Introduction
I advise on the transformation of banking infrastructure, payments, and digital platforms. I connect Open Finance, real-time payments, and regulatory innovation into future-ready strategies.
Over the past 25 years, including 9 years based in the UAE, I’ve worked with central banks, commercial institutions, and fintechs across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. My career spans ING, IBM, Temenos, and Core42, where I helped shape forward-looking programs in digital banking, payments, and financial infrastructure.
I focus on commercially grounded innovation that enables sustainable growth. Outside work, I stay active through aviation, sailing, and adventure riding, pursuits that reflect the mindset I bring to transformation. See the Beyond section below for a glimpse.
ING (1999–2013)
Erwin spent 14.5 years at ING in Europe, holding leadership roles across retail, commercial, and institutional banking.
ING (Retail Banking)
In the retail bank, he helped launch 24/7 digital channels across internet, ATM, and POS. This work was mirrored by ING Direct globally as the first-ever online bank.
ING (Commercial & Institutional)
In the commercial bank, he was responsible for pan-European payment solutions for corporate clients, including account aggregation, EDIFACT formats, and bulk payment infrastructure in Central and Eastern Europe, which also extended into Scandinavia through work with SEB and PSD1 implementation.
For two years, he led a €150 million procurement office focused on temporary staffing, then moved into transformation roles where he managed IT legacy reduction, business continuity and disaster recovery setup, and the Loan IQ migration program.
After completing a company-sponsored MBA, he joined ING’s Financial Institutions team, where he was commercially responsible for Euro clearing and Nostro-Vostro development with banks in the Middle East, including ENBD, ADCB, and NBAD.
IBM GTS (2013–2016)
Erwin then spent 2.5 years at IBM GTS in the Benelux region as a business development lead for financial services. He led key engagements including a successful cloud migration agreement with Nationale Nederlanden, the Netherlands’ largest insurer. Recognized as a payments domain expert, he was asked to relocate to the UAE to lead IBM’s payments and transformation portfolio across the Middle East, Africa, Turkey, and Pakistan.
IBM MEA (2016–2017)
In 2016, Erwin relocated to the UAE to join IBM MEA, leading payments and transformation engagements across the Middle East, Africa, Turkey, and Pakistan. This marked a key transition point in building regional insight. It exposed him to the ambition and diversity of the GCC landscape, especially the bold agendas of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s “We the UAE 2031.”
Temenos (2017–2019)
After 4.5 years at IBM, including 1.5 years in the Middle East, he joined Temenos to position its payments hub and lead business development for the Infinity omnichannel platform (integrating Avoka onboarding and the Kony platform). Highlights included:
- Infinity platform deal with UBL Pakistan (11 million accounts)
- Transact core banking win with Egyptian National Post Office (20 million accounts)
- Temenos global Sales Pitch winner
- Speaker at Euromoney Riyadh and Sibos Sydney
TeamHeroes (COVID-era, 2020–2022)
Following the pandemic, Erwin revived TeamHeroes as an independent consulting platform. He supported clients across digital transformation, payments modernization, and market entry, including:
- A core banking contract renegotiation for a Scandinavian bank (via ISG)
- The eDirham initiative for UAE’s Ministry of Finance (with KPMG)
- Market expansion strategy for a Singapore fintech entering MEA
- A BNPL white paper for a major UAE retailer
He also contributed to industry events including Expo 2020 and digital banking summits across the region.
Core42 (2022–2024)
Erwin was later recruited by Core42 (formerly Injazat, part of G42) to lead commercial delivery for the Central Bank UAE’s Financial Infrastructure Transformation (FIT) Program. This included three nationwide programs:
- Nebras – A $35M Open Finance initiative with Strategy&, Ozone API, and Raidiam
- Aani – UAE’s instant payments system, in partnership with Accenture and Nexi
- CBDC Phase 1 – A 50M AED pilot project launched by H.H. Sheikh Mansour
He also developed the digital transformation roadmap for Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX).
Hexaware (2024)
Recruited as Digital and Software lead for the MEA region, Erwin was responsible for advancing digital innovation and payments modernization, including neo banking initiatives, in partnership with fintech providers like Backbase, Mambu, and ThoughtMachine.
- Engaged multiple digital bank RFPs in KSA and built a multimillion-dollar pipeline across Qatar, Bahrain, Mauritius, Oman, and the UAE
- Hosted a “Future of Banking” roundtable in the UAE with industry leaders (Ronit Ghose, Dharmesh Mistry, Dave Wallace)
- Expanded Hexaware’s fintech ecosystem via partnerships with SaaScada, eBankIT, NewGen, Tuum, and others
- Featured on Hexaware’s LinkedIn and MEA Finance to raise visibility on digital engagement and omnichannel strategies
However, due to structural and cultural complexity, he chose to return to TeamHeroes as a more agile and focused platform, supporting a broader career transition.
TeamHeroes (2025–present)
Reactivated during a career transition phase in 2025, TeamHeroes continues to serve as a platform for strategic advisory, go-to-market design, and visibility across FS transformation. Focus remains on the GCC region and wider EMEA banking ecosystem.
- Participated in events including Seamless Middle East, AI Everything, Economy Middle East Summit, and MEA Finance forums
- Delivered a go-to-market strategy for a European management consultancy entering MENA
- Developed a 12-month growth and execution plan for a global FS transformation firm
- Shared strategic insight via LinkedIn, focused on FS technology, Open Finance, and platform-led innovation across the GCC
TeamHeroes Focus Areas
- Digital Transformation
- Open Finance
- Digital Banking & Customer Experience
- CBDC & Real-Time Payments
- Consulting Activation & Market Entry
📍 Based in Dubai, active across the region and Europe
📄 Looking for my résumé or BioPage? You can download them here.
The name TeamHeroes also reflects a nod to my Dutch family name, van Helden, which translates as “of the Heroes” in English.