Wellesley Hills Financial Goes Global: New London and New York Hubs Signal Aggressive Expansion into Transatlantic Fintech M&A

Wellesley Hills Financial (“WHF”), a premier fintech and payments-focused investment bank spanning the lower to upper middle market, today announced a series of senior appointments and geographic expansions that further scale its global advisory platform and deepens its capabilities across the payments and fintech ecosystems.

The firm has appointed Barry Davis as Executive Advisor, based in London, added Managing Director Bill Shraga in New York, and expanded its payments consulting subsidiary, Merchant Portfolios (“MP”), with the addition of EVPs Lance McCord in North Carolina and Nolan Pittman in Arizona.

Strengthening Transatlantic Connectivity

Barry Davis joins WHF as the firm’s first London-based Executive Advisor, marking a significant milestone in WHF’s international expansion. His appointment establishes a dedicated presence in the U.K. and enhances the firm’s existing ability to advise European fintech and payments companies seeking U.S. capital, strategic partnerships, and cross-border transaction execution.

Mr. Davis brings decades of leadership experience across merchant acquiring, payments infrastructure, and financial technology, along with deep relationships throughout the U.K. and European markets.

“Fintech and payments innovation is increasingly global, and our clients require advisors who can operate seamlessly across borders,” said Adam T. Hark, Managing Member of WHF. “Barry’s leadership in London meaningfully expands our international reach and positions WHF as a stronger bridge between European innovators and investors, and U.S. capital and strategic buyers.”

Expanding Senior Coverage in Key U.S. Financial Markets

WHF has also strengthened its U.S. footprint with the addition of Managing Director Bill Shraga in New York, establishing a formal senior presence in one of the world’s most influential financial centers. This expansion enhances the firm’s access to institutional investors, strategic acquirers, and private equity sponsors while increasing coverage for clients across fintech, payments, embedded finance and financial services.

Together, the London and New York appointments reflect WHF’s strategy to build a globally connected advisory platform designed specifically for the evolving payments and fintech landscape.

Scaling Merchant Portfolios as a National Advisory Platform

WHF’s payments consulting subsidiary, Merchant Portfolios, continues to grow as demand accelerates for specialized advisory services tailored to merchant acquiring businesses.

MP has expanded into the Southeast and Southwest with the appointments of EVPs Lance McCord and Nolan Pittman. The firm has also added dedicated M&A advisory and fractional CFO capabilities, further strengthening its ability to support portfolio sales, enterprise transactions, financial planning, valuations, and operational strategy.

“Merchant Portfolios is evolving into a national platform purpose-built for merchant acquiring and payments companies navigating growth, consolidation, and increasing financial complexity,” said Anthony Malatesta, Managing Director. “By expanding geographically and adding senior M&A and financial leadership expertise, we are delivering more integrated and strategic support to owners and operators.”

Building the Next Phase of Growth

These strategic investments reflect WHF’s broader vision: building a globally connected, sector-specialized advisory platform that supports fintech and payments companies through every stage of growth, capital formation, and strategic transformation.

As cross-border activity, private equity participation, and consolidation continue to shape the payments and fintech landscape, WHF is positioning itself at the center of that evolution.

About Wellesley Hills Financial

Wellesley Hills Financial is an investment bank and advisory firm serving fintech, payments, and financial services companies. The firm provides mergers and acquisitions advisory, capital raising, valuations, and strategic guidance to growth-oriented businesses across the financial technology ecosystem.

About Merchant Portfolios

Merchant Portfolios, a subsidiary of Wellesley Hills Financial, provides specialized consulting and advisory services to merchant acquiring and payments companies, including portfolio and enterprise sales, financial planning and analysis, valuations, growth strategy, fractional CFO and transaction support.

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