Pasadena’s Green Dot Hires Former Walmart Exec as Chief Product, Strategy and Development Officer

Pasadena-based financial technology firm Green Dot Corporation said Thursday Daniel Eckert, a former Walmart executive has joined the company as Executive Vice President and Chief Product, Strategy and Development Officer, to lead all of Green Dot’s product and Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform business efforts.

Eckert will be responsible for product vision, strategy, design and development, from conceptualization through launch and post-launch, and on business development activities to acquire and grow major BaaS platform partnerships, a company statement said.

“Daniel has been a valued Green Dot partner since he joined Walmart in 2010 and has a deep understanding of our business and the role we play in the financial lives of our customers,” Dan Henry, Green Dot President and Chief Executive Officer, said. “He possesses a unique ability to balance customer value and satisfaction with a sustainable business model, and we’re excited that he’s joining our team to continue driving our growth.”

Eckert joins Green Dot following a 10-year career at Walmart, where his most recent role was Senior Vice President, Walmart Services and Digital Acceleration, at Walmart U.S. He was responsible for accelerating Walmart’s transformation as an omni-channel retailer.

In 2019, he spearheaded the creation and launch of TailFin Labs, LLC – a first-of-its-kind joint venture between Walmart and Green Dot – with a mission to develop innovative products, services and technologies at the intersection of retail shopping and consumer financial services.

“For a decade I had a front row seat to witness Green Dot’s transformation from a prepaid debit card company to a fintech powerhouse that was able to evolve not just the Walmart MoneyCard, but also the entire Banking-as-a-Service industry,” Eckert said. “The combination of Green Dot’s technology platform, bank charter, and BaaS partnerships has created a financial services innovation ecosystem that is unmatched in the industry and I’m looking forward to realizing its full potential.”

Eckert joined Walmart in January 2010 as Vice President of Financial Services. During his tenure, he is credited for nearly tripling the size of the business through organic innovation and growth.

He was also responsible for the conceptualization and implementation of growth of market-disruptive fintech innovations such as Walmart’s fintech point-of-sale platform, Walmart2Walmart/Walmart2World Money Transfer services, Walmart Pay, and GoBank and Prize Savings with Green Dot.

Before Walmart, he served as senior vice president of card and retail services for HSBC. He also previously held positions at JPMorgan Chase and Co. and Accenture, and was an entrepreneur and president of an early-stage investment banking company.

Eckert is a military veteran who served as a Logistics Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. He holds a bachelor’s degree from University of Michigan and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from University of Chicago Booth School of Business.