Focus on global business development and U.S. gaming opportunities

LONDON, United Kingdom, March 1, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Optimal Payments Plc (LSE: OPAY) ("Optimal Payments" or the "Company"), a leading international online payments provider, is pleased to announce the strengthening of its sales and business development team with the appointment of three new members to its executive team.

Doug Lewin, Executive Vice President, Partnerships and Development, joins the Company from Caesars Interactive Entertainment Inc. ("CIE"), a subsidiary of Las Vegas based Caesars Entertainment Corporation, where he was Vice President, Emerging Markets and Payments. During his four years at CIE, Doug focused on new business development, the company's lobbying efforts as well as the overall payments strategy. Prior to joining CIE, Doug was President of the original Optimal Payments business. Doug brings a wealth of business experience and acumen both in payments and gaming to Optimal Payments.

Ben Dalfen, Executive Vice President, Sales, also joins the Company from Caesars Interactive Entertainment Inc. ("CIE").  Since CIE's inception in May 2009, Ben has acted as Vice President of Gaming Partnerships and Development, where he was responsible for identifying new opportunities, managing strategic vendors and establishing the company's presence in regulated markets.  Prior to joining CIE, Ben was a Senior Executive at the original Optimal Payments business and the CEO of FireOne Group Plc, responsible for sales and marketing. Ben will bring an immediate impetus to the Company's sales efforts to maximise new business opportunities.

Neil Erlick, Executive Vice President, Business Development, has been with the Company for over 12 years and is responsible for the Company's U.S. gaming initiatives and seeking new strategic partnerships.  Neil previously served as Senior VP of Business Development, where he oversaw the Company's regulated European gaming focused services.

Optimal Payments has a strong record of delivering innovative technology solutions to its merchants, in both online payment processing and risk and fraud management. With its NETBANX payments gateway, NETELLER online wallet, and NET+ prepaid card business, Optimal Payments is focused on the rapidly growing markets of multi-channel e-Commerce and mobile payments.

"The appointment of these talented individuals to our executive team is consistent with our growth strategy for 2013,"said Martin Leroux, Chief Business Development Officer of Optimal Payments. He added "Doug, Ben and Neil bring a wealth of experience and industry knowledge that will support the Company's growth and generate new business across North America and beyond. We are committed to expanding our reach and our continuing investment in both innovation and sales resource demonstrates our determination to succeed. This is an exciting time for the Company and with the strengthening of the sales and business development team; we look forward to a successful year."

About Optimal Payments

Optimal Payments is a global provider of online payment solutions. Trusted by businesses and consumers in over 190 countries to move and manage billions of dollars each year, merchants use the NETBANX® processing service to simplify how they accept and settle credit card, direct-from-bank, and cash payments; and the NETELLER® payment account to increase margins, capture new customers and increase their lifetime value. Being an independent provider has allowed the company to support tens-of-thousands of merchants around the globe across a wide range of industries.  Optimal Payments Plc is quoted on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market, with a ticker symbol of OPAY. Subsidiary company Optimal Payments Ltd is authorised and regulated as an e-money issuer by the UK's Financial Services Authority (FRN 900015).

For more information on Optimal Payments visit www.optimalpayments.com or subscribe at www.optimalpayments.com/feed or follow us on Twitter @optimalpayments.

SOURCE Optimal Payments Plc.