Afshin Yazdian, Executive Chairman & CEO of Kurv, is a payments industry leader with 20+ years of executive experience. He has led multiple fintech companies, scaled national payment platforms, and taken three companies public.
At Kurv (formerly Electronic Merchant Systems), he’s built a high-performing leadership team, modernized the organization, and accelerated its growth as a rising fintech player.
Prior to Kurv, Yazdian served as CEO of Paysafe Merchant Solutions, a Blackstone- and CVC-backed company. Under his leadership, the business became the fourth-largest non-bank payment solutions provider in the U.S. He led a full operational turnaround, improving efficiency, strengthening sales performance, and driving profitability — culminating in a successful public listing in 2021.
He previously served as President of Priority Technology Holdings, and as President and CEO of Cynergy Data prior to its merger with Priority. There, he helped rebuild and scale the organization post-acquisition, transforming it into a top-10 U.S. payment solutions provider.
Throughout his career, Yazdian has driven growth, innovation, and operational transformation across the payments ecosystem. He has taken three companies public and continues to bring that experience in scaling, restructuring, and long-term value creation to Kurv.
Outside of work, he enjoys traveling with his wife and two sons, exploring new cuisines, and supporting charitable initiatives in the communities he serves.
