Tencent Cloud Powers iyzico's European Expansion with Secure, Scalable Payment Infrastructure

BARCELONA, Spain, March 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026, Tencent Cloud, the cloud business of global technology company Tencent, announced a collaboration with iyzico, a leading Turkish fintech company, to support iyzico's European expansion and the launch of its first cloud-based production platform in the region. Built on Tencent Cloud's IaaS infrastructure, the deployment reflects its growing role in supporting regulated financial institutions across Europe's fintech ecosystem.

Founded in Türkiye, iyzico provides virtual, in-store and supplier network payment solutions and AI-powered payment technologies to e-commerce, retail and B2B businesses of all sizes. Its secure and user-friendly platform simplifies complex payment processes and supports transactions for more than 185,000 merchants including some of Türkiye's and the world's biggest e-commerce players and SMEs. By delivering safe and seamless payment experiences for consumers, iyzico has established itself as a key payment infrastructure provider within Türkiye's rapidly growing e-commerce ecosystem.

Building a Financial-Grade Cloud Foundation
To support its European expansion, iyzico required a secure and compliant cloud foundation capable of meeting strict financial regulations while enabling new operational capabilities. This included end-to-end delivery support, from Terraform-based code delivery to hands-on infrastructure setup.

In response, Tencent Cloud worked with iyzico to establish its first cloud-based production platform in the region. Developed on a robust full-stack architecture spanning compute, networking, storage, and security services, the platform supports mission-critical payment workloads with high availability and resilience. Leveraging Tencent Cloud's IaaS portfolio, engineered to meet stringent performance, security and compliance standards, iyzico can launch and scale its payment services across Europe.

High Availability and Resilient Performance
Deployed across Tencent Cloud's Frankfurt availability zones, the solution delivers reliable, low latency performance within Europe. The dual availability zone design, combined with rapid database failover and elastic resource scaling, allows iyzico to maintain uninterrupted transaction processing even during peak demand. Tencent Cloud's local infrastructure presence also supports regulatory compliance while maintaining seamless payment experiences for European consumers.

From Deployment to Growth
The collaboration extended from architecture design through automated deployment and operational handover, enabling a rapid production rollout and establishing a secure, scalable foundation for growth. Supported by Tencent Cloud's responsive, 24hour engineering support throughout proof of concept and migration, the partnership ensured swift issue resolution and a smooth transition from testing to production, accelerating time to market while reducing operational complexity.

Fred Sun, General Manager of Europe, Tencent Cloud International, said: "Supporting iyzico's expansion across Europe is a shared priority. We are focused on delivering secure, compliant and high-performance infrastructure that enables fintech innovators like iyzico to scale with confidence and provide seamless payment experiences to millions of customers. This collaboration reflects the growing demand for resilient cloud environments that underpin Europe's rapidly evolving fintech ecosystem."

Şamil Nevruz,  CTO of iyzico, said: "Selecting Tencent Cloud was a strategic decision to build our European operations on a secure and scalable foundation. The partnership has strengthened our ability to meet stringent regulatory requirements, scale efficiently and deliver reliable services to our merchants and customers. As we start to grow in Europe, this relationship also provides a platform for further innovation in digital payments."

About Tencent Cloud:
Tencent Cloud, one of the world's leading cloud companies, is committed to creating innovative solutions to resolve real-world issues and enabling digital transformation for smart industries. Through our extensive global infrastructure, Tencent Cloud provides businesses across the globe with stable and secure industry-leading cloud products and services, leveraging technological advancements such as cloud computing, Big Data analytics, AI, IoT, and network security. It is our constant mission to meet the needs of industries across the board, including the fields of gaming, media and entertainment, finance, healthcare, property, retail, travel, and transportation.

About iyzico:
Founded in 2013, iyzico began operating in the e-commerce ecosystem by offering virtual, pyshical payment solutions and AI-powered digital payment systems. Today, it serves more than 185,000 merchants across over 40 sectors and continues its operations as one of Türkiye's leading fintech companies, with 7 million digital wallet users and an annual transaction volume exceeding 300 billion. iyzico BV is a subsidiary of iyzico.

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Tencent Cloud Powers iyzico's European Expansion with Secure, Scalable Payment Infrastructure

LONDON, March 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Markel International, a division of Markel Insurance, the insurance operations within Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL), today announced the appointment of Maureen Tomlinson to Head of AI, alongside the launch of their AI Centre of Enablement. This strategic hire marks a significant milestone in Markel's continued investment in operational excellence and signals the beginning of its first formalised AI function.

The AI Centre of Enablement (CoE) has been established with the aim of accelerating responsible AI adoption across Markel International's five businesses, acting as both a strategic partner and a technical delivery powerhouse. This function will sit within the International Portfolio Analytics team, headed up by Managing Director, Simon Cooper-Williams. Through AI business partnering, it will provide education, advisory support, coordination and strong governance, alongside AI engineering, delivering high-quality AI builds that address real business needs.

Maureen Tomlinson steps into the Head of AI role alongside her position as Senior Vice President of Operations for Markel in Canada. She will shape the division's approach to AI, support senior leaders in identifying strategic opportunities and drive the successful delivery and adoption of AI solutions.

Based in Toronto, Tomlinson will work closely with others in the International Portfolio Analytics team, as well as IT and Change Delivery, to advance Markel International's operational capabilities and digital evolution and deliver tools that improve the broker and client experience.

