Financial technology firm AccessFintech has named Sarah Shenton as its new chief executive, bringing in a Goldman Sachs veteran to steer the company through its next expansion phase.
Shenton takes over immediately from John Shay, who had been serving as interim CEO. The appointment caps off a seven-year relationship between Shenton and AccessFintech, during which she served on the company's board while working for the investment banking giant.
AccessFintech Appoints Goldman Sachs Veteran as New CEO
The new CEO brings two decades of experience in operations and strategic investing from her time at Goldman, where she most recently ran the Value Accelerator program within the investment bank's alternative assets division. In that role, she worked directly with leadership teams at high-growth companies to improve their operations and drive commercial success.
“Sarah brings a rare combination of operational depth, technical insight and strategic vision to the CEO role,” Shay said. He will remain with the firm as a special advisor.
AccessFintech operates what it calls the Synergy Network, a platform that connects more than 250 financial institutions and handles over 75 different data sets. The company processes more than one billion transactions monthly, helping banks and other firms collaborate on post-trade activities.
Shenton is the latest executive to leave Goldman Sachs for a fintech firm in recent days. Last week, FinanceMagnates.com reported that Ilya Khazen was hired to lead cross-asset sales in the U.S. He previously served as Head of Prime Brokerage at Goldman.
“A Strong Foundation”
The leadership change comes as AccessFintech looks to capitalize on increasing demand for data sharing and workflow automation in financial services. The company's network facilitates real-time collaboration between institutions on transaction processing and risk management .
“We've created a strong foundation and an ecosystem that matters, and now is the time to build on this success and deliver exceptional value to clients,” Shenton said. “As technology continues to transform markets, I look forward to working with our amazing team to seize the exciting opportunities ahead.”
Shenton's appointment received unanimous board approval, according to Kevin Marcus, a partner at WestCap who spoke on behalf of AccessFintech's board. Her market knowledge and long-standing involvement with the company made her “well-suited to guide the organization into its next chapter of growth.”
The transition appears seamless given Shenton's extensive history with AccessFintech. She initially led Goldman Sachs' Series A investment in the company and maintained her board position from 2018 through 2025. The fintech has also received backing from other major investment banks in the past, including France’s BNP Paribas.
