Epassi Group Announces Leadership Transition: Nickyl Raithatha to Assume Role as CEO in 2026
Epassi Group, a European leader in digital employee benefits and wellbeing technology, has announced a significant leadership transition. Nickyl Raithatha will join the company as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), assuming the role in 2026. Pekka Rantala, who has served as CEO since September 2019, will step into the role of Non-Executive Chair on the Board, ensuring continuity and strategic oversight during this pivotal phase of growth.
Over the past six years, Epassi Group has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from a regional Nordic success story into one of Europe’s most prominent SaaS platforms for employee benefits and wellbeing solutions. Under Pekka Rantala’s leadership, the company expanded its geographic reach and product portfolio through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions, supported by investments from TA Associates and Warburg Pincus. Today, Epassi operates in ten countries with a team of 1,000 employees and is projected to generate net revenue exceeding €200 million in 2025. The company has redefined employee engagement across Europe by offering a comprehensive, one-stop platform that combines cutting-edge SaaS technology with expertise in benefits and wellbeing, fostering happier, healthier workplaces.
A Proven Leader for the Next Chapter
Nickyl Raithatha, the incoming CEO, brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in scaling digital-first businesses. Currently serving as CEO of Moonpig Group, Nickyl has overseen a period of substantial growth and international expansion. During his tenure, Moonpig quadrupled its revenues to £350 million and increased EBITDA fivefold to £97 million. He successfully led the company’s £1.4 billion IPO on the London Stock Exchange and extended its operations from a UK-focused business to a global presence spanning five countries. His leadership has been instrumental in building a robust talent pipeline and technology platform capable of scaling effectively in competitive markets.
Nickyl’s expertise spans B2C, B2B, and marketplace ecosystems, making him an ideal candidate to lead Epassi into its next phase of growth. “I’m thrilled to be joining Epassi at such an exciting moment in its journey,” said Nickyl Raithatha. “The progress the team has made in building a multi-product, multi-geography business is remarkable and reflects both the strength of the people here and the ambition that drives the company forward. I’m looking forward to working with Pekka and everyone at Epassi as we accelerate our growth and build the leading digital employee benefits platform in Europe.”
Pekka Rantala’s Legacy and Continued Commitment
Pekka Rantala’s tenure as CEO has been marked by exceptional achievements and transformative growth. When he joined Epassi in 2019, the company was a relatively small operation with 68 employees and €8 million in revenue, operating primarily in Finland and Sweden. Under his leadership, Epassi expanded its footprint to ten European countries, with 67% of its revenue now generated outside the Nordics. The company also diversified its product offerings, establishing itself as a leader in the employee benefits and wellbeing space.
Reflecting on his time at Epassi, Pekka expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead such a talented team. “When I joined Epassi in 2019, we were a team of 68 people with €8 million in revenue, operating in Finland and Sweden. Today, we serve customers in ten European countries, with 67% of our revenue generated outside the Nordics, and have expanded our product portfolio. After more than six incredibly rewarding years, I’ve decided to transition from full-time operational roles and focus on non-operational and board activities. I am very excited and committed to continue serving Epassi from the Board.”
Pekka emphasized his confidence in Nickyl’s ability to lead the company into its next phase of growth. “It has been a true privilege to lead Epassi and to work alongside such a talented and committed team of Epassians,” he said. “Together, we’ve built a strong foundation for the future, and I could not be happier or prouder that it is exactly Nickyl who will continue to lead Epassi’s remarkable growth journey. He brings impressive experience, strategic vision, and inspiring leadership to take Epassi through its next phase of growth.”
Accelerating Growth and Expanding Leadership
The leadership transition comes at a critical juncture for Epassi, as the company seeks to capitalize on its strong foundation and accelerate its growth trajectory. With Nickyl Raithatha at the helm, Epassi is poised to expand its market leadership and deepen its impact across Europe. His appointment signals the company’s commitment to leveraging innovative technology, expanding its product offerings, and enhancing its customer-centric approach.
As part of the transition, Pekka Rantala’s continued involvement as Non-Executive Chair ensures stability and continuity. His deep understanding of the company and its mission will provide invaluable guidance as Epassi navigates its next chapter. Together, Nickyl and Pekka will work closely to drive the company’s strategic objectives and maintain its position as a pioneer in the employee benefits and wellbeing space.
About Epassi
Founded in Helsinki in 2007, Epassi is a pioneering employee benefits technology provider and leading global multi-benefits platform with a strong presence in the Nordics, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, the UK, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, and France. Epassi’s innovative, unique and scalable solution combines all benefits into one mobile app-centric, user-friendly digital service, providing a digital marketplace for employee benefits.
Epassi Group serves more than 50,000 employers and their over 30 million employees, with a partner network of more than 100,000 service providers. Epassi is a leading fintech company, recognized by the Financial Times as one of the fastest growing companies in Europe in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, and ranked 32nd on Europe’s Long-Term Growth Champions 2025 list. Epassi Group is backed by TA Associates and Warburg Pincus.
Epassi – Boosting everyday well-being.
About Nickyl Raithatha
Nickyl Raithatha is an experienced technology leader with a strong track record of scaling digital-first businesses across B2C, B2B, and marketplace ecosystems. He most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Moonpig Group, where he led the company through a period of substantial growth and expansion into new markets. During his tenure, Moonpig quadrupled revenues and grew EBITDA fivefold, evolving from a UK-focused business into an international platform operating across five countries. In 2021, Nickyl led the successful £1.4bn IPO of Moonpig on the London Stock Exchange.
Before Moonpig, Nickyl founded and led Finery, an online British womenswear brand, and previously served as a Chief Executive Officer Ecommerce at Rocket Internet, supporting the growth of internet and technology businesses globally. Earlier in his career, he held VP roles in financial services at Goldman Sachs and Arrowgrass Capital Partners.
Nickyl holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Cambridge.
