Ep. 59 - Payments from the Merchant Side: Risk, Regulation & Reality in 2026 with Kingfisher plc

In this episode, hosts Grant Evans and Justin Hanna are joined by Fiennes Davey, Group Head of Payments at Kingfisher plc, to explore what payments really looks like from the merchant side of the table in 2026.Fiennes brings a rare perspective — having worked inside a global acquirer before moving into a major retailer — and shares why payments is finally getting the strategic attention it deserves at enterprise level. The conversation dives into what good looks like when payments is treated as a core function, and where things still break down between merchants and PSPs.They unpack the real implications of PSD3 and the potential loss of the Commercial Agent Exemption, why many marketplaces may be underprepared, and how merchants should be thinking about regulatory risk today. The discussion also challenges the industry’s growing reliance on open banking, exploring where it genuinely delivers value — and where it still falls short.From scheme dominance and fee pressure to the overlooked impact of commercial card interchange, this episode cuts through the noise to focus on what actually matters for merchants trying to build resilient, future-proof payments strategies.Plus, Fiennes steps up for The Payments Shed’s legendary Shelf of Shame — calling out one thing in payments he’d happily banish forever.***The Payments Shed Podcast is headline sponsored by ISX Financial.ISX Financial, delivers a unified ecosystem with multi-currency accounts, online payments,  real-time UK and EU transfers and global mass payouts. Within that platform, PaidBy® provides Pay by Bank with real-time settlement notifications, automated reconciliation and integrated refund management. One partner, one integration — helping your business transact with confidence. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.isx.financial⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Cyclops.Cyclops is a crypto and stablecoin infrastructure platform for payments companies, enabling PSPs, acquirers and processors to offer crypto acceptance, stablecoin settlement and payouts without building their own blockchain stack. It provides a unified solution for pay ins, payouts and fiat to digital asset conversion, with simple API or low code integration. Built specifically for the payments ecosystem, Cyclops focuses on making stablecoins practical, scalable and commercially viable.Learn more at - https://www.cyclops.io/***The Payments Shed Podcast is supported by PCN.PCN is a boutique recruitment agency rooted in Amsterdam, driven by a singular mission: connecting top talent with industry leaders. PCN specialises in five core pillars — Fintech, Cybersecurity, SaaS, E-Commerce, and Salesforce — backed by a global network across borders.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://teampcn.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***Disclaimer. Any views or opinions referenced in this podcast episode are our own, or those of our respective guests, and they do not represent any views, opinions, or statements from our respective employers, or those of our guests. Additionally, any views expressed here are not intended as investment, legal, tax, or financial advice.