Fintech/News/ N26 top director departs as digital bank scouts $10bn valuation Georg Hauer is among a string of key execs to have left the German fintech over the past year. By Tom Matsuda 28 September 2021 N26 Twitter N26 Twitter \Fintech Channel 4-backed fintech shuts down, searches for buyer By Amy O'Brien 28 March 2023 Fintech/News/ N26 top director departs as digital bank scouts $10bn valuation Georg Hauer is among a string of key execs to have left the German fintech over the past year. By Tom Matsuda 28 September 2021 Berlin-based neobank N26 is losing another of its key executives, with Georg Hauer announcing today he is stepping back after three years at the startup. As manager for the DACH region, Hauer was not only responsible for the bank’s home markets of Germany and Austria but also its efforts in growth markets such as Poland and Slovakia. He was viewed as one of the top power players among cofounders Valentin Stalf and Maximillian Tayenthal. Hauer joins the fast-growing N26 alumni who have jumped ship in recent months, following the departures of CPO Georgina Smallwood, HR manager Diana Styles, CFO Richard Groeneveld and CEO Markus Gunter. The company also faced a backlash from employees last year, demanding a workers union. N26 employees, including execs, have also complained about its very stringent equity packages, according to multiple sources. Hauer is leaving to join fintech newcomer Hawk AI, a Munich-based money-laundering detection and investigation platform that recently raised a $10m Series A. Hauer will act as both operating and financial chief at Hawk AI. His exit comes as the German challenger bank is reportedly set to raise funds from Spotify investor Dragoneer, propelling its valuation to $10bn. That would make it one of Europe’s most valuable fintechs, joining a select group of eight other decacorn fintechs. In a LinkedIn post, Hauer said “As in my previous role at N26, I’m looking forward to joining a disruptor at the beginning of a truly exciting journey. Today, N26 is recognized as a true innovator that has changed the face of banking — and I’m excited to take Hawk AI on that same journey” Sifted has contacted Hauer for comment. Tom Matsuda is an editorial intern at Sifted. He tweets from @_tommatsuda and coauthors our Fintech newsletter. Sign up here. Related Articles Who will the Covid unicorns be? By Marie Mawad in Paris Click here to read more Reddit’s run on GameStop shuts down European trading apps By Chris Stokel-Walker Click here to read more The companies making it easier to buy and sell crypto By Sarah Kocianski Click here to read more Liam Payne launches NFT inspired by lockdown By Michael Stothard Click here to read more Most Read 1 \Startup Life UK government to reform ‘equity for visas’ residency application system 2 \Fintech Is Revolut really worth $33bn right now? 3 \Startup Life Techstars unexpectedly pulls out of Sweden mid-programme 4 \Deeptech The other funding gap: it’s not just unicorns that are leaving Europe 5 \Deeptech ‘There’s going to be a bloodbath’ — is generative AI a bubble?
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