Ruth Spratt, former European commercial director at easyJet, has been appointed UK country manager at global buy now, pay later company Zip.
Founded in Sydney in 2013, Zip has built its business in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the United States, among other markets.
Spratt joined Zip in 2019 as a senior director responsible for the commercial and marketing teams, leading on global retail partnerships and the launch of Zip in-store in the UK.
She has over 25 years’ experience in senior leadership, with multiple roles at board and director level across the media, travel, automotive and environmental industries. Prior to joining Zip, she was MD of Guardian Media Group and chief commercial officer and board director at environmental risk reduction company Adler & Allan.
Spratt has marked the start of her new role by committing Zip to the Treasury’s Women in Finance Charter, continuing her career-long focus on gender equality.
As well as accelerating the company’s UK growth, her promotion will bolster Zip’s commitment to gender inclusion through a variety of new corporate policies, such as extended maternity and paternity pay and miscarriage bereavement leave.
“As the global buy now, pay later pioneer, I’m thrilled to be leading Zip’s mission to disrupt the credit card model in the UK,” said Spratt.
“While our focus in the UK will be to build our customer base and grow our retail partnerships, I want to do so while ensuring diversity and inclusion remains at the heart of who we are at Zip.”
Tommy Mermelshtayn, Zip chief strategy officer EMEA, said: “Ruth’s experience in senior leadership and business growth will be central to building on our success in the UK.
“Ruth is a true champion of diversity, equity and inclusion, and her personal dedication to the cause is central to Zip’s values as a company.”