Mar 3, 2026
Fourthline Appoints Paul Stoddart as CEO to Lead Next Phase of Growth
The Fourthline Team
Amsterdam, The Netherlands — [3 March 2026] — Fourthline, the leading European provider of AI-powered identity verification and compliance solutions, today announces the appointment of Paul Stoddart as its new Chief Executive Officer. Stoddart succeeds Krik Gunning, who co-founded Fourthline and served as CEO since its inception. Gunning will be staying on as an advisor to ensure a smooth transition.
Stoddart joins Fourthline at a pivotal moment, having established itself as Europe's market leader in digital identity verification, achieved profitable scale and secured strong partnerships with the continent's leading fintech and banking clients to combat fraud. Fourthline is now focused on capturing significant growth opportunities presented by the new Anti-Money Laundering Regulation (AMLR) in Europe and the increasing need across new industry verticals for Digital Identity and Trust Services.
In his role as CEO, Stoddart will lead Fourthline's expansion into new geographies and verticals, driving both organic growth and evaluating strategic acquisitions. He brings extensive experience in scaling companies, delivering sustainable profitable growth and executing M&A transactions, complemented by a robust network within the financial services sector.
"We're delighted to welcome Paul as we enter this next chapter," said Supervisory Board member, Radboud Vlaar. "His proven track record in growth-scaling and deep industry connections position Fourthline perfectly to capitalise on the evolving regulatory landscape and expanding demand for identity verification across Europe and beyond."
Under Gunning's leadership, Fourthline has grown from a startup to Europe's dominant identity verification platform, serving customers including Revolut, N26, Trade Republic, Rabobank, and Triodos Bank.
"Krik has built something extraordinary, not just a market-leading company, but the foundation for sustained growth and innovation," said Vlaar. "We're immensely grateful for his vision and leadership in bringing Fourthline to this stage."
"Fourthline has an incredible opportunity ahead," said Stoddart. "I'm excited to build on the strong foundation Krik and the team have created, helping our customers navigate regulatory change whilst expanding our product capability and reach across new geographies and industry verticals."
About Fourthline
Fourthline is Europe's leading identity services provider, powering compliance solutions through proprietary AI technology. Founded in Amsterdam in 2017, the company's market dominance is reflected in its elite client roster, including Revolut, N26, Trade Republic, FlatexDeGiro, Qonto, Rabobank, Nationale-Nederlanden Bank (NN), and Triodos Bank. Through a single API integration, Fourthline enables financial institutions to maintain consistent compliance standards while supporting ambitious global expansion. For more information: www.fourthline.com