AccessFintech just appointed a new captain for its next chapter: Sarah Shenton, a Goldman Sachs veteran and long-time board member, is now officially the company’s Chief Executive Officer. The leadership shakeup, announced today, signals an ambitious pivot from growth foundation to full-scale expansion as the fintech firm doubles down on capital markets infrastructure.

The Right Fit at the Right Time

Shenton’s appointment isn’t coming out of left field. In fact, she’s been an integral part of AccessFintech’s journey since nearly the beginning—leading Goldman Sachs’ Series A investment back in 2018 and sitting on the board ever since. She most recently headed the Value Accelerator at Goldman’s alternatives business, helping high-growth companies streamline operations and scale effectively. That operational know-how is now front and center at AccessFintech.

She replaces John Shay, who steps down as interim CEO but remains onboard as Special Advisor to the CEO, ensuring continuity while handing over the reins to a seasoned strategist.

“Sarah brings a rare combination of operational depth, technical insight and strategic vision,” Shay said. “Her deep knowledge of our company and industry… will be invaluable.”

Why This Matters for Capital Markets

AccessFintech is quietly becoming a major player in financial data infrastructure. Its flagship product, the Synergy Network, connects over 250 leading financial institutions and processes 75+ unique datasets, streamlining post-trade workflows with a focus on real-time data sharing and operational efficiency.

With institutions demanding faster, cleaner, and more collaborative operations across the trade lifecycle, AccessFintech’s platform plays right into the ongoing digital transformation of capital markets. Think less Excel and email, more live status updates and synchronized decision-making.

As data becomes the currency of efficiency in financial operations, AccessFintech isn’t just another middle-office tech vendor—it’s becoming a linchpin of post-trade modernization.

Shenton’s Playbook: Execution at Scale

In her new role, Shenton will be expected to turn years of infrastructure groundwork into commercial traction. That means scaling the platform’s reach, expanding its use cases, and potentially deepening ties with institutional investors—many of whom are both users and stakeholders.

“I’m honored to take on the role,” Shenton said. “We’ve created a strong foundation and an ecosystem that matters… now is the time to build on this success and deliver exceptional value to clients.”

It’s not just corporate speak. AccessFintech has already landed buy-in from top-tier players across the financial ecosystem. The challenge now: scaling sustainably, innovating in step with market needs, and maintaining a tech edge in a space increasingly crowded with legacy giants and nimble upstarts.

Continuity with a Growth Mandate

The leadership handoff is a rare case of true continuity. Shenton’s close relationship with the team, the board, and the product means she’s skipping the ramp-up and diving directly into execution mode.

“Sarah’s deep market expertise and long-standing commitment to AccessFintech’s vision make her exceptionally well-suited to guide the organization into its next chapter,” said Kevin Marcus, Partner at WestCap, speaking for the board.

Expect to see further platform evolution, new partner integrations, and possibly strategic expansion—especially as regulatory pressures and market volatility increase the premium on data transparency and workflow automation.

Shenton takes the helm at a pivotal moment for fintech in capital markets. As firms shift from “data lake” aspirations to actual data utility, vendors like AccessFintech that enable cross-institutional collaboration and real-time reconciliation are becoming essential infrastructure.

And with the fintech sector itself facing pressure to move from growth to profitability, Shenton’s background in operational scaling and strategic value creation could be exactly what AccessFintech needs to stay ahead of the curve.

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