[Hiring] CIO Regulated Payments @Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG)

Role Description

BHFS operates at the intersection of global commerce and complex, multi-jurisdictional financial regulation. We are seeking a CIO Regulated Payments to serve also as our designated Chief Information Officer (PCF-49) in Europe. This role carries a comprehensive global remit, providing technical and regulatory oversight across all jurisdictions in which BHFS operates. This is a technical governance and orchestration oversight role designed for a leader who excels at managing systemic scale through strategic partnership. You are the primary technical authority for BHFS, responsible for the integrity and scalability of our global regulated payments architecture.

While this role leads a specialised internal BHFS team, it does not directly manage a large-scale engineering organisation. Instead, you will lead the BHFS technical function and orchestrate global delivery through a high-impact partnership model:

• Primary Technology Partner: Booking.com Fintech & Payments organisation.
• Supplementary Partners: Booking Holdings central infrastructure teams (Cybersecurity, Data, AI, Enterprise Architecture) and Third-Party Vendors.
• Internal Oversight: Direct leadership of a dedicated BHFS team focused on technical governance, regulatory alignment, and partnership accountability.

This role reports directly to the BHFS CEO, is a member of the Executive Leadership team in BHFS and a member of the Risk Committee where you will provide transparent assessments of technology risks, capabilities, and delivery. You will be expected to raise concerns early when partner delivery is at risk or regulatory compliance is at risk, recommend strategic technology investments and partnerships and represent BHFS technology interests in group-level forums.

This role is a pre-approval controlled function as defined by the Central Bank Reform Act 2010 Regulations 2011. Any appointment will be conditional on the Company being satisfied that the appointee meets the requirements as set out in the Fitness and Probity Standards issued by the Central Bank, obtains prior approval by the Central Bank of Ireland and ratification by the Company Board of Directors. This role requires the Company to complete prescribed due diligence to assess the appointee’s fitness and probity.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of implementing regulated payments infrastructure within high-growth, product-led environments (e.g., global marketplaces or payments platforms).
• Significant experience in high-scale payments infrastructure specifically ensuring system reliability, transaction accuracy, and high-performance delivery.
• Practical knowledge of the interplay between technical systems and international regulations (AML Directives, GDPR, Data Residency, PSD3, DORA, Safeguarding).
• Proven ability to manage and hold intra-group partners accountable to strict SLAs and technical standards.
• Must satisfy the Central Bank of Ireland’s Fitness and Probity Standards and be eligible for appointment as a Pre-Approval Controlled Function (PCF-49, Chief Information Officer).

Requirements

• Previous experience holding a PCF role (e.g. CIO or equivalent) within an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) or Payment Institution (PI).
• Experience in the implementation and optimisation of high-volume Financial Crime Risk Management (FCRM) tools, supporting transaction monitoring and AML controls at scale.

Core Competencies

• Aligning complex financial technology initiatives with corporate vision.
• A focus on efficiency, reliability, and automated governance.
• The ability to drive results through technical authority and partnership.
• Deep understanding of the global threat landscape and ICT resilience.
• Energized by partnership and influence rather than frustrated by not having direct control.
• Can navigate complex stakeholder landscapes and resolve conflicts constructively.
• Bring both deep technical credibility AND the ability to translate technical decisions for non-technical executives and regulators.
• Intellectually curious about fintech, payments innovation, and emerging regulatory frameworks (AI, crypto, open banking).
• Lead with humility and collaboration.