Kristo Käärmann

Kristo Käärmann is the co-founder and CEO of Wise.

Wise is a global technology company, building the best way to move and manage the world’s money. With the Wise account people and businesses can hold over 40 currencies, move money between countries and spend money abroad. Large companies and banks use Wise technology too; an entirely new cross-border payments network that will one day power money without borders for everyone, everywhere. However you use the platform, Wise is on a mission to make your life easier and save you money.

Wise launched in 2011 under its original name, TransferWise. In fiscal year 2025, Wise served over 15.6 million people and businesses, processing approximately £145.2 billion in cross-border transactions, saving customers around £2 billion in fees. It is one of the world’s fastest growing, profitable technology companies and is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker, WISE.

Prior to starting Wise, Kristo was a management consultant with Deloitte Consulting and PricewaterhouseCoopers. He worked with European banks and insurers to modernise their processes and systems. Stunned by their inefficiency, he teamed up with Taavet Hinrikus, then Skype's director of strategy, to develop an entirely new system for moving money across borders. Kristo was selected as one of the World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneers 2015.