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:
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Stock dropped 41.4%
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Shares hit a 52-week low of $52.06
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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:
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Shifted the company from hardware to services and subscriptions
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Led the HP/HPE separation
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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:
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Jamie Miller, PayPal’s CFO and COO, will serve as Interim CEO until March 1, 2026
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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:
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Traditional players like Visa and Mastercard are regaining market share
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Digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay are growing quickly
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Maintaining branded checkout dominance is critical for customer retention
Market Reaction
Analysts have reacted cautiously:
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Rothschild Redburn: Sell, target $50
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Morgan Stanley: Underweight, target $50
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Cantor Fitzgerald: Neutral, target $60
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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:
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Expanding Venmo integration for online and in-store payments
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Strengthening BNPL services
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Using customer data for personalized shopping experiences
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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.
PayPal’s Future Under Lores
The new CEO of PayPal plans to focus on:
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Expanding Venmo integration for retail and online shopping
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Strengthening Buy Now, Pay Later services
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Using customer data to provide personalized shopping experiences
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Becoming more than a checkout button by building a full commerce platform
These strategies aim to make PayPal more competitive in the rapidly changing digital payments space.
Conclusion (New CEO of PayPal this Year 2026)
The appointment of Enrique Lores as new CEO of PayPal, Lores is not new to PayPal. He has been on the board for almost five years and became Board Chair in July 2024 & signals the board’s desire for faster execution and stronger results. With the stock under pressure and competitors closing in, Lores has a big challenge ahead.
Starting March 1, 2026, the world will be watching to see if the new CEO of PayPal can restore growth, innovate in payments, and keep PayPal a leader in digital commerce.
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