Technovation with Peter High (CIO, CTO, CDO, CXO Interviews) Building a Scalable Tech Org at Worldpay: Kirk Ball’s Carve-Out Playbook
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Oct 13, 2025 Kirk Ball, a seasoned technology executive and the CIO of Worldpay, shares insights into building a high-performing IT organization during a carve-out. He discusses tripling the IT team while navigating a shift from IPO to M&A, emphasizing the importance of transparency and inclusion in tech culture. Kirk highlights the role of AI in enhancing productivity and his strategies for cloud adoption. He also touches on the significance of planning for integration with Global Payments and the potential of quantum computing in the future.
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Worldpay's Global Scale And Transition
- Worldpay is a global payment processor operating in 130–135+ countries and handling billions of transactions daily.
- Kirk describes Worldpay's spinout history and impending acquisition by Global Payments as a powerful combination of capabilities.
Came Out Of Retirement For IPO Experience
- Kirk came out of retirement specifically to lead a company preparing to go public and gain that IPO experience.
- He joined because Worldpay offered the rare chance to take a private company through a public-market journey.
Rapid Hiring To Replace Temp Service Agreements
- Kirk more than tripled Worldpay's IT team to replace services previously provided under temporary agreements with FIS.
- He had to recruit and build the full capabilities to run data centers, cloud ops, application delivery, and more as the carve-out matured.