Shaping the cash cycle of the future

Alejandro Zamora-Pérez is an economist at the European Central Bank and the Chair of the European Research Network on Currency Analysis (EURECA), a central-bank network advancing research on physical currency. His work focuses on the demand for physical currency, access to cash and payment inclusion, and central bank digital currency (CBDC). His publications have been referenced in analyses for the European Parliament, the European Commission, the OECD and European national authorities, and covered by major international media outlets such as the Financial Times, The Economist and CNN.

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."

Dr. Andrzej Nowak is Head of Open Innovation at SICPA. His current focus includes the future of currency – whether in physical or digital form, privacy-preserving digital trust, fintech, and innovation systems. He contributes to the Bretton Woods Committee working groups on the Future of Finance and on AI, and serves as an expert for Innosuisse, the Swiss innovation agency.

Earlier, Andrzej led an innovation lab at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. There, he defined and put in place new elements of CERN’s 10-year technological horizon, led several Open Source efforts and founded educational initiatives for young scientists and engineers.

Andrzej also held roles in management consulting in private banking, at the chip maker Intel, as a founder of a fintech company, and as an evaluator for the EU Research Executive Agency. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.

Matthee le Cointre is strategist at Geldmaat, where he drives innovation across the cash value chain. He leads initiatives in payments strategy, exploring alternative transactions and digital currencies, and contributes to policy development around the digitale euro. His work includes strategic foresight on the future of cash, scenario planning, and shaping Geldmaat’s long-term positioning in the payments landscape.

Economist at Banco de España since 1993, with experience in branch operations, securities settlement, and cash management. He worked at Iberclear (Spanish Central Securities Depository) from 2003 to 2015, coordinating connections to Target2 and T2S. Since 2015, back in Banco de España, he has focused on cash operations, serving as Head of the Coins Unit (2018–2020) and currently leading the Cash Policies Division, with direct responsibilities on cash issuance, analysis, statistics, regulation and procedures, management of cash central reserves and distribution of cash among Banco de España dependencies or, through international transports, within and outside the Eurosystem.

Olivier has been holding an expert position at that banknote issue and circulation section of the European Central Bank since 2001. He has been responsible for determining the annual banknote requirements and print volumes of the Eurosystem. He is coordinating banknote transfers among central banks with the objective to ensure that banknote demand is met efficiently. Olivier is in charge of coordinating cash-related matters in preparation of new Member States joining the euro area. Olivier holds a degree in business administration. Before he joined the ECB, he worked at Deutsche Bundesbank branches and at the Bundesbank’s cash policy department.

Stefan Wikman is a senior European leader in the cash management and cash logistics industry, with nearly three decades of operational and executive experience. He is currently Head of Cash Operations at Bankomat AB, where he leads operations and delivery. Prior to this, Stefan spent more than 15 years in key leadership roles at Loomis, including Executive Director of Operations for Loomis UK, Regional Operations Director, Vice President of Operations in Sweden, and Head of Global Operations, driving performance, efficiency and transformation across multiple markets. Earlier in his career, he held management roles at Securitas Värde AB and served as CEO of Cash Flow Security AB. Stefan’s career reflects deep expertise in secure logistics, operational excellence, and leading large-scale, mission-critical service organizations across Europe.