Total System Services (TSYS), the Columbus, Ga.-based payment processor, has hired Patricia A. Watson to be senior executive vice president and chief information officer, effective Sept. 14.
Watson will succeed Ken Tye, who announced his retirement earlier this year. Tye is credited with integrating the cloud and emerging technologies into the TSYS system. He served the company for 43 years.
Previously, Watson was global CIO for the Texas-based security and cash management firm The Brinks Co. Brink's and NetSpend, a Texas-based unit of TSYS, have collaborated since 2013 on a prepaid payroll offering. This year, NetSpend launched a Brink's-branded prepaid card.
Before that, she spent 14 years at Bank of America in various technology roles. In her first 12 and final two years at B of A she led the treasury, payments and credit areas as senior technology executive.
Watson will report to M. Troy Woods, TSYS' chairman, president and CEO. In an Aug. 17 press release, Woods framed the hiring as one that would help enhance the "enterprise technology agenda to enable and deliver future global growth at TSYS."
