HELSINKI & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 26, 2025--
Epassi Group, a European leader in digital employee benefits technology, today announced that Nickyl Raithatha will join as Chief Executive Officer. Nickyl will assume the role in 2026. Pekka Rantala, who has served as CEO since September 2019, will remain on the Board as Non-Executive Chair.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251126015983/en/
Over the past six years, Epassi Group has evolved from a Nordic success story into one of Europe’s leading SaaS employee benefits and wellbeing platforms. The company has expanded both its geographic footprint as well as its product portfolio, driven by a powerful combination of strong organic growth and strategic acquisitions, with backing from TA Associates and Warburg Pincus. Today it has a presence in ten countries and a team of 1,000 people. With net revenue expected to exceed €200 million in 2025, Epassi is redefining employee engagement across Europe – combining SaaS technology and expertise with a comprehensive, one-stop portfolio of benefits and wellbeing solutions designed to support happier, healthier workplaces.
Nickyl Raithatha is an experienced technology leader with a strong track record of building and scaling digital-first businesses that harness powerful network effects across B2C, B2B, and marketplace ecosystems. He is currently serving as Chief Executive Officer of Moonpig Group, where he has overseen a period of substantial growth and expansion into new markets. During his tenure, the company quadrupled revenues to £350 million and increased EBITDA fivefold to £97 million, while extending its footprint from a UK-focused business to a global operation across five countries through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions. He also led the company’s successful £1.4 billion IPO on the London Stock Exchange and developed the talent and technology platform required to scale the business effectively.
Pekka Rantala, outgoing CEO of Epassi, said, “When I joined Epassi in 2019, we were a team of 68 people with €8 million in revenue, operating in Finland and Sweden. Today, we serve customers in ten European countries, with 67% of our revenue generated outside the Nordics, and have expanded our product portfolio. After more than six incredibly rewarding years, I’ve decided to transition from full-time operational roles and focus on non-operational and board activities. I am very excited and committed to continue serving Epassi from the Board.”
“It has been a true privilege to lead Epassi and to work alongside such a talented and committed team of Epassians,” he continued. “Together we’ve built a strong foundation for the future, and I could not be happier or prouder that it is exactly Nickyl who will continue to lead Epassi’s remarkable growth journey. He brings impressive experience, strategic vision, and inspiring leadership to take Epassi through its next phase of growth.”
Nickyl Raithatha, incoming CEO of Epassi, said: “I'm thrilled to be joining Epassi at such an exciting moment in its journey. The progress the team has made in building a multi-product, multi-geography business is remarkable and reflects both the strength of the people here and the ambition that drives the company forward. I’m looking forward to working with Pekka and everyone at Epassi as we accelerate our growth and build the leading digital employee benefits platform in Europe.”
Notes to Editors
About Epassi
Founded in Helsinki in 2007, Epassi is a pioneering employee benefits technology provider and leading global multi-benefits platform with a strong presence in the Nordics, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, the UK, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, and France. Epassi’s innovative, unique and scalable solution combines all benefits into one mobile app-centric, user-friendly digital service, providing a digital marketplace for employee benefits.
Epassi Group serves more than 50,000 employers and their over 30 million employees, with a partner network of more than 100,000 service providers. Epassi is a leading fintech company, recognized by the Financial Times as one of the fastest growing companies in Europe in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, and ranked 32nd on Europe’s Long-Term Growth Champions 2025 list. Epassi Group is backed by TA Associates and Warburg Pincus.
Epassi – Boosting everyday well-being.
www.epassi.com
About Nickyl Raithatha
Nickyl Raithatha is an experienced technology leader with a strong track record of scaling digital-first businesses across B2C, B2B, and marketplace ecosystems. He most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Moonpig Group, where he led the company through a period of substantial growth and expansion into new markets. During his tenure, Moonpig quadrupled revenues and grew EBITDA fivefold, evolving from a UK-focused business into an international platform operating across five countries. In 2021, Nickyl led the successful £1.4bn IPO of Moonpig on the London Stock Exchange.
Before Moonpig, Nickyl founded and led Finery, an online British womenswear brand, and previously served as a Chief Executive Officer Ecommerce at Rocket Internet, supporting the growth of internet and technology businesses globally. Earlier in his career, he held VP roles in financial services at Goldman Sachs and Arrowgrass Capital Partners.
Nickyl holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Cambridge.
