strategic and technical direction of EMVCo. The enhanced programme expands participation on EMVCo’s Board of Advisors, a group which facilitates discussions about new initiatives and future iterations of the EMV®* Specifications, to all Associates demonstrating an ongoing commitment to EMV deployment and interoperability. This will enable broader strategic input and reflects the growing diversity of EMVCo’s initiatives across both physical and remote payment environments.
The enhanced programme also includes the creation of targeted merchant and industry group participation categories with the goal of providing these important payment partners flexible options for engagement.
“As EMVCo’s scope has expanded in recent years, encouraging and increasing participation has been an ongoing focus,” comments Bruce Rutherford, Chair of the EMVCo Executive Committee. “The enhanced programme expands the opportunity for engagement, facilitates early and inclusive interaction, and delivers a worldwide schedule that offers face-to-face meetings in every global region annually. This feedback and direction from the industry is critical to ensuring the EMV Specifications support immediate requirements and future trends.”
EMVCo’s commitment to marketplace engagement and education is also demonstrated by the appointment of Simon Kleine to the newly-created role of Director of Communications. With a corporate communications career spanning 30 years, Simon has held leadership positions at American Express, Visa and Western Union.
Current Director of Operations Brian Byrne, a payments veteran with close to 30 years’ experience, will transition into an expanded Director of Engagement and Operations role. Karen Shunk joins EMVCo as Manager of Operations, following roles at the Object Management Group (OMG) and the Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS), the technology standards division of the National Retail Federation (NRF).
All interested stakeholders are encouraged to get involved. Visit the EMVCo website for further details on the EMVCo Associates Programme and how to join.
