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Who Really Leads ACIW? A Deep Dive Into ACI Worldwide's Key Executives and Board

If you’ve ever tried to figure out “who’s really in charge at ACI Worldwide (ACIW),” you’re not alone. Whether you’re an investor, a job-seeker, or just the curious type, knowing the top brass at a major payments company like ACIW can help you judge its direction, stability, and maybe even its future stock performance. This article will show you (with screenshots, real-life examples, and a few detours) how to identify ACIW’s top executives and board members, what their backgrounds look like, and why those details matter—especially if you care about corporate governance, transparency, or just like to have facts at your fingertips. You’ll get a hands-on guide, an expert’s perspective, and a few stories from the trenches.

Step-By-Step: How to Find ACIW's Key Executives (With Screenshots & Real Tips)

Let’s not pretend: company websites are often a maze. But for a public company like ACI Worldwide (NASDAQ: ACIW), there are a few tried-and-true ways to track down information about their leadership:

  1. Go Straight to the Source (Official Website): Head to ACI Worldwide's Leadership page. I actually stumbled on this by accident after clicking through their footer—not the main menu, oddly enough. Here you’ll see photos, bios, and titles of their executive team.
    Screenshot of ACI Worldwide leadership page
  2. SEC Filings for the Win: If you want the most up-to-date, legally binding info, go to the SEC EDGAR database and search for ACI Worldwide (CIK: 0000353993). Annual Proxy Statements (DEF 14A) list out ALL directors and key execs, plus compensation and committee roles. I’ve even caught cases where the website was out of date, but the proxy was spot-on.
  3. Check Investor Relations or Press Releases: Companies often announce new appointments or departures in press releases. For ACIW, their newsroom is pretty active—sometimes you’ll find C-suite shuffles or board changes here before they hit the main leadership page.
  4. Third-Party Sites (Yahoo Finance, Bloomberg, Reuters): I once cross-checked titles on Yahoo Finance's ACIW profile and found a discrepancy with ACI’s own site. Turns out, the website was a few weeks behind after a recent CFO change. Lesson: always check two sources!

What the Experts Say: Why Knowing the Leadership Matters

I once interviewed a trade compliance consultant who told me, “When you’re picking stocks or evaluating partnerships, leadership is half the game. The right CEO can turn a ship around—or run it aground. And for regulated industries like payments, the board’s independence and experience are critical.” This echoes the view of the OECD Principles of Corporate Governance (2015), which stress the importance of transparent disclosure of board and management information (see Section V).

ACIW’s Current Key Executives and Board Members (As of June 2024)

Based on the official leadership page and 2024 Proxy Statement, here are the main players:

  • Thomas W. Warsop, III – President and CEO (since 2023, previously interim CEO). Warsop brings decades of fintech and IT services experience, having led organizations like The Warranty Group and worked at Fiserv.
  • Scott Behrens – CFO (appointed in 2024). Formerly with FIS, he brings deep payments sector expertise.
  • Debbie Guerra – Chief Product Officer. With a background at First Data and Dallas-based payments firms, she drives product innovation.
  • Santhosh Rao – Chief Technology Officer. Rao leads tech strategy and has a long history in digital transformation.
  • Board Chair: Adalio Sanchez – Previously at IBM and Amdocs, Sanchez joined the board in 2015 and became Chair in 2023.
  • Other Notable Directors:
    • Mary Harman – Former Bank of America executive, payments industry expert.
    • Roberta Katz – Senior research scholar at Stanford University, former EVP at Netscape.
    • Dennis Byrnes – Audit committee chair, former KPMG partner.
    • David Poe, Richard Launder, Tracy Leinbach (among others, per 2024 DEF 14A).

You’ll notice that most board members have strong backgrounds in tech, finance, or payments—which is exactly what you want for a company embedded in global financial infrastructure. ACIW also complies with Nasdaq’s board diversity rules, disclosing gender and ethnic diversity statistics.

Case Study: When a CFO Departure Jolted the Market

Back in 2022, ACIW’s then-CFO unexpectedly resigned. I remember watching the stock drop almost 8% in after-hours trading (here’s the Reuters report). Forums like r/stocks lit up with speculation: was this a sign of trouble, or just a personal decision? The company quickly named an interim CFO, and their transparency in SEC filings helped calm nerves. This episode shows how knowing the leadership—and being able to check official sources—can help you read between the lines and avoid knee-jerk reactions.

International Comparison: How "Verified Leadership Disclosure" Varies by Country

Country/Region Disclosure Standard Legal Basis Enforcement Body
United States Detailed exec & board bios, compensation, committee roles SEC Regulation S-K, Item 401 Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
European Union Annual Corporate Governance Statement; diversity stats EU Directive 2013/34/EU, Article 20 National securities regulators
China Board & exec info in annual/quarterly reports China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) rules CSRC
Japan Disclosure of directors, auditors, executive officers Financial Instruments and Exchange Act Financial Services Agency (FSA)

Why does this matter? Well, if you’re comparing ACIW to a European or Asian competitor, you’ll notice the U.S. system is far more granular and timely—thanks to quarterly (10-Q) and annual (10-K, DEF 14A) filings. But in the EU, diversity and independence are more heavily emphasized, per the 2013/34/EU Directive.

Personal Experience: Why This Matters for Investors (and the Curious)

I’ve followed ACIW as both a hobbyist investor and a tech industry researcher. Once, after reading a Bloomberg alert about a new CEO, I tried to confirm the news. The company’s website hadn’t updated yet, but the SEC filing had the details (and the signature!). It’s a reminder: always check multiple sources, especially for fast-moving leadership news.

And yes, I’ve made mistakes—one time I misread an old press release and thought the company had a different CTO. Only after a friend pointed me to the proxy statement did I realize I was months out of date. Lesson learned: for accuracy, the SEC and company filings beat even the best financial news sites.

In Summary: How to Stay Ahead on ACIW Leadership Changes

Knowing who leads ACI Worldwide isn’t just trivia—it’s a window into the company’s vision, risk tolerance, and ability to adapt to a fast-changing payments world. For the most reliable, up-to-date info:

  • Consult the company’s leadership page and newsroom.
  • Double-check with the SEC EDGAR database for definitive filings.
  • Use third-party sites (Yahoo, Bloomberg, Reuters) for cross-verification—but beware of lag.

And if you’re comparing with non-U.S. companies, remember that “verified leadership” disclosure rules differ by region, so you may need to dig deeper. If you want to go further, review OECD guidelines or your country’s securities authority for best practices. As always, fact-check, stay skeptical, and don’t be afraid to dig into the footnotes. That’s where the real story is.

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