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Payabl. appoints Christia Evagorou as deputy group CEO

Finextra27-05-2025
payabl., a leading European financial technology provider, has announced the appointment of Christia Evagorou Papamichael to the role of Deputy Group CEO.
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Christia will continue in her role as Group Chief Corporate Officer (CCO) - a role she started in March 2024 - while stepping into a broader leadership position focused on the company's strategic execution and long-term direction.
Since joining payabl. in early 2024, Christia has played a central role in strengthening the group's corporate functions, leading operations across legal, compliance, risk, finance, and HR. In her expanded role, she will work closely with Group CEO Ugne Buraciene and the Board to support the company's continued growth across Europe and beyond.
Christia brings over 15 years of experience in corporate governance, tax, and legal structuring. Prior to joining payabl., she held senior positions at PwC Cyprus and previously worked at KPMG UK. She is a qualified solicitor and chartered accountant (FCA), and holds a degree in Accounting and Law from the University of Manchester.
"Christia has been instrumental in shaping the operational backbone of payabl.," said Ugne Buraciene, Group CEO of payabl. 'Her strategic mindset, integrity, and deep understanding of governance make her the ideal partner as we expand our footprint while staying true to the highest regulatory standards.'
Christia Evagorou, Deputy Group CEO of payabl. added: 'It's a privilege to take on this new role at such a pivotal time for payabl. We're building something truly exciting - a platform that empowers businesses through technology, trust, and exceptional service. I look forward to helping steer our next chapter alongside our fantastic team.'
This announcement marks another milestone in payabl.'s ongoing investment in its people and leadership. The company is proud to maintain a gender-balanced executive team, with a 50/50 split between men and women at the highest levels of decision-making. As payabl. continues to scale its financial services offering and drive innovation across the payments space, this promotion reflects the company's belief that diverse, inclusive leadership is key to long-term success.
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I shouldn't have gone to PMQs, says Reeves
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I shouldn't have gone to PMQs, says Reeves

Rachel Reeves has admitted she regrets attending prime minister's questions after she was seen in tears on the Government front bench. The Chancellor said she had been dealing with a 'personal issue' when her bottom lip shook and tears ran down her face during a moment of distress in Parliament on Wednesday. Ms Reeves was speaking after she made a surprise appearance alongside Sir Keir Starmer to unveil the Government's 10-year plan for the NHS. In an interview with The Guardian, Ms Reeves said she regretted going into PMQs after a 'tough day at the office', but hoped people 'could relate' to her distress. She said: 'In retrospect, I probably wished I hadn't gone in... But you know, it is what it is.' The Leeds West and Pudsey MP said she never thought about resigning despite backbench anger over the way she had handled the economy, adding: 'I didn't work that hard to then quit.' A backbench rebellion saw the government forced to drop key welfare cuts, which has left the Chancellor with a £5 billion black hole to fill. She has insisted she is 'totally' up for the job of Chancellor and asserted that she and the Prime Minister remain united. Ms Reeves said: 'People can see that Keir and me are a team.' Sir Keir stood by his Chancellor in the aftermath, telling BBC Radio 4 Today's Nick Robinson: 'She is going to be Chancellor into the next election and for many years afterwards.' He was quick to deny any political link to her tears, insisting it was a personal matter, saying: 'I'm not going to go into the personal matter of a colleague.' Labour insiders have claimed that the Chancellor has made herself 'unsackable' after the public tears. A government source said that Sir Keir 'seems to have tied himself to her' after her tears, which triggered a £3 billion market sell-off and crash in the pound's value. 'I thought at the beginning of Wednesday she would go, then thought it was confirmed when I saw her crying at PMQs but then she didn't,' said the source. Another source said Ms Reeves had enjoyed an 'outpouring of sympathy' over an incident that was still 'inescapably linked to the political facts' of the welfare rebellion. A third added that being pictured distraught on television had 'shored up her position'. In a turbulent week for the government, Ms Reeves refused to rule out tax rises in the autumn budget, saying: 'I'm not going to, because it would be irresponsible to do that. 'We took the decisions last year to draw a line under unfunded commitments and economic mismanagement. 'So we'll never have to do something like that again. But there are costs to what happened.'

