Banks risk losing the commercial spend relationship as finance moves beyond traditional banking

Australian fintech Inlogik appoints Charles Crane as CEO to lead its next phase of growth

SYDNEY, July 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The commercial banking battleground is shifting.

Increasingly, the question is not just who holds the account or processes the transaction. It is who owns the experience around commercial spend, payments, approvals, controls, data and decision-making.

As embedded finance, B2B payments, AI and workflow automation reshape commercial banking, banks need to move beyond standalone portals and products and become part of the everyday systems where businesses manage financial decisions.

Australian fintech Inlogik today announced the appointment of Charles Crane as Chief Executive Officer, with the leadership transition reflecting the company's next phase of growth and its focus on helping banks compete in this changing market.

"The real risk for banks is not losing the payment," Crane said. "It is losing the customer relationship around how commercial finance is managed, approved, controlled and understood."

"Businesses increasingly expect banking to be embedded into the workflows they already use. The banks that deliver connected financial experiences, not just payment infrastructure, will be the ones that strengthen customer relationships over the next decade."

Fintechs and software platforms are moving quickly into those workflows. Banks still own much of the underlying financial infrastructure, but others are increasingly shaping how customers experience it.

Crane said this is not just a threat for banks. It is also a major opportunity.

"Banks already have what customers value most: trust, capital, treasury expertise, regulatory capability and long-standing relationships," he said. "The challenge is connecting those strengths into the way businesses now operate, so commercial banking becomes more connected, more intelligent and increasingly autonomous."

For more than 30 years, Inlogik has partnered with banks, issuers, enterprises and government organisations to modernise commercial finance through commercial card management, B2B payments, expense management, workflow automation and embedded banking capabilities.

Today, the company is expanding its Spend Platform into a connected commercial finance platform that brings together payments, cards, policy controls, approvals, AI-assisted decisioning and financial insights in one ecosystem.

The aim is simple: help banks deliver fintech-quality customer experiences without replacing core banking infrastructure or compromising governance, resilience and trust.

Richard Eskell, who has led Inlogik for more than three decades, will transition to the role of Founder and Board Director.

"Commercial finance has evolved from an operational function into a strategic capability that influences customer experience, governance and financial performance," Eskell said. "Charlie has played a significant role in shaping our long-term strategy, and I have complete confidence in his leadership as Inlogik enters its next phase of growth."

Crane said artificial intelligence will accelerate the transformation of commercial banking, but only where it delivers practical outcomes for banks and finance teams.

"AI is not about replacing finance professionals or creating more complexity," he said. "It is about helping organisations reduce friction, improve compliance and make better financial decisions. Over time, financial systems will move beyond automation towards trusted autonomous decisioning, with clear policy, controls and human oversight."

Looking ahead, Crane expects commercial finance to become more embedded, connected and workflow-native.

"The question is not whether commercial finance becomes more intelligent," he said. "It is whether banks remain at the centre of that experience as financial decision-making moves into the business systems their customers already use. The institutions that combine trusted banking infrastructure with intelligent software will define the next era of commercial banking."

About Inlogik

Inlogik specialises in commercial spend, helping banks, businesses and finance teams, manage card programs and B2B spend with more clarity and less complexity.

Built on more than three decades of experience operating inside real banking infrastructure, Inlogik's Spend Platform connects card solutions, expense solutions, approvals, analytics, AI-guided automation, and embedded banking experiences into one proven ecosystem.

Designed for financial institutions and the corporates they serve, Inlogik helps organisations strengthen governance, improve visibility, reduce friction, and move forward with confidence.

Interview Opportunities

Charles Crane is available for media interviews on:

• Why the next era of commercial banking will be connected, embedded, and increasingly autonomous
• From embedded finance to autonomous banking: what changes next for banks and their commercial customers
• Why banks risk losing the commercial spend relationship to fintechs
• Why the next fintech battleground is commercial banking, not consumer banking
• How banks can offer fintech-like experiences without rebuilding core infrastructure
• What AI can actually do in commercial spend beyond the hype
• How agentic commerce could reshape commercial banking, payments, and financial operations
• Why workflow-native, region-agnostic banking experiences are becoming strategically important
• Practical AI adoption in banking: where automation ends and autonomy begins
• How banks can modernise commercial finance without replacing core infrastructure
• What Inlogik's business strategy signals about the future of commercial spend, customer value, and connected banking

Media Contact:

Nandita Graham
Senior Global Marketing Manager
Nandita.graham@inlogik.com

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Banks risk losing the commercial spend relationship as finance moves beyond traditional banking

SINGAPORE, July 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Russell Reynolds Associates (RRA), the leading global leadership advisory firm, has appointed Alistair Macrae as the new Head of Asia Pacific (APAC), succeeding Matthias Oberholzer, effective 1 July 2026. In his new role, Macrae will lead the firm's operations across APAC, continuing to deepen relationships with the firm's clients as well as drive strategic growth across these key geographies.

Macrae brings extensive experience in board and CEO advisory, including chair, non-executive director, and audit committee chair appointments. His work focuses on board composition, leadership succession and executive team effectiveness, ensuring leadership decisions support long-term business objectives. In addition to his Board and CEO work, Macrae has significant experience advising on senior corporate officer appointments. Drawing on his background in finance, strategy and corporate leadership, he helps organisations assess and identify the capabilities needed for complex roles in rapidly evolving business environments.

"I am honoured to have been appointed to lead the Asia Pacific region at such an exciting time," said Alistair Macrae. "As boards, CEOs, and senior leaders across the region navigate heightened economic uncertainty, rapid technological change, and critical talent gaps, the need for highly strategic and adaptable leadership is of critical importance. I look forward to working closely with our exceptional teams across the entire region to help our clients navigate the increasingly complex global leadership landscape."

Commenting on the new appointment, Matthias Oberholzer said: "Alistair's appointment is part of our ongoing commitment to planned leadership succession, ensuring we bring fresh perspectives to our regional operations. Alistair has a proven track record of understanding the unique cultural and business dynamics across the region. We are confident that his broad regional vision, spanning from Australia to key hubs in India, North and South Asia, will bring immense value to our clients as they build world-class leadership teams."

Following his successful leadership in the APAC region, Oberholzer will transition back to focusing fully on his global advisory work. Based in Zurich, Switzerland, Oberholzer will continue advising organisations on CEO and board leadership, succession, executive assessment, and senior leadership matters across the insurance, banking, and private equity industries.

Macrae is also a member of Russell Reynolds Associates Global Senior Leadership Team. He joined the firm after a successful corporate career, including six years with Fairfax Media Limited as CFO of the digital business, and corporate strategy roles at Tabcorp Holdings Limited. He began his career with Ernst & Young within the Minerals, Energy and Utilities Practice. Macrae received his BCom from the University of Melbourne and his MBA from the Melbourne Business School. He is also a qualified Chartered Accountant.

About Russell Reynolds Associates
Russell Reynolds Associates is a global leadership advisory firm. Our 500+ consultants in 47 offices work with public, private, and nonprofit organisations across all industries and regions. We help our clients build teams of transformational leaders who can meet today's challenges and anticipate the digital, economic, sustainability, and political trends that are reshaping the global business environment. From helping boards with their structure, culture, and effectiveness to identifying, assessing and defining the best leadership for organisations, our teams bring their decades of expertise to help clients address their most complex leadership issues. We exist to improve the way the world is led. Find out more at www.russellreynolds.com.

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

Russell Reynolds Associates Names Alistair Macrae as Head of Asia Pacific