Airwallex Names Pranav Sood CFO Amid Global Expansion Push

Airwallex, the Australian fintech giant valued at $8 billion, has appointed Pranav Sood as its new chief financial officer. This strategic hire signals a shift toward institutional growth and public market readiness as the company scales globally.

Pranav Sood returns to Airwallex after previously leading the build-out of its EMEA operations and global marketing function. Most recently, he served at Bain Capital’s growth equity fund, where he focused on scaling technology businesses across Europe. His experience bridging investor perspectives with operational execution made him a compelling choice for this pivotal role.

“We need a CFO who can operate as both a commercial strategist and financial steward,” said Jack Zhang, co-founder and CEO of Airwallex. “Pranav uniquely balances financial discipline with a builder’s mindset—essential qualities as we navigate our next phase of growth.”

The appointment arrives at a critical juncture for Airwallex, which joins other global fintech platforms considering IPOs or pre-IPO funding rounds. With a valuation placing it among the world’s most valuable private fintech companies, pressure mounts to demonstrate a clear path toward profitability and public market viability.

Airwallex operates in a competitive cross-border payments landscape alongside players like Wise, Ebury, and Convera. As it expands its presence in Europe—with recent commitments of $1.1 billion and plans to hire 100 senior engineers across the UK and Netherlands—the company faces increased regulatory scrutiny under frameworks like the Payment Services Regulations 2017 successor and DORA requirements.