Klarna has selected Robinhood Markets executive Chris Koegel to become its next chief financial officer, adding a new finance leader as the buy now, pay later company pursues a banking license in the United States.
Koegel’s appointment was announced Nov. 12 and disclosed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, according to FinanceFeeds. He is scheduled to start on Jan. 1, 2027, but the appointment still requires regulatory clearance.
| Leadership change | Timing and status |
|---|---|
| Incoming CFO | Chris Koegel, effective Jan. 1, 2027 |
| Current CFO | Niclas Neglén, through December 2026 |
| Regulatory status | Appointment awaiting clearance |
Finance leadership changes
Koegel currently serves as Robinhood’s vice president and head of corporate finance and investor relations. Those functions include overseeing financial matters and communicating the company’s performance and strategy to shareholders. He joined Robinhood in 2022.
Before Robinhood, Koegel was head of investor relations at LPL Financial from 2015 through 2022. He previously spent 13 years at Bain & Company, a management consulting firm. Klarna’s announcement highlighted his experience at a U.S.-listed consumer fintech company.
“Chris’s experience as a finance leader at a US-listed consumer fintech business with a strong track record of growth and shareholder value creation will be invaluable as we enter the next phase in Klarna’s growth story,” Klarna co-founder and CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski said.
Koegel will replace Niclas Neglén, who is expected to remain Klarna’s CFO through December 2026. Neglén has held the role for six years, according to FinanceFeeds. He is expected to become chief financial officer and a member of the management board at Dutch payments company Adyen on Feb. 1, 2027. That move is also subject to regulatory and shareholder approval.
Banking license remains pending
The appointment comes as Klarna seeks to expand its position in U.S. financial services. The company applied for a U.S. banking license in July and is awaiting approval, according to Finextra. A banking license would place Klarna’s U.S. plans under additional regulatory review, although the materials do not say when a decision will be made or what activities the company would undertake if approved.
Klarna’s leadership transition follows a period of financial uncertainty for the company. FinanceFeeds reported that Klarna revised its revenue and transaction-income guidance, and that its valuation declined in August. The report did not attribute those changes specifically to Koegel. His responsibilities at Robinhood have centered on corporate finance and investor relations rather than serving as the executive responsible for Robinhood’s overall valuation.
For U.S. consumers, the change affects a company that offers buy now, pay later products and is seeking a larger role in the financial system. Klarna said Koegel will work with the company’s leadership on product development, customer value and long-term profitability. The appointment itself does not change the terms, fees or repayment schedules of Klarna’s consumer products.
- Koegel is scheduled to become Klarna’s CFO on Jan. 1, 2027.
- The appointment remains subject to regulatory clearance.
- Klarna’s application for a U.S. banking license is still pending.
