Klarna vs Monzo: Founders, CEOs and History
Klarna was founded in 2005 by Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Niklas Adalberth, Victor Jacobsson and is led by Sebastian Siemiatkowski. Monzo was founded in 2015 by Tom Blomfield, Jonas Huckestein and is led by Diana Layfield.
Company facts
Founders
Klarna
Sebastian Siemiatkowski
Sebastian Siemiatkowski, born in 1981 in Sweden to Polish immigrant parents, co-founded Klarna (originally Kreditor) with Niklas Adalberth and Victor Jacobsson in 2005.
Niklas Adalberth
Niklas Adalberth co-founded Klarna in 2005 with Sebastian Siemiatkowski and Victor Jacobsson and helped run the business during its expansion as Deputy CEO.
Victor Jacobsson
Victor Jacobsson co-founded Klarna in 2005 with Sebastian Siemiatkowski and Niklas Adalberth.
Monzo
Tom Blomfield
Tom Blomfield co-founded Monzo (originally Mondo) in 2015 and was its CEO until 2020, leading it from a prepaid card to a licensed UK bank with millions of customers.
Jonas Huckestein
Jonas Huckestein co-founded Monzo in 2015 and served as its first CTO, helping build the bank's own cloud-based core banking platform instead of buying legacy software.
CEOs and their tenures
Klarna
- Niclas Neglén
Chief Financial Officer
CFO and earnings-call spokesperson alongside the CEO; in August 2026 Fortune reported that Klarna planned to base its next CFO in New York.
Source - Sebastian Siemiatkowski2005–present
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer
Has led Klarna since its founding, growing it from a Stockholm invoice startup into a $3.5 billion-revenue public company.
Source - Niklas Adalberth2005–2015
Co-founder, former Deputy CEO
Later founded the Norrsken Foundation, which supports impact-focused entrepreneurs.
Source
Monzo
- Tom Blomfield2015–2020
Co-Founder and former CEO
Founded Mondo in 2015, led the crowdfunding rounds and 2017 banking licence, and stepped down as CEO in 2020.
Source - TS Anil2020–2026
Chief Executive Officer
Joined in 2018 to run Monzo's US business, became CEO in 2020 and led the turnaround to profitability, growing customers from about 4 million to over 13 million before moving to an advisory role.
Source - Diana Layfield2026–present
Group Chief Executive Officer
Former Google executive (EMEA partnerships, Search, International and Growth) and CEO of Standard Chartered Africa from 2011 to 2015. Became Group CEO in February 2026 and led the decision to exit the US.
Source
Timeline: Klarna and Monzo side by side
2005Klarna
Founded as Kreditor
Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Niklas Adalberth and Victor Jacobsson launch an invoice-after-delivery service for Swedish online shops.
2009Klarna
Renamed Klarna
Kreditor is rebranded as Klarna and expands across the Nordics and into Germany and the Netherlands.
2014Klarna
Acquires SOFORT
Klarna completes its purchase of German bank-transfer payment provider SOFORT, giving it scale in the DACH region.
2015Monzo
Mondo founded in London
Tom Blomfield, Jonas Huckestein, Jason Bates, Paul Rippon and Gary Dolman founded Mondo.
2016Monzo
~$1.32M (£1M) crowdfund in 96 seconds; renamed Monzo
Record Crowdcube raise and rebrand after a trademark dispute.
2017Klarna
Swedish banking licence
Klarna receives a full banking licence from the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority, operating as Klarna Bank AB.
2017Monzo
Full UK banking licence
Authorised by the PRA and FCA to offer current accounts.
2018Monzo
Unicorn valuation
Funding led by Accel valued Monzo at over $1.32 billion (£1 billion).
2020Monzo
Down-round and new CEO
Raised ~$79.2 million (£60 million) at ~$1.65 billion (£1.25 billion); TS Anil became CEO.
2021Klarna
$45.6 billion valuation
A SoftBank-led funding round values Klarna at $45.6 billion during the pandemic e-commerce boom.
2021Monzo
Monzo Flex launched; $4.5B valuation
Raised $500 million led by Abu Dhabi Growth Fund at a $4.5 billion valuation.
2022Klarna
Valuation reset and layoffs
Klarna cuts about 10% of staff in May and raises money in July at a $6.7 billion valuation.
2024Klarna
Return to net profit
Klarna reports a $21 million net profit for 2024 on $2.81 billion of revenue.
2024Monzo
First annual profit; ~$5.94B (£4.5B) valuation
FY2024 pre-tax profit of ~$20.3 million (£15.4 million); October employee share sale valued Monzo at ~$5.94 billion (£4.5 billion).
2025Klarna
NYSE IPO
Klarna lists on the New York Stock Exchange as KLAR in September 2025, pricing at $40 per share.
2025Monzo
FCA fine; CEO succession announced
~$27.9 million (£21.1 million) FCA fine; Diana Layfield named next CEO.
2026Klarna
FY2025 results
Klarna reports $3.51 billion of FY2025 revenue, $127.9 billion of GMV, $65 million of adjusted operating profit and a $273 million net loss.
2026Klarna
Q2 profit and guidance cut
Klarna posts a $9 million Q2 2026 net profit on $1.042 billion of revenue but lowers 2026 GMV guidance to $149-151 billion.
2026Monzo
US exit, ~$2.24B (£1.7B) revenue, Nubank talks reported
Layfield took over in February, US operations closed, FY2026 revenue hit ~$2.24 billion (£1.7 billion), and takeover talks were reported in September.
Acquisitions
Klarna
- PriceRunner2022Undisclosed
- APPRL2021Undisclosed
- HERO2021Undisclosed
- Stocard2021Undisclosed
- Moneymour2020Undisclosed
- BillPay2017Undisclosed
Monzo
No verified acquisitions are listed.
Questions about Klarna vs Monzo
Who is the CEO of Klarna Group plc and Monzo Bank Limited?
Klarna Group plc is led by Sebastian Siemiatkowski and Monzo Bank Limited is led by Diana Layfield. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Klarna Group plc founded vs Monzo Bank Limited?
Klarna Group plc was founded in 2005 — 10 years before Monzo Bank Limited, which was founded in 2015. Klarna Group plc's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Monzo Bank Limited.
How many employees does Klarna Group plc have compared to Monzo Bank Limited?
Klarna Group plc employs approximately 2,831 people, while Monzo Bank Limited employs approximately 5,275. Monzo Bank Limited has the larger workforce at 5,275 employees, compared to Klarna Group plc's 2,831. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Klarna Group plc and Monzo Bank Limited headquartered?
Both Klarna Group plc and Monzo Bank Limited are headquartered in United Kingdom, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Klarna Group plc and Monzo Bank Limited?
Klarna Group plc was founded by Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Niklas Adalberth, Victor Jacobsson. Monzo Bank Limited was founded by Tom Blomfield, Jonas Huckestein.
Which company has a longer operating history — Klarna Group plc or Monzo Bank Limited?