BAFT announces 2026-2027 Board of Directors at Global Annual Meeting
Live Updates
The Bankers Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT) announced its 2026-2027 Board of Directors at its Global Annual Meeting held between 3-6 May 2026.
The event brings together key leaders from the global transaction banking sector to guide the association’s strategy and advocate for the international financial community.
A glance at the leadership continuity and strategic governance
Nick Smit of ING would continue his tenure as Chair of the Board for the 2026-2027 association year. He will be supported by Michelle Knowles of ABSA, who assumes the role of Vice Chair, and Miriam Ratkovicova of Deloitte, who will serve as Secretary/Treasurer.
The Board also includes Suresh Subramanian of BNP Paribas as Past Chair, alongside BAFT CEO Tod Burwell.
Mr Smit said, “I greatly appreciate the vote of confidence from the BAFT community. It is encouraging to see BAFT thrive as an independent, leading payments and trade association. This year we strengthened our governance and financial foundations, while also achieving record engagement across our events and working groups. Member participation and meaningful value delivery remain at the heart of what we do,” he added.
Representation from global financial institutions
The 2026-2027 Board of Directors include a distinguished group of professionals from top financial institutions worldwide. The directors bring diverse expertise and perspectives, reflecting BAFT’s global reach and influence.
Officers:
- Chair: Nick Smit, ING
- Vice-Chair: Michelle Knowles, ABSA
- Secretary/Treasurer: Miriam Ratkovicova, Deloitte
- Past Chair: Suresh Subramanian, BNP Paribas
- CEO: Tod Burwell, BAFT
Directors:
- Ashutosh Kumar, Mizuho
- Angelia Chia, Asian Development Bank
- Dean Sposito, Deutsche Bank
- Rogier van Lammeren, Lloyds Banking Group
- Andy Arduini, Huntington
- Ricardo Velazquez, Banorte
- Oscar Sanz-Paris, CQUR
- Rana Beydoun, Commercial Bank of Dubai
- Alice Azevedo, Banco Fomento Angola
- May Wafa, JPMorgan
- Eddy Almonte, Bank of America
- Patrick Devilbiss, CGI
- Rob Hostler, Citi
- Brian Gordon, Commerce Bank
- Marissa Adams, HSBC
- Dyanne Carenza, Scotiabank
- Priyamvada Singh, SMBC
- Paolo Giuseppe Muzzarelli, UBS
- Tom Lickiss, Wells Fargo
- TJ Raguso, Zions Bank
The new Board will lead BAFT in sustained growth and innovation in transaction banking.
With a focus on strengthening governance, enhancing member engagement, and delivering meaningful value, BAFT plans to maintain its position as a leading voice in global payments and trade finance.