Chris Sweetland is SVP, Payments Markets & Partnerships at PayPal. He oversees strategic relationships with financial institutions, payment networks, and technology enablers, driving innovation and growth across global markets.

Before PayPal, Chris was SVP at CIBC in Canada, leading Payments, Strategy & Transformation. He shaped the bank’s digital payments strategy, open banking initiatives, and merchant acquiring business.

He also held leadership roles at Square (now Block), heading Industry Relations and Payments Operations & Partnerships, managing relationships across Australia, Canada, Japan, Europe, and the UK. At Google, he led partnerships for mobile, in-app, and online payments, expanding Google Pay’s network.

Earlier, as VP of Corporate Initiatives at Visa, Chris drove business development and engagement for the Visa Token Service, now powering Visa’s Digital Enablement Platform.

Chris is a thought leader and serves on the Executive Committee of the Electronic Transaction Association’s Board. He holds a B.A. in Economics from Colgate University.