PayPal has appointed Enrique Lores as the new CEO of PayPal, replacing Alex Chriss. The board made the move after reviewing company performance, noting that while progress was made in areas like Venmo monetization and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services, the pace of change needed to be faster.
Lores has been on PayPal’s board for nearly five years and became Board Chair in July 2024. His experience leading major transformations at HP makes him the board’s choice to guide PayPal through a competitive digital payments market.
Why PayPal Needed a New CEO
PayPal’s financial performance has been under pressure. Over the past year:
Stock dropped 41.4%
Shares hit a 52-week low of $52.06
Missed revenue and slow growth raised investor concerns
| Metric | Status (Feb 2026) |
|---|---|
| Stock Trend | -41.4% YoY |
| 52-Week Low | $52.06 |
| Q4 Adjusted EPS | $1.23 (Consensus: $1.29) |
| Q4 Revenue | $8.68 Billion (Consensus: $8.79 Billion) |
The new CEO of PayPal now faces the task of restoring investor confidence while keeping the company competitive.
Who is Enrique Lores?
Enrique Lores brings over 30 years of experience in technology and business leadership. At HP, he:
Shifted the company from hardware to services and subscriptions
Led the HP/HPE separation
Introduced workplace and technology innovations
The board believes this experience is key as PayPal looks to grow in digital payments, Venmo integration, and BNPL services.
Lores said:
“We will strengthen innovation and deliver results more quickly, while focusing on both short-term and long-term goals.”
Interim Leadership and Board Changes
To ensure a smooth handover:
Jamie Miller, PayPal’s CFO and COO, will serve as Interim CEO until March 1, 2026
David W. Dorman has been appointed Independent Board Chair
This keeps operations steady while the new CEO of PayPal steps in.
Challenges Ahead
PayPal faces tough competition:
Traditional players like Visa and Mastercard are regaining market share
Digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay are growing quickly
Maintaining branded checkout dominance is critical for customer retention
Market Reaction
Analysts have reacted cautiously:
Rothschild Redburn: Sell, target $50
Morgan Stanley: Underweight, target $50
Cantor Fitzgerald: Neutral, target $60
Jefferies: Hold, target $60
The new CEO of PayPal will need to prove he can boost growth and reassure investors.
The Road Ahead for PayPal
Lores plans to focus on:
Expanding Venmo integration for online and in-store payments
Strengthening BNPL services
Using customer data for personalized shopping experiences
Moving beyond the checkout button to build a full commerce platform
These steps aim to make PayPal more competitive in the fast-changing digital payments world.
