ETA Wraps Largest 2015 Strategic Leadership Forum in 25 Year History

Exclusive C-List Event Spotlights Payments Technology Innovation, Security and Included the Release of a Special Edition Economic Indicators Report

October 15, 2015 – The Electronic Transactions Association (ETA), the global trade association representing the payments technology industry, announces that the 2015 Strategic Leadership Forum (SLF) at The Camelback Inn and Resort in Scottsdale, AZ was the largest to date, attended by more than 400 top payments and technology executives. Notably, over 30% of the payments executives hosted were first-time ETA SLF attendees.

“The past year has seen more change in the payments world than any period in history,” said Jason Oxman, ETA CEO.  “ETA’s Strategic Leadership Forum brings together payments executives representing established financial services companies and innovative disruptors in a relaxed environment that nurtures partnerships and delivers high-level, leading-edge information, making this event distinct from any other in payments.”

Key ETA SLF 2015 Highlights:

Payments Industry CEO Insights

Attendees heard from keynote speaker Brian Mooney, CEO of Merchant Customer Exchange (MCX) on building Customer CurrentC: The MCX Journey, featuring insights on mobile wallets, loyalty programs and the merchant landscape.  Mooney announced on stage that within a week, four more major retailers—ExxonMobil, Sears, Shell Oil, and WalMart—will join the CurrentC pilot that started last month in Columbus, Ohio.

ETA SLF executive attendees heard from speakers driving industry innovation through several CEO sessions including top executives from the newest and most innovative Silicon Valley startups.  ETA CEO Jason Oxman held a fireside chat with Lisa Falzone, Co-Founder & CEO of Revel Systems, an award-winning iPad Point of Sale solution for single and multi-location small businesses and enterprises. SLF also featured Acquirer and Processor CEO Roundtables that provided real, value-added skills and insight to attendees.

EMV Observations and Predictions
ETA SLF, just weeks following the October 1 liability shift, was the ideal moment to focus on chip-card progress and promise. With leaders from all four major U.S. card brands present, multiple sessions touched on the topic of EMV. Attendees enjoyed a check-in with senior executives from each of the payment networks, providing insights on how the migration is proceeding, early-release data reports and what to expect as the EMV migration continues.

Release of a Special Edition ETA/TSG U.S. Spending Report
The report provides a comprehensive look at same-store sales and consumer spending behavior by merchant categories and geographic breakdowns.

Congressional Dialogue
Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-9), a member of the House Committee on Financial Services, spoke candidly with ETA SLF executives regarding industry security enhancements and interest in new technologies making commerce easier and safer for Americans.

ETA SLF 2016 will return to the Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida. If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, please contact Linda Baker at [email protected]  or at 866.382.6338 x13.

For media inquiries, contact Meghan Cieslak, 202.677.7406 or [email protected].

About ETA
The Electronic Transactions Association (ETA) is the global trade association representing more than 500 payments and technology companies. ETA members make commerce possible by processing more than $5 trillion in purchases in the U.S. and deploying payments innovations to merchants and consumers.