Abdulaziz Abanmi is a seasoned leader with more than 21 years of experience in technology, payments and financial services. He currently serves as the Deputy Governor for Payments in SAMA. Prior to that he was part of the establishment of Saudi Payments organization (part of SAMA) where he has worked as VP of Technology, Chief Operating Officer and finally as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Saudi Payments prior to his appointment as Deputy Governor. His journey at SAMA highlights his expertise in managing large-scale operations and driving tech innovations within financial sector including his role in leading the launch of Instant Payment Service in the Kingdom back in 2020/2021. Before re-joining SAMA in 2018, Abdulaziz has worked in several senior roles in the financial sector including local banks. His leadership in these roles involved overseeing IT development and governance, managing change, and implementing quality assurance processes as well as leading the implementation of several payment services in the industry. His diverse experience highlights his ability to drive technological innovation and operational excellence in the banking and payments industries. Abdulaziz holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering from King Saud University, a Master's degree in Software Engineering from Prince Sultan University, and has completed Executive Program in Digital Leadership at INSEAD.