IDEMIA today announces two appointments: Julia Schoonenberg as Executive Vice President in charge of the Financial Institutions activities, who also joins the group’s Executive Committee – Matt Cole as Executive Vice President in charge of the Public Security and Identity activities

IDEMIA, the global leader in Augmented Identity, today announces it has appointed Julia Schoonenberg as Executive Vice President Financial Institutions. IDEMIA’s longstanding track record and diverse payment system security know-how has propelled it to uncontested market leader developing and bringing to market tomorrow’s payment solutions. By developing cryptography for example, IDEMIA delivers a highly secure and enhanced payment experience both in the physical and digital world.

IDEMIA also announces it has appointed Matt Cole as Group Executive Vice President of the Public Security and Identity business unit. Leveraging its expertise in biometrics and artificial intelligence, IDEMIA assists governments and organizations to protect citizens by providing every individual with a valid and secure identity. IDEMIA’s solutions improve the safety of citizens wherever they are, facilitate their travel and enable them to take an active part in society.

Our two new appointments are great news. I am very pleased to welcome Julia Schoonenberg as head of the Financial Institutions activities. Over the past two years, Julia has been key in driving our business in the Middle East and Africa region. I’m also delighted Matt is coming on board as head of IDEMIA Public Security and Identity. I have worked closely with him for the past two years and appreciated his strategic vision and leadership talent.
Pierre Barrial, IDEMIA President and CEO

I’m thrilled to lead the Financial Institutions business after several years spent in the field in the Middle East and Africa. We’ve got a number of payment solution challenges facing us in the next few years involving ever more security, user convenience and efficiency. I’m looking forward immensely to taking up these challenges alongside all my IDEMIA colleagues!
Julia Schoonenberg, Executive Vice President for Financial Institutions activities

I’m proud to join IDEMIA’s Public Security and Identity business that meets today’s needs exactly. We have ambitious growth targets as a team backed by our long track record of delivering worldwide market-leading security and identity solutions to French or international governments. I look forward to continuing to work with Pierre and the IDEMIA’s Executive Committee to successfully deliver on our goals in the months ahead.
Matt Cole, Executive Vice President for Public Security and Identity activities

NOTE TO EDITORS

Julia Schoonenberg biography

With more than two decades of experience at IDEMIA in both Mobile Operators and Financial Institutions (FI) Business Units, Julia has a highly successful track record of building and leading international teams across numerous geographies, including Russia and the CIS, the Middle East and Africa, Asia and Europe. During her time in FI she has successfully executed a number of leadership roles, both in mature markets such as the UK and in growing markets such as the Middle East, the CIS and Africa.

In her previous role, Julia was leading the Financial Institutions business for Middle East & Africa. She has worked in the region for over 10 years. Since 2019, under her leadership, the group has experienced a period of strong economic growth.

Graduated from Oxford University, Julia Schoonenberg will now oversee all activities of the group’s Financial Institutions Business Unit and will join IDEMIA’s Executive Committee.

Matt Cole biography

Prior to joining IDEMIA’s Executive Committee as head of Secure Enterprise Transactions Matt Cole spent 17 years at Cubic, a leading technology-driven company providing essential solutions and services for public transportation and other government agencies. During that time, Matt ran global finance group for the transportation business unit, the Asia Pacific business, then the Strategy and Business Development department, and in 2015, was appointed as President until 2020 when he joined IDEMIA.

Matt Cole has spent most of his career internationally, holding positions in finance and accounting, strategy, corporate and business development, marketing, and corporate leadership. He is a Chartered Accountant and holds an MBA from Oxford Brookes University in England.

Matt will now manage IDEMIA’s Public Security & Identity business Unit as well as digital identity and strategic partnerships for the group. He will then continue to serve on the Group’s Executive Committee.