Carys Lawton-Bryce, Chief Operations Officer, Markel International, commented: "At Markel, we see AI as a step‑change technology with the potential to support our ambitious profitable growth targets. We also recognise that this potential is only realised when AI is governed well, understood across the business and deployed responsibly. Our newly-launched Centre of Enablement will be central to how we leverage AI in a way that makes adoption safe, scalable and business-led, while ensuring responsible governance that stays ahead of regulatory expectations."

Simon Cooper-Williams, Managing Director of Markel's International Portfolio Analytics team, commented: "As an organisation, we've made significant progress with the adoption of AI. The new AI Centre of Enablement is a huge step in strengthening our operational foundations and continuing on our path of success. I'm delighted to have Maureen at the helm of this team as Head of AI, with her leadership and extensive knowledge of the business, having served as Senior Vice President, Operations in Canada since 2023. Operating from Toronto, Maureen's appointment will also strengthen collaboration between all five international businesses as we look to bring greater consistency and clarity to how AI is developed and deployed, empowering teams with the tools and knowledge to deliver stronger outcomes."

Tomlinson steps into the Head of AI role with extensive operations, technology and change experience, having served as Senior Vice President, Operations, for Markel Canada since 2023, in which she is responsible for the business technology strategy, as well as the execution of all technology tools, data, pricing, support processes and facilities required to deliver policy and claims services. Tomlinson joined Markel after 11 years at Verisk, formerly Opta Information Intelligence, where she held the position of Senior Vice President, Sales & Professional Services from 2017, in which she was responsible for leading the sales & professional services delivery team, providing highly technical analytics solutions for actuarial and underwriting departments across Canada. Prior senior roles include Vice President, Analytics and R&D; and Vice President, Production Solutions and Operations at Verisk; as well as Director, Personal Lines Systems; and Director of Business Services and Architecture for Economical Insurance Group.

About Markel Insurance
We are Markel Insurance, a leading global specialty insurer with a truly people-first approach. As the insurance operations within the Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL), we leverage a broad array of capabilities and expertise to create intelligent solutions for the most complex specialty insurance needs. However, it is our people – and the deep, valued relationships they develop with colleagues, brokers and clients – that differentiates us worldwide.

LONDON, March 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Markel International, a division of Markel Insurance, the insurance operations within Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL), today announced the appointment of Maureen Tomlinson to Head of AI, alongside the launch of their AI Centre of Enablement. This strategic hire marks a significant milestone in Markel's continued investment in operational excellence and signals the beginning of its first formalised AI function.

The AI Centre of Enablement (CoE) has been established with the aim of accelerating responsible AI adoption across Markel International's five businesses, acting as both a strategic partner and a technical delivery powerhouse. This function will sit within the International Portfolio Analytics team, headed up by Managing Director, Simon Cooper-Williams. Through AI business partnering, it will provide education, advisory support, coordination and strong governance, alongside AI engineering, delivering high-quality AI builds that address real business needs.

Maureen Tomlinson steps into the Head of AI role alongside her position as Senior Vice President of Operations for Markel in Canada. She will shape the division's approach to AI, support senior leaders in identifying strategic opportunities and drive the successful delivery and adoption of AI solutions.

Based in Toronto, Tomlinson will work closely with others in the International Portfolio Analytics team, as well as IT and Change Delivery, to advance Markel International's operational capabilities and digital evolution and deliver tools that improve the broker and client experience.

Carys Lawton-Bryce, Chief Operations Officer, Markel International, commented: "At Markel, we see AI as a step‑change technology with the potential to support our ambitious profitable growth targets. We also recognise that this potential is only realised when AI is governed well, understood across the business and deployed responsibly. Our newly-launched Centre of Enablement will be central to how we leverage AI in a way that makes adoption safe, scalable and business-led, while ensuring responsible governance that stays ahead of regulatory expectations."

Simon Cooper-Williams, Managing Director of Markel's International Portfolio Analytics team, commented: "As an organisation, we've made significant progress with the adoption of AI. The new AI Centre of Enablement is a huge step in strengthening our operational foundations and continuing on our path of success. I'm delighted to have Maureen at the helm of this team as Head of AI, with her leadership and extensive knowledge of the business, having served as Senior Vice President, Operations in Canada since 2023. Operating from Toronto, Maureen's appointment will also strengthen collaboration between all five international businesses as we look to bring greater consistency and clarity to how AI is developed and deployed, empowering teams with the tools and knowledge to deliver stronger outcomes."

Tomlinson steps into the Head of AI role with extensive operations, technology and change experience, having served as Senior Vice President, Operations, for Markel Canada since 2023, in which she is responsible for the business technology strategy, as well as the execution of all technology tools, data, pricing, support processes and facilities required to deliver policy and claims services. Tomlinson joined Markel after 11 years at Verisk, formerly Opta Information Intelligence, where she held the position of Senior Vice President, Sales & Professional Services from 2017, in which she was responsible for leading the sales & professional services delivery team, providing highly technical analytics solutions for actuarial and underwriting departments across Canada. Prior senior roles include Vice President, Analytics and R&D; and Vice President, Production Solutions and Operations at Verisk; as well as Director, Personal Lines Systems; and Director of Business Services and Architecture for Economical Insurance Group.

About Markel Insurance
We are Markel Insurance, a leading global specialty insurer with a truly people-first approach. As the insurance operations within the Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL), we leverage a broad array of capabilities and expertise to create intelligent solutions for the most complex specialty insurance needs. However, it is our people – and the deep, valued relationships they develop with colleagues, brokers and clients – that differentiates us worldwide.

** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

Markel International launches AI Centre of Enablement with appointment of Head of AI