Pekka Rantala and Nickyl Raithatha
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Andrew Painter hopped off the mound in excitement in the fifth inning after his 97.2 mph fastball got James Wood to strike out for a second time.
Phillies fans — some groups called themselves Andrew's Painters, others Painter's Painters — waved paintbrushes and erupted in cheers with each strikeout for the rookie pitcher.
Painter delivered a masterpiece in his major league debut.
The 22-year-old Painter — considered to have one of the top arms in any level of baseball — tossed four-hit ball and struck out eight over 5 1/3 innings Tuesday in the Phillies' 3-2 win against the Washington Nationals. Painter tipped his cap to the cheering crowd of 40,709 fans as he left the mound in the sixth after he allowed a one-out single to C.J. Abrams.
“It was awesome,” Painter said. “Crowd showed up tonight. Just kind of soaked all of it. I don't think I could have drawn it up much better.”
He struck out the side in the fifth, walked one and allowed a run when Abrams scored on a run-scoring single by Daylen Lile off reliever Tanner Banks.
Painter wanted to stay in the game and at least finish the inning. Phillies manager Rob Thomson wasn't going to push the right-hander almost 1,000 days since his big league path was elongated by Tommy John surgery.
Thomson asked Painter on the mound visit if he enjoyed his first game.
“He shook his head no,” Thomson said with a laugh. “Then he figured out what I said and shook his head yes.”
Painter received a rousing ovation as he made the long walk from the bullpen to the dugout before the game and kept the fans on their feet when he struck out Wood on a nasty 12-6 curveball to open the game. Painter kept the Nationals flailing at breaking balls and swinging over high hard stuff the rest of the game.
Painter mixed curves, sweepers and sliders with a fastball that nearly touched 100 mph and flashed every bit of greatness that has been predicted of him since he was the 13th overall pick in the 2021 amateur draft and signed for a $3.9 million bonus.
Painter sprinted through Philadelphia’s system in 2022, going 6-2 with a 1.48 ERA in 26 appearances spread across two Class A teams and Double-A Reading.
He hurt his elbow during spring training in 2023 and had Tommy John surgery later that year.
The 6-foot-7 right-hander emerged the top candidate to win the Phillies’ fifth starter job as he attempted to crack the rotation before his 20th birthday. Instead, the injury set him back at least two seasons, and he went 5-8 with a 5.26 ERA during two minor league stops last season.
He’s been deemed good to go and joins a stout rotation that this season will include Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo.
“We've been waiting a while for this,” Thomson said. “So have our players.”
The two-time reigning NL East champion Phillies gave him needed run support with solo home runs from Kyle Schwarber and Adolis Garcia. Painter left with the Phillies leading 3-0.
“He didn't seem fazed by anything out there," Schwarber said. “That was pretty cool. I mean, even before the game, there's no pacing, no nothing. Just felt like he was mentally prepared for what he was about to do. That's impressive.”
The first outing sure seemed a like preview for even more impressive starts over his career.
“I felt like I was in control of the pace of the game,” Painter said.
Considered the organization's top pitching prospect since Cole Hamels, Painter entered the season ranked No. 26 among all prospects in baseball. Painter gave up seven hits and struck out eight in 11 2/3 innings in spring training this year.
“If we can keep him healthy, this guy's going to be really good for a long time,” Thomson said. “He's going to have a really great career. He's one of those upper-echelon guys. He's got the combination of power and command. The future is bright for him.”
Painter said every part of his game felt in sync, from pregame warmups to keeping his emotions in check while pitching in front of about 40 friends and family in his ticket group. He changed from his No. 24 jersey into a Phillies hoodie and shorts and jogged back onto the field after the final out for photos and hugs with his parents, former coaches and everyone who made the trip.
That included a kiss with his fiancée.
Painter took a knee before he ever threw a regular-season pitch. He posted proposal photos on Instagram in March with his girlfriend, Shelby.
What's more nerve-wracking, proposing or taking the mound?
“I'm not sure,” Painter said with a laugh. “We'll revisit that.”
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson, second from left, releases pitcher Andrew Painter, center, during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Andrew Painter greets teammates during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Philadelphia Phillies' Andrew Painter pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Philadelphia Phillies fans that call themselves "Painter's Painters" pose for a photo as they cheer on rookie Phillies pitcher Andrew Painter during his MLB debut in a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Dan Gelston)
Philadelphia Phillies' Andrew Painter pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Philadelphia Phillies' Andrew Painter pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
