Tech veterans join Global Payments (NYSE: GPN) board of directors
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Global Payments Inc. reported that its Board of Directors increased in size from 10 to 12 members on September 24, 2025, and appointed Patricia “Patty” Watson and Archana “Archie” Deskus as new directors, effective immediately.
Both are seasoned technology executives with extensive experience leading large-scale digital and IT transformations at major financial services, industrial, and technology companies. Watson has held senior roles at NCR Atleos, NCR Corporation, TSYS, Bank of America, and Brink’s, and serves on several public company boards. Deskus has led technology organizations at PayPal, Intel, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Baker Hughes, Ingersoll Rand, Timex, and Carrier, and also serves on multiple boards.
The two new directors will be compensated on the same basis as other non-employee directors. The company states there are no selection arrangements with other persons and no related person transactions requiring disclosure. A press release announcing the appointments is furnished as Exhibit 99.1.
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8-K Event Classification
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FAQ
What board change did Global Payments (GPN) disclose in this 8-K?
Global Payments disclosed that its Board of Directors increased in size from 10 to 12 members on September 24, 2025, and appointed Patricia “Patty” Watson and Archana “Archie” Deskus as new directors, effective immediately.
Who is Patricia "Patty" Watson, the new Global Payments director?
Patricia “Patty” Watson is an experienced technology executive who has served as Chief Information and Technology Officer at NCR Atleos, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer of NCR Corporation, and Global Chief Information Officer at TSYS. She has also held senior roles at Bank of America and The Brink’s Company and currently serves on the boards of Southwest Airlines and Rockwell Automation.
Who is Archana "Archie" Deskus, the other new Global Payments director?
Archana “Archie” Deskus most recently served as Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer at PayPal Holdings, Inc., leading global technology, product engineering, innovation, infrastructure, and operations. She has previously held CIO roles at Intel, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Baker Hughes, Ingersoll Rand, Timex, and Carrier, and currently serves on the boards of Cognizant and East West Bancorp.
How will the new Global Payments directors be compensated?
Global Payments states that Patricia “Patty” Watson and Archana “Archie” Deskus will be compensated for their service as directors on the same basis as other non-employee directors of the company.
Did Global Payments issue a press release about the new board members?
Yes. Global Payments issued a press release on September 29, 2025 announcing the appointments of Patricia “Patty” Watson and Archana “Archie” Deskus to the Board. This press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
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Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
On September 24, 2025, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Global Payments Inc. (the “Company”) increased the size of the Board from 10 to 12 directors and appointed Patricia “Patty” Watson and Archana “Archie” Deskus as new directors of the Company, effective immediately.
Mses. Watson and Deskus will be compensated for their service as directors on the same basis as other non-employee directors of the Company. There are no arrangements or understandings between Ms. Watson or Ms. Deskus and any other person pursuant to which each was selected as a director, and there are no related person transactions within the meaning of Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission between the Company and Ms. Watson or Ms. Deskus required to be disclosed herein.
Patricia “Patty” Watson
Patricia (Patty) Watson is an experienced technology executive with a track record of developing modernization plans and overseeing IT transformations at large, complex financial services and financial technology companies. She most recently served as Chief Information and Technology Officer at NCR Atleos, where she led enterprise-wide technology strategy for the world’s largest independent ATM network. She previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer of NCR Corporation, guiding technology operations through its separation into two public companies. Earlier, she was Global Chief Information Officer at Total System Services (TSYS), a leading global payments processor which merged with Global Payments in 2019, where she directed enterprise-wide technology transformation to support high-growth issuing and merchant acquiring businesses. She also held senior technology leadership roles at Bank of America and served as CIO of The Brink’s Company. Ms. Watson currently serves on the board of directors of Southwest Airlines and Rockwell Automation, and previously served on the boards of USAA Federal Savings Bank and Texas Capital Bancshares. She began her career as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force and holds a B.A. in Mathematics from St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, and an MBA from the University of Dayton.
Archana “Archie” Deskus
Archana (Archie) Deskus is an accomplished technology executive and corporate director with more than three decades of leadership experience driving transformation, innovation and enterprise value across global industries. She most recently served as Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer at PayPal Holdings, Inc., where she led global technology, product engineering, innovation, infrastructure, and operations for one of the world’s leading digital payments platforms. Over the course of her career, Ms. Deskus has held CIO roles at Fortune 200 companies, including Intel Corporation, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Baker Hughes, Ingersoll Rand, Timex, and Carrier, where she oversaw enterprise-scale digital transformation, innovation, and complex technology modernization. Ms. Deskus currently serves on the Board of Directors of Cognizant and East West Bancorp, and previously served on the board of DataStax. Ms. Deskus holds a B.S. from Boston University and an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.
On September 29, 2025, the Company issued a press release announcing the appointment of Mses. Watson and Deskus to the Board. A copy of such press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
The information set forth in this Item 7.01 and Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto is intended to be furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit No. | Description of Exhibit |
| 99.1 | Press Release, dated September 29, 2025 |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC. | ||
| Date: September 29, 2025 | By: | /s/ Dara Steele-Belkin |
| Dara Steele-Belkin | ||
| General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | ||