Arun Kumar’s inspiring journey from the streets of Delhi to the global fintech stage is a testament to his hard work, innovation, and visionary leadership. A proud alumnus of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Arun’s passion for technology was ignited early, leading him to pursue a B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering at Pondicherry University. In 2006, while still an engineering student, Arun collaborated with scientists at the Electronics Corporation of India Ltd. to develop advanced X-ray baggage inspection software—a revolutionary technology now integral to security systems in Indian airports. This early success laid the foundation for his remarkable career as a tech innovator.
Over the past 17 years, Arun Kumar has carved a formidable niche in the fintech industry, mastering the complexities of payments, banking, and Fintech compliance. His deep expertise in microservices architecture, cloud technologies, regulatory compliance, and AI-driven fraud detection has earned him widespread recognition. Arun’s global influence extends across the USA, UAE, Mauritius, Cambodia, and Vietnam, where he has advised and transformed both banking and non-banking financial institutions.
Arun’s professional journey began as a software engineer in 2007 at Electronic Data Systems, later part of Hewlett-Packard, where he engineered cutting edge bill payment applications. His passion for innovation propelled him to Opus Consulting Solutions in 2010, where he became a key driver of high-performance payment products, including card processors, merchant tools, EFT switches, remittance solutions, enterprise payments, and fintech compliance solutions.
At Opus, Arun achieved a significant milestone through his collaboration with MasterCard in 2014. His instrumental role in developing advanced capabilities for ECS, a product subsidiary of Opus, led to an influential demonstration at MasterCard’s headquarters in St. Louis, USA. Arun’s dynamic presentation and demonstration played a pivotal role in securing MasterCard’s acquisition of ECS’s payment products. His success continued in the UAE, where he helped MasterCard establish its first card processing platform using ECS products. Arun’s guidance was crucial in migrating UAE Exchange’s card base of over one million customers to MasterCard’s new system, cementing his reputation as a global payments innovator.
In 2015, Arun embarked on a transformative journey, moving to the USA to join the global fintech giant Western Union. During his tenure at Western Union, Arun’s leadership was instrumental in building and launching numerous fintech compliance products, proving especially critical during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine conflict. He spearheaded the development of advanced KYC solutions and launched TransVision, a global compliance monitoring system. His innovations improved KYC compliance efficiency by 40%, enhancing global standards and saving millions by ensuring adherence to FTC and DOJ regulations.
As a Payments Product consultant and Architect at Cognizant, Arun led the modernization of payment infrastructures for major clients. His optimization of payment systems for Consolidated Communications benefited over 600,000 customers, while his guidance in Santander Bank’s transition to the ISO 20022 standard set new global benchmarks. Arun’s payments fraud prevention strategies at Universal Studios integrated advanced screening vendors, saving millions in potential fraud losses. His transformative impact continues to shape the fintech industry.
Arun Kumar’s commitment to continuous learning is reflected in his certifications in Fintech and Techology like Future Fintech from MIT and Advanced AI Product development from Maven. His journey inspires aspiring professionals, showcasing how vision and perseverance can drive industry transformation. From Delhi’s classrooms to global boardrooms, Arun’s story exemplifies the power of innovation and leadership.
Beyond his professional achievements, Arun Kumar is a dedicated philanthropist associated with the global NGO Art of Living. He actively supports yoga, meditation, environmental causes, and social upliftment. A passionate singer and flutist, Arun charms audiences with his melodies and treasures quality time with his wife and two daughters.
Arun Kumar’s journey in fintech is a remarkable story of innovation, leadership, and personal branding, making him an inspiration for others.