PayByPhone names new CTO

PayByPhone, the global mobile parking payments provider, has appointed Otavio Ferreira as chief technology officer.

Otavio joins the company’s management board, reporting to John Gallagher, chief information officer of international vehicle payments at Corpay.

Otavio has held senior leadership roles at Amazon Web Services in Canada and served as chief technology officer for e-commerce operations in Brazil. 

He brings expertise in payment infrastructure, application integration and large-scale PCI-compliant systems, alongside academic credentials from the University of São Paulo and the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo.

Otavio said: “Over the past year I have gained a deep understanding of our clients’ realities, and the technical friction points they face within mobility payments.

“This is a rapidly evolving and exciting space, but one that is also becoming more complex.

“My experience at PayByPhone, combined with my earlier roles shaping cloud and payment infrastructure on a global scale, has prepared me well for our next phase of growth.

“I am honoured to take on the role of chief technology officer and look forward to delivering solutions that not only enhance the parking experience but also support the broader mobility payment needs of our clients.”

John added: “I am delighted to welcome Otavio to the Corpay IVP IT leadership team as he takes over from Jean-Pierre LeBlanc as the new chief technology officer for PayByPhone.

“Otavio has been the senior director of engineering at PayByPhone since he joined in November 2024, where he has been instrumental in the evolution of PayByPhone’s technology team and the development of new technology and systems that are driving our future growth.”

Otavio succeeds Jean-Pierre LeBlanc, who has been named vice president, product.

During his tenure as chief technology officer, Jean-Pierre oversaw a major transformation of PayByPhone’s technology organisation, including the rebuild and relaunch of its app in 2024. 

In his new role, he will continue shaping the company’s product portfolio.

John added: I would  like to thank Jean-Pierre for his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to the team.

“He has transformed the PayByPhone technology organisation and core technical capabilities during his tenure as chief technology officer, and I wish him well in his new role in the company.”

Jonny Combe, president and chief executive of PayByPhone, added: “Since joining PayByPhone, Otavio has demonstrated impressive technical leadership and a deep commitment to our clients’ needs.

“His passion for raising standards is evident in everything he does, and his leadership style, shaped by experience across Latin America, South Africa, India, and North America, naturally fosters inclusivity and collaboration.

“Building on the strong foundation established by Jean-Pierre, Otavio is well positioned to further strengthen PayByPhone as we enter our next phase of growth.”

Jonny added: “When Jean-Pierre joined PayByPhone, he was tasked with an ambitious challenge: to transform technology at PayByPhone and to prepare us for that phase of our journey.

“With his characteristic and self-professed ‘obsession’ for PayByPhone, coupled with the possibilities that were ahead of us and his relentless determination, he not only delivered extraordinary improvements in our technology, but also built a stronger, more capable organisation.

“His ability to inspire through vision and passion has been remarkable.

“I look forward to the accelerative strides we can expect now he leads our product organisation.”

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