Following the company's acquisition by Visa, Featurespace, well-known for its technology that prevents financial crime and fraud, announced that CEO Martina King will retire. King’s 12-year leadership saw Featurespace grow from its early days to a major player in machine learning-based fraud detection. Jason Blackhurst, a seasoned executive with more than 30 years in financial services, will assume the role of SVP, Head of Featurespace and Acceptance Risk Solutions at Visa. Blackhurst is relocating to Cambridge, UK, to oversee Featurespace’s continued development, while the company reaffirms its connection to the University of Cambridge by securing a six-year lease at its current headquarters.
James Mirfin, SVP, Global Head of Risk and Identity Solutions at Visa praised Blackhurst’s appointment, highlighting, “Jason’s vision will be invaluable as we continue to deliver cutting-edge fraud prevention solutions to our clients globally.” Blackhurst expressed enthusiasm stating, “I am excited to build upon Featurespace’s strong foundations and drive further innovation in the rapidly evolving fraud prevention landscape. I have been inspired by how deeply the team thinks about problems and solutions under Martina’s leadership and hope to continue that legacy.” Featurespace remains dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence in transaction monitoring, working with major banks and financial institutions worldwide.
