Emmanuel Thomassin, Chief Finance Officer, reflects on his career journey and what drew him to Wise's customer-first culture 🌍

Tell us about your career journey so far and what led you to Wise

For the past 20 years, I’ve held leadership roles, specifically in fast-to hyper-growth organisations. I’m originally from France, moved to Germany at 13 with my family, and relocated to London in October 2024 to join Wise. Before Wise, I was certain I’d take a two-year career break to unwind and pursue personal interests, however I met up with a long-time friend, and they actually suggested a role at Wise. In all honesty, I hadn’t heard of Wise so I researched more into the company and the mission, and quickly realised that Wise was doing something incredibly unique and transformative, and I wanted to learn more about it. 

What were your initial impressions during your first few weeks at Wise?

In my first few weeks, I noticed how international and diverse it is – something I noticed during the interview process too. With team members from various nationalities and backgrounds, it was clear to me that Wise thrives on different opinions and cultures, which I really believe strengthens us as a company, setting us apart from other organisations. 

Despite Wise’s impressive success over the years, I was pleasantly surprised by the humility of everyone I had come across from interview stage to present. Everyone at Wise is humble, and it’s great to see that we’re placing focus on our key values as a company, in particular our value of customers > team > ego. 

My onboarding experience was equally impressive. I’ve seen many onboarding processes throughout my career, and I was genuinely surprised by how thoughtfully structured, deliberate, and thorough ours was. Travelling to our office in Tallinn, I participated in a comprehensive programme alongside colleagues from various roles. It provided a deep, transparent understanding of Wise’s operations and mission, making me feel a strong sense of belonging from day one.

What have been your main areas of focus during your first six months?

One critical part of my role is to continue understanding the financials of the company from an organisational perspective. This isn't just about reviewing reports; it's about truly grasping the intricate ways different teams and initiatives contribute to our overall financial health and strategic direction. From the outset, I’ve been engaging directly with Wise owners (our shareholders) to ensure our financial strategies are transparently aligned with their expectations and our long-term vision.

Another critical area of focus has been evaluating our finance team’s structure and resources for today and the future. I’ve been assessing whether we have the right number of employees, resources and projects to support our growth, especially as we’re in the process of dual listing our shares in the US and UK.

What excites you about Wise’s journey over the next 12 months?

Our expansive global presence positions us uniquely to cover the world and meet diverse customer needs. The recent expansion in Hyderabad, India is particularly exciting due to the opportunity to scale our product in a key market for cross-border payments, drive our mission forward and grow as a company. 

What continues to excite me about Wise is our customer-centricity. Everything we do is aligned with our mission, and the level of innovation, attention to detail, and quality of service we strive to offer our customers is remarkable. Our global product is designed to meet unique local needs, ensuring we’re satisfying our customers wherever they are. As we continue to grow, there’s so much more we can offer various countries and regions. We’re constantly adapting to become even more attractive to our customers, and that journey makes Wise such an exciting place to be now and in 12 months’ time. 

What's the best piece of advice you've received in your career, and how has it influenced your leadership?

The most impactful piece of advice I’ve received in my career is the reminder that we can never listen enough. In leadership, and in every role, maintaining an open mind and truly considering what others are inputting is essential. By listening actively, you can uncover insights that might otherwise go unnoticed. In our fast-paced world, we’re often bombarded with information, making it easy to overlook the importance of genuine listening. Embracing this advice has shaped my leadership style, encouraging me to stay open-minded, humble and to value the diverse ideas and perspectives that everyone brings to the table.