Shaping the cash cycle of the future

Ronan McClintock is a Manager at the Bank of England on the Wholesale Cash Oversight team. He has worked in Notes Directorate for over 20 years starting in research, design and manufacturing working closely on the transition to polymer banknotes. More recently he has worked on the future arrangements for wholesale cash distribution in the UK. Before joining the Bank of England, Ronan earned a BSc in Physics from the University of Nottingham.

Sina Grebrodt is a Senior Strategic Initiatives Expert and part of the Central Bank Solutions team at Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions, where she works at the intersection of currency innovation, central bank strategy, and sustainable cash management. With a focus on how cash supports financial inclusion and literacy, Sina explores the evolving role of physical currency. Her work bridges technology, policy, and social impact — highlighting how resilient, accessible cash systems remain essential for empowering individuals and fostering trust in the broader financial ecosystem.

Mikael is a senior financial services leader with over 15 years of experience in banking, capital markets, and financial technology innovation. His career spans central banking, global consulting, and strategic advisory, equipping him with deep expertise in financial market infrastructures, digital transformation, and regulatory-driven innovation.

A managing consultant at PA Consulting, Mikael is recognized for his ability to lead large transformation programmes, shaping strategies that drive efficiency, transparency, and resilience in the financial ecosystem.

Malte Krueger is Professor of Economics at the University of Applied Sciences in Aschaffenburg (Germany) and works as a consultant for PaySys Consultancy (Frankfurt). He holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Cologne (Germany) and has worked as a research fellow for the Bank of Spain, the University of Western Ontario, the University of Durham, the University of Karlsruhe, the University of Applied Sciences in Frankfurt and the European Commission. Consulting projects have focused on payments – including internet payments - and the list of clients includes banks, processors, merchants, card schemes, payment service providers, government institutions and others, in Germany and other European countries. Academic research has focused on payments in general, two-sided markets, monetary economics and exchange rates. Malte has published widely in academic and industry journals.

Guillaume Lepecq is a globally recognized expert in payments and cash, with over three decades of experience shaping the future of monetary systems. As the co-founder of CashEssentials (est. 2018), he established a leading think tank dedicated to exploring the evolving role of cash in society, advocating for its continued relevance. CashEssentials has become a trusted platform for research, policy analysis, and dialogue on the future of cash, engaging with central banks, financial institutions, and policymakers worldwide. Guillaume’s career spans consulting, corporate leadership, and thought leadership. For 20 years, he has advised European financial institutions on cash and payment strategies. Earlier, as Director of Corporate Relations at the Association for the Monetary Union of Europe (1993–2001), he contributed to the strategic efforts That led to the adoption of the euro. Guillaume has written influential publications, including "Cash Essentials – Beyond Payments," "The Future of Cash," and "Managing the Changeover to the Euro."

Roel van Anholt is passionate about payment systems, with a special focus on cash. He holds a PhD in Economics on cash logistics and has explored the topic from multiple angles: academic research, strategic roles at Geldmaat (Dutch ATM network), and policy work at the Dutch Central Bank (DNB). At DNB, he leads initiatives shaping the future of cash, including legislative reforms and industry-wide agreements. His cross-sector experience makes him a unique voice in the international cash debate.

Shaun O’Brien, a Lead Analyst in FedCash Services at the Federal Reserve Financial Services, specializes in researching consumer payment behavior and forecasting cash payment and receipt volumes. He has authored and co-authored numerous papers on payment usage, including the recent "2025 Findings from the Diary of Consumer Payment Choice" and several studies on consumer payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. O’Brien began his career at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco in 2011 within Economic Research and transitioned to Federal Reserve Financial Services in 2013

Marc Schwartz, born in 1963 in Paris, is Chairman and CEO of La Monnaie de Paris, the French National Mint. He is also a lecturer in media and cultural economics at Sciences Po, a leading Social Sciences University in Paris.

Marc Schwartz started his career as an Auditor with the National Court of Audit (Cour des comptes) in 1988 and joined the Treasury Department in 1992. He became, in 1997, special advisor to the minister for Economy, Finance and Industry and to the secretary of State for Budget.

He joined the media group France Télévisions in 2000, as CFO, then deputy CEO. In 2010, he became a senior partner with the international audit and consulting firm Forvis-Mazars, in charge of Public Sector and Media. He returned to the Cour des Comptes in 2014 and was appointed Chief of Staff to the minister of Culture in 2017, before joining Monnaie de Paris in 2018.

He holds a BA’s in economics and public finance (Sciences Po), certificates of finance and international finance from the London School of Economics (LSE), a master in corporate finance from Conservatoire national des Arts et métiers (CNAM), and a master of public administration from Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA).

Marc Schwartz is the author of various articles on monetary and financial issues and of two books: The French Financial System (Montchrestien, 1992) and The New Currency War (Odile Jacob, 2025), co-authored with Pr. Christian de Boissieu.