Key Points
- AccessPay has appointed Johan Jardevall as its new Chief Executive Officer, succeeding founder Anish Kapoor who stepped down after more than a decade at the helm
- The leadership change comes after AccessPay secured a majority investment from private equity firm Accel-KKR, marking a significant milestone in the company’s growth trajectory
- Johan Jardevall brings over 25 years of experience leading and scaling B2B software businesses to the role
- Anish Kapoor, who became CEO in 2014 after serving as strategic advisor to original founder Ali Moiyed, will pass the baton to guide AccessPay’s next growth phase
- AccessPay was founded in 2012 and has grown into a category-leading payment automation platform serving the office of the CFO
- The company previously closed a $24 million strategic funding round in 2024 led by True Ventures before securing Accel-KKR’s majority investment
- Accel-KKR’s investment aligns with their portfolio focused on mission-critical solutions for CFO offices
- The Manchester-based bank integration solution provider will use the new investment to accelerate expansion and momentum
What triggered AccessPay’s CEO transition after the private equity deal?
AccessPay has named Johan Jardevall as its new Chief Executive Officer following the company’s majority investment deal with private equity firm Accel-KKR, marking a pivotal leadership transition after founder Anish Kapoor’s more than 10-year tenure at the helm of the payment automation platform.
The Manchester-based fintech company announced the leadership change in May 2026, with Kapoor stepping down after securing the Accel-KKR investment that will fuel AccessPay’s next growth phase. Jardevall, an executive with 25+ years of experience leading and scaling B2B software businesses, will oversee the company’s continued expansion in the corporate payment automation sector.
Who is Johan Jardevall and what experience does he bring to AccessPay?
As reported by Anish Kapoor in his LinkedIn post, Jardevall joins AccessPay with extensive background in enterprise software leadership. According to AccessPay’s official about page, the new CEO brings over 25 years of experience specifically in leading and scaling B2B software businesses, positioning him to drive the company’s next phase of growth.
Led by CEO Johan Jardevall, AccessPay’s senior leadership team consists of a diverse group of industry experts with deep experience in banking, FinTech, and building and scaling successful SaaS businesses, the company stated on its website.
Why did Anish Kapoor decide to step down as CEO?
According to Kapoor’s LinkedIn announcement, “Over the last 18 months, as AccessPay fielded investor interest, I’ve been reflecting on my future role. And now that we’ve secured a majority investment from Accel-KKR, it feels like the right time to hand over the reins”.
In the same post, Kapoor reflected on his journey: “In 2014, I was thrilled to become CEO of AccessPay after working as strategic advisor to its original founder (Ali Moiyed). Today, I’m delighted to pass the baton to my successor, Johan Jardevall, who will oversee AccessPay’s next phase of growth”.
AccessPay’s about page confirms that “After more than a decade at the helm of AccessPay and having grown the business into a category leading platform, Anish Kapoor is stepping down as CEO. He succeeded by Johan Jardevall”.
What is the significance of Accel-KKR’s majority investment in AccessPay?
As reported on Accel-KKR’s official announcement, the private equity firm’s investment targets companies “delivering mission-critical solutions to the office of the CFO,” and the firm stated “we look forward to supporting CEO Anish Kapoor and his team” at the time of the initial deal.
The investment represents AccessPay’s evolution from a scale-up business preparing for its next growth phase. As Kapoor commented at the time of the Accel-KKR deal, “As a scale-up business preparing for its next growth phase, AccessPay was looking for an investor with a track record in enterprise software investment”.
Accel-KKR stated that “The company aligns closely with our portfolio of investments, delivering mission-critical solutions to the office of the CFO, and we look forward to supporting CEO Anish Kapoor and his team”.
How has AccessPay evolved since its founding in 2012?
AccessPay was founded in 2012 as a Manchester-based bank integration solution provider. According to Kapoor’s 2024 statement regarding the company’s earlier funding round, “I’m exceptionally proud of our success since the company was founded in 2012, especially considering the macroenvironmental challenges we have weathered over the years”.
The company’s timeline shows significant milestones: 2024 saw AccessPay close a $24 million strategic funding round, followed by 2026 when the company secured majority investment from Accel-KKR and appointed Johan Jardevall as CEO.
As noted in the 2024 funding announcement, “Manchester-based bank integration solution AccessPay will use True Ventures’ investment to further propel momentum and expansion”.
What does this leadership change mean for AccessPay’s future growth strategy?
The leadership transition positions AccessPay to accelerate its growth under experienced B2B software leadership. According to the company’s official announcement, Jardevall “will oversee AccessPay’s next phase of growth”.
The Accel-KKR investment provides the capital foundation for this expansion. As Kapoor stated in 2024 regarding investor confidence, “This funding will play a crucial role for the latest stage of our evolution”.
The company’s positioning as a “category leading platform” in payment automation, combined with private equity backing and experienced new leadership, sets the stage for continued market expansion.
For professionals looking to understand the strategic business transitions and leadership changes in the fintech sector, our Business Strategy courses at Imperial Training Institute provide comprehensive insights into corporate development and M&A processes that drive company growth https://imperialtraining.org/training-category/.
What role does AccessPay play in the corporate payment automation market?
AccessPay serves the “office of the CFO” with mission-critical payment automation solutions, according to Accel-KKR’s investment thesis. The company has established itself as a “category leading platform” in bank integration and payment automation.
The company’s focus on enterprise software solutions for financial operations aligns with growing demand for automated payment systems in corporate environments. As Kapoor noted in 2024, the funding reflects “investor confidence in our vision and potential for long-term growth”.
Professionals seeking to develop expertise in Financial Management can gain practical skills through Imperial Training Institute’s corporate courses, which cover financial operations, payment systems, and CFO office technologies relevant to companies like AccessPay https://imperialtraining.org/training-category/.
How does this deal fit into the broader fintech private equity landscape?
The AccessPay-Accel-KKR deal represents ongoing private equity interest in enterprise fintech solutions. The $24 million strategic funding round closed in 2024 led by True Ventures demonstrated early investor confidence.
The progression from venture capital to private equity majority investment reflects AccessPay’s maturation from startup to scale-up enterprise. Kapoor’s comment about weathering “macroenvironmental challenges” highlights the resilience required in the fintech sector.
For executives and managers wanting to understand Private Equity investment strategies and fintech market dynamics, Imperial Training Institute offers specialised Private Equity training that covers deal structures, valuation methodologies, and growth financing strategies used in transactions like the AccessPay-Accel-KKR deal https://imperialtraining.org/training-category/.
The leadership change at AccessPay underscores the importance of executive succession planning in high-growth fintech companies. As the company transitions from founder-led to professional management under private equity ownership, the focus shifts to scaling operations and maximising shareholder value through experienced B2B software leadership.