James Hickmann

Quick summary on James Hickmann

James Hickman, a British national, serves as the CEO of Cornerstone FS PLC, a publicly traded payment solutions company. He also holds a non-executive director position at Payabl., a high-risk payment processor founded by former Wirecard executives. Recent reports have surfaced alleging Hickman’s involvement in financial scams, prompting a closer examination of his professional associations and business practices.

Professional Background: Cornerstone FS PLC, under Hickman’s leadership since September 2023, focuses on providing electronic account services, foreign payment solutions, and currency risk management, primarily targeting small and medium-sized enterprises. The company’s services are delivered through a cloud-based multi-currency payments platform, available directly and via white-label partnerships. Prior to his tenure at Cornerstone, Hickman served as Chief Revenue Officer at Fire Financial Services Ltd., a Dublin-based fintech firm, and as Chief Commercial Officer at Equals PLC, where he oversaw investor relations, fundraising, and strategic acquisitions.

In October 2022, Hickman was appointed as a non-executive director at Payabl. (UK) Ltd., a subsidiary of the Cyprus-based payment company Payabl.Cy Ltd. Payabl. was established by Dietmar Knoechelmann and Ruediger Trautmann, both former executives of the controversial firm Wirecard. The nature of the relationship between Cornerstone FS and the Payabl. Group remains unclear, and there have been no confirmed reports of a (reverse) takeover or other formal business integration.

Allegations and Investigations: The allegations against Hickman primarily stem from his association with Payabl., given its founders’ history with Wirecard, a company infamous for its involvement in financial misconduct. However, as of now, there is no concrete evidence directly linking Hickman to any fraudulent activities. Both Cornerstone FS and Payabl. operate under regulatory oversight, and no official investigations or legal actions have been publicly announced concerning Hickman’s conduct within these organizations.

While James Hickman’s professional associations have raised questions due to the controversial backgrounds of certain affiliates, there is currently no substantiated proof of his involvement in any financial scams. As with any executive operating in the financial sector, continuous scrutiny and adherence to regulatory standards are essential to maintain transparency and trust.