Reporting directly to CEO Jodie Kelley, Coates will manage membership growth and day-to-day operations. His background includes over 15 years at BSA | The Software Alliance, where he served as General Counsel and Senior Vice President, focusing on governance and organizational scaling. Kelley noted that his expertise in building membership-driven institutions will be critical as the ETA expands its advocacy and educational outreach.

Coates holds a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and a B.A. in International Relations from the same institution. He steps into the role at a time when the ETA’s membership—comprising banks, fintechs, and payment processors—collectively facilitates roughly $56.75 trillion in annual transaction volume. He intends to focus on deepening member engagement and refining the association’s influence over policy and business environments within the payments ecosystem.