Ripple, the San Francisco-based technology company which develops the Ripple payment protocol and exchange network, has announced the appointment of former Ripple’s chief cryptographer David Schwartz as the new chief technology officer (CTO).
As CTO, Schwartz will be responsible for Ripple’s technical strategy and development, including improving the reach and volume of transactions across RippleNet through enhancements to Ripple’s product suite, in particular, xCurrent and xVia. In regard to the xRapid pilot, he will work across teams to more quickly transition into a full-fledged production. The further decentralization of the XRP Ledger — an ongoing process that started at the Ledger’s inception – will also be under Schwartz’s command.
David Schwartz’s appointment as CTO fills the position left open by Stefan Thomas, who recently left to start a micropayments company building applications on top of the XRP Ledger. His project is named Coil.
David Schwartz, the new Chief Technology Officer, said:
“Building a global network of financial institutions who are using blockchain-based solutions is no small task, but we have the technical folks at Ripple to make it a reality. We’re also going to hire a lot more of them. As CTO, I’ll get to lead a world-class group of engineers, scientists and business executives, which is what makes coming to work every day so exciting. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Kahina Van Dyke Joins Ripple As Senior VP Business and Corporate Development
Ripple is also welcoming Kahina Van Dyke, a banking and technology veteran with over 20 years of experience, as Senior Vice President of Business and Corporate Development. Van Dyke will focus on driving new, strategic partnerships for Ripple across the global financial services industry.
Prior to Ripple, Van Dyke led global teams within at Mastercard and Citibank, among other big finance industry names, and Facebook, where she led the Global Financial Services team.
Kahina Van Dyke, commented on the appointment:
“By reducing friction and delivering better options for individuals and businesses, Ripple offers a compelling opportunity to be a transformative force for good in the world of money movement. It’s an exciting time in the industry — and I feel very fortunate to be a part of creating the next generation of global payments.”
Brad Garlinghouse, Chief Executive Officer of Ripple, said:
“David and Kahina exemplify success. At every step in their careers, they have shown the type of leadership qualities and business prowess that will be instrumental as Ripple continues to grow. This is a fantastic duo that showcases the two sides of Ripple. David is a world-renowned leader in the blockchain and digital asset world, and Kahina is a seasoned veteran in the traditional banking and financial services industries.”
