{
  "id": 867220,
  "title": "European fintech has a culture problem",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/european-fintech-has-a-culture-problem",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-14T12:14:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Sifted",
    "slug": "sifted",
    "url": "https://sifted.eu/articles/podcast-european-fintech-culture/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Fintech reporter Damisola Sulaiman delved into the culture at Danish fintech Pleo for her recent Sifted podcast. She shared findings from interviews with seven former employees who described a shift towards a more stringent management style following a leadership overhaul. These insiders noted internal disputes among executives, as well as apprehensions that Pleo's product may be falling behind competitors.\n\nPleo's founder and CEO, Jeppe Rindom, addressed these concerns directly on the podcast. He acknowledged that growth inevitably brings changes in structure, culture, and approach, which sometimes necessitate tough decisions. Despite these changes, Rindom emphasized that Pleo remains \"a people-focused business,\" proud of its high-performing team.\n\nSulaiman also explored the culture at UK fintech Cleo, discussing these insights with host Freya Pratty. She expands on her investigation into the broader issue of culture within Europe's fintech landscape. Sulaiman, a reporter based in London, is also the producer of Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast. She highlights the challenges faced by tech workers across Europe every day, drawing from seven tech professionals who shared their experiences with Sifted.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Seven former Pleo employees describe shift to stricter management style",
    "Pleo CEO Jeppe Rindom acknowledges growth brings changes",
    "Culture challenges explored in Europe's fintech landscape"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The struggles with culture at Danish fintech Pleo and UK fintech Cleo reflect a broader issue in Europe's fintech landscape, where rapid growth and changing leadership can lead to internal disputes and cultural shifts.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}