Payrexx enters next phase of growth: Anja Traum becomes new managing director, founder Ivan Schmid remains on the board of directors
Swiss fintech company and payment provider Payrexx AG is set for a change in leadership: Anja Traum will become the new CEO on January 1, 2026, and will guide the company through its upcoming expansion phase. Founder and current CEO Ivan Schmid will remain strategically involved with Payrexx.
Anja Traum will become the new managing director of Payrexx AG on January 1, 2026.
The change comes at a strategically important time: Payrexx will focus on penetrating the DACH region in the future and is preparing to enter the European market. Central to this is the application for a payment institution license in Liechtenstein through the subsidiary Payrexx Europe AG.
With Anja Traum, Payrexx gains an experienced leader from the European payment industry. She previously held a senior position as Managing Director at a leading payment service provider in Germany: Anja Traum played a key role in the growth of Concardis, which was later acquired by Nexi. Her in-depth market knowledge and success in scaling organizations make her the ideal candidate to drive forward the DACH expansion.
Solid experience for the next phase of development
Anja Traum's main task will be to set up Payrexx's organizational structures in such a way that the company is ready for the next big step. The Payrexx Board of Directors is pleased with the appointment. "With Anja Traum, we are gaining a proven expert with many years of management experience in DACH payment transactions," says Robert Bornträger, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Payrexx. "Her in-depth understanding of the German market is crucial to our expansion plans. We are convinced that she is the right person to lead Payrexx into its next phase of growth, which will be initiated by the application for a payment services license in Liechtenstein." Throughout her career, she has proven time and again that she is committed to profitable growth and a positive public image, adds Bornträger: "It is important to Anja to create a working atmosphere in which employees can enthusiastically realize their potential."
Anja Traum is motivated to take the next step with Payrexx: "Payrexx's vision of radically simplifying payment transactions for SMEs immediately convinced me. With my experience from large companies in the payment sector, especially in the highly competitive German market, I now want to help Payrexx create the necessary organizational structures. We are taking Payrexx to the next level so that it is optimally equipped for the upcoming big leap into Europe."
From spin-off to leading payment provider for SMEs
Ivan Schmid, who established Payrexx 10 years ago as a spin-off of Comvation AG and developed the company into a leading omnichannel payment platform for Swiss SMEs, has decided to step down from operational management after many years at the helm – following a successful start-up phase with 50 employees today, a transaction volume of CHF 1 billion, and average sales growth of 61% over the last 5 years. He will devote himself to developing new projects in the future, but will remain associated with the company as a member of the board of directors.
Chairman of the Board Robert Bornträger praises Schmid's achievements: "Ivan Schmid has made Payrexx what it is today—an innovative and reliable player in the Swiss fintech market. The next phase will be characterized by international growth. That's why we wanted to take this opportunity to strengthen our management team with specific experience in the target markets. Anja Traum meets all these requirements."
Serial entrepreneur Ivan Schmid, who has already founded several companies such as Hotelcard, the Comvation agency, and the Astalavista Group in Chur, explains his decision to hand over the operational business with his entrepreneurial philosophy: "I have always been convinced that every company needs a leader who is ideally suited to the respective stage of development at the right time. I am proud of what we have built. I would like to thank the shareholders for their many years of trust and support, as well as the entire team, whose responsibility, commitment, and cohesion have contributed significantly to our success. I am confident about the future of Payrexx and look forward to the new phase."