EXCLUSIVE 'Why would I get a job? I get your monthly wage in a week!' As Starmer's bid to cut disability benefits is sunk by Labour MPs, social media tutorials show claimants how to milk the system - and you'll be the one left feeling sick
EXCLUSIVE 'Why would I get a job? I get your monthly wage in a week!' As Starmer's bid to cut disability benefits is sunk by Labour MPs, social media tutorials show claimants how to milk the system - and you'll be the one left feeling sick

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EXCLUSIVE 'Why would I get a job? I get your monthly wage in a week!' As Starmer's bid to cut disability benefits is sunk by Labour MPs, social media tutorials show claimants how to milk the system - and you'll be the one left feeling sick

As anyone who has had the misfortune of dealing with civil service bureaucracy will know, it can be a complicated endeavour. There is the jargon, the minutes that bleed into hours spent on hold on the phone and, of course, the endless form-filling. But mastering this red tape – particularly in relation to Britain's bloated benefits system – can apparently also present extraordinarily lucrative business opportunities. Just ask Charlie Anderson, a YouTube blogger who says her chronic arthritis and fatigue has rendered her unable to work. Thanks to her lengthy experience with the welfare system, she is extremely proficient at filling out forms used to claim the Personal Independence Payment [PIP] allowance disability benefit. So adept has she become in applying for this taxpayer-funded help that she has taken to explaining the 'tricks of the trade' to any prospective benefits claimant – for a hefty fee, of course. 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Outsourcing firm Maximus, which conducts PIP assessments on behalf of the Government in the north of England and Scotland, says on its website that some assessments can even be completed solely based on the information provided in the initial form. It then says that 'if there is not enough information to complete the assessment, you will be invited to attend a consultation'. 'Most consultations are carried out by telephone,' it adds, 'but we may invite you to a video or face-to-face consultation if needed.' Critics say the use of telephone assessments makes it easier for claimants to exaggerate their symptoms because the assessor is not in a position to scrutinise their condition properly. In December, former assessor Michael Houston told a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary that 'people were encouraged to do six cases a day' and that they received cash incentives to process more. 'If you did any more than that, you would get £80 per case,' he added. 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PIP is not means-tested and does not affect other benefits or the benefits cap. It can even be claimed if you are working. It includes a daily living component and a mobility component. To be entitled to the daily living part, claimants need to explain how much difficulty they have performing everyday activities, including tasks such as cooking, washing and getting dressed or undressed. A points system is used where, for example, requiring supervision or assistance to prepare or cook a simple meal would be awarded four points. Being completely unable to prepare and cook food would warrant eight points. Under the Government's initial proposals, claimants would have needed to score a minimum of four points on at least one activity to be eligible for that component – rather than a range of different ones. But scrapping the change was one of the Government's concessions to the rebels on Tuesday. 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In Sunderland, the figure stands at 173 per 1,000 people and, in this PIP hotspot on Thursday afternoon, sisters Maureen and Mary Robey and their friend Olga Koch were enjoying the sunshine in the city centre. All three have been claiming PIP for a number of years. Maureen, 71, said she was finally granted the £600-a-month benefit following a phone consultation. 'It wasn't as easy as it could have been to claim PIP,' she said. 'I wasn't expecting to have to answer questions over the phone. I had been told that filling out a form would be all I needed to do. But I filled out a long form and my doctor's notes were sent over to back up my claim. I expected the money to be sent to my account quickly after. 'They rang me and asked questions about my COPD [Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease], which I didn't think was necessary. 'All three of us have been on it for years and it's helped to make our lives easier, so this uncertainty about it being reformed has caused some concern.' Mary, 72, said she has anxiety and depression but her PIP claim was initially rejected. 'I turned to Age Concern for help and they filled out my forms for me,' she said. 'It was only after their involvement that I got the help I needed.' Under PIP terms, new claims cannot be made after reaching state pension age. But if you already get PIP and hit pension age, your payments continue. Former soldier John Heskett, 73, said he believed there were a number of people in the city fooling the system: 'There are a lot of kidders out there who are claiming PIP when there's not a thing wrong with them. 'I know of people in this town who are claiming and they're fitter than me. I have problems with my legs and I know I would qualify but I don't ask for help when I don't feel I need it. 'Everyone should be tested properly because people are working the system.' Back online, Charlie Anderson, as part of her £750 online tutorial, says she will analyse answers to ensure 'what we write matches your life AND is communicated in a way that suits the DWP [Department for Work and Pensions] so they can assess you.' Ms Anderson, with more than 52,000 YouTube subscribers, then says she can send answers back so the claimant can 'copy what we wrote straight on to your form'. She adds: 'By the end of the meeting, you will feel much better and you will probably have the best nap you have had in years!' Last night, a spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions hit out at those trying to cash in on the benefits boom. 'We condemn attempts to charge people for support with their PIP applications, and strongly encourage customers to seek additional support through free channels, such as, the website, our dedicated helpline, and relevant charities,' he said. 'And we are bringing forward the biggest fraud crackdown in a generation as part of wider plans that will save £9.6billion by 2030 – protecting taxpayers' money and investing in our public services through our Plan for Change.'

EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: F1 heiress Petra Ecclestone's bullion dealer ex faces losing company over unpaid bills
EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: F1 heiress Petra Ecclestone's bullion dealer ex faces losing company over unpaid bills

Daily Mail​

time25 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: F1 heiress Petra Ecclestone's bullion dealer ex faces losing company over unpaid bills

James Stunt told a Crown Court jury earlier this year that he had insisted on a prenuptial agreement which would limit his share to £16 million in the event of divorce. But does the bullion dealer, whose marriage to Formula 1 heiress Petra Ecclestone ended in 2017, now wish that he had sought rather more? I ask because the 43-year-old godson of convicted crime baron Terry Adams seems dogged by financial woe. Declared bankrupt in 2019, he is now, I can disclose, perhaps destined for another legal tussle, this time in the High Court, rather than Leeds Crown Court, where he was cleared three months ago of all charges relating to a £266 million money-laundering operation – unlike his four fellow co-defendants, three of whom remain on the run. His company, Stunt Acquisitions Ltd, is the subject of a winding-up petition – a legal means of forcing a company into compulsory liquidation due to unpaid debts – issued by Westminster City Council. 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Diane's sheer bravado at the 'Italian Hollywood' She was 'the face that launched a thousand ships' as Helen in the 2004 film Troy, and Diane Kruger is clearly determined to leave a lasting impression. The German actress, 48, wore a £363 transparent red dress by Norma Kamali to a fashion event at Rome's Cinecitta Studios, which are known as the 'Italian Hollywood'. Her £685 Soave heels were by Aquazzura, which hosted the event with fashion retailer MyTheresa. Diane, who has a six-year-old daughter with American actor Norman Reedus, has modelled for brands including Chanel and Prada. Misogyny 'rife' in fashion industry, blasts Savannah Wedding dress designer Savannah Miller has made a name for herself decorating society brides in ethereal gowns – including Boris Johnson's wife Carrie and model Lady Clara Paget – but she admits her journey through the fashion world has been far from smooth. 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Webster, whose avant garde creations are worn by Kate Moss, Dame Joanna Lumley and Madonna, explains: 'My toilet is the only thing that's left in the space from when it was a James Bond pop-up shop, and it was a celebration of Goldfinger's 60 years and everything in it was gold.' Bond girl, 47, reveals battle for her baby She was Daniel Craig's Bond girl during his first outing as 007 in Casino Royale, and now Caterina Murino is embarking on a long-awaited mission of her own. The Italian actress has revealed that she is expecting her first child. The boy is due to be born in September, the month she turns 48. Caterina – who has been with her boyfriend, the French lawyer Edouard Rigaud, for eight years – says she suffered two miscarriages and had been undergoing IVF treatment, which she describes as 'trying'. 'At my age, I had to ask medicine to help nature,' she says. 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