On March 25, PayPal Holdings (PYPL) appointed Alyssa Henry, former CEO of Block’s Square, to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. The move brings one of fintech’s most recognized merchant-commerce executives directly into PayPal’s leadership structure, just weeks after Enrique Lores took over as CEO.
Claim 55% Off TipRanks
New trading tool for AMZN bullsPayPal Taps Former Square CEO to Drive Growth
The appointment of Henry, a veteran of Square’s Seller business unit, now Block’s (XYZ) division, and Amazon Web Services (AMZN), reflects PayPal’s push to strengthen its merchant-facing ecosystem. Henry will serve on the company’s Compensation and Risk and Compliance Committees, bringing over 30 years of experience scaling global commerce, payments, and technology platforms.
According to PayPal’s Wednesday SEC filing, her role will include overseeing executive incentives and technical infrastructure as the company modernizes its software-driven tools. Board Chair David Dorman cited her track record in product innovation and disciplined execution as key to advancing PayPal’s long-term growth strategy.
PayPal also announced that Gail J. McGovern, a board member since 2015, will not stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in May. Independent Director Ann Sarnoff will succeed McGovern as chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The move brings PayPal’s Board to 12 directors, 11 of whom are independent.
PayPal Steers Leadership Amid PYPL Stock Pressure
Henry’s appointment is viewed as a strategic move to stabilize the company following the recent ousting of former CEO Alex Chriss, whose growth plans were deemed too slow by the board. PayPal’s stock has faced significant pressure in recent months and was removed from the S&P 100 index on March 23, a direct consequence of a prolonged decline marked by missed earnings expectations and mounting legal challenges.
PYPL shares are currently trading around $44, down approximately 33% over the past six months. Henry’s extensive experience at Microsoft (MSFT), where she spent 12 years, also brings a technical “builder” perspective as PayPal works to defend its branded checkout business against competitors like Apple Pay. CEO Enrique noted that her expertise will strengthen the company’s position as a strategic payments partner for merchants and consumers worldwide.
Is PayPal Still a Good Investment?
TipRanks data shows PayPal (PYPL) currently carries a “Hold” consensus from 34 analysts’ ratings, reflecting caution amid business pressures and recent leadership changes. PYPL ratings include 5 Buy, 25 Hold, and 4 Sell recommendations, with a 12-month price target averaging $50.71, implying roughly 12% upside from current levels. Investors can use TipRanks’ Stocks Comparison Tool to check ratings, price targets, and performance for PYPL and other payment stocks.
