PayPal CEO's first year was praised by Wall Street, but hard part starts now for struggling payments company
PayPal CEO Alex Chriss just wrapped up his first year on the job, and his company's stock had its best quarterly performance since 2020.
In January, about a hundred days into his job as PayPal CEO, Alex Chriss told CNBC's David Faber that the payments company hadn't had much to celebrate in recent years. But Chriss confidently said he was prepared to "shock the world."
PayPal, a 26-year-old Silicon Valley company, has undergone a significant transformation under the leadership of CEO Alex Chriss, who took the reins in November 2022. Chriss, a seasoned executive with a 19-year tenure at Intuit, has implemented a series of strategic changes aimed at refocusing the company on profitability and improving transaction margins.
One of the key initiatives Chriss has undertaken is a workforce reduction of 9%, which has helped to streamline operations and reduce costs. Additionally, the company has brought in new leadership, including Isabel Cruz as chief people officer, Michelle Gill to run a new small business and financial services group, Diego Scotti to oversee the consumer group, and Jamie Miller as CFO. This new leadership team has been instrumental in driving the company's turnaround.
Under Chriss' leadership, PayPal's stock has experienced a significant rally, with shares jumping 34% in the third quarter, the company's biggest quarterly rally since mid-2020. analysts have taken notice of the company's turnaround, with Dan Dolev of Mizuho securities upgrading his rating to buy in May and Susquehanna's James Friedman lifting his rating to buy, citing Chriss' ability to deliver on his bold promises to shareholders.
Several key initiatives have contributed to PayPal's turnaround, including:
While PayPal has made significant progress under Chriss' leadership, there is still much work to be done. The company's stock remains about 75% below its record high, and analysts are anxiously awaiting Chriss' multiple-year outlook. However, with its new leadership team and strategic initiatives in place, PayPal is well-positioned for continued growth and success in the years to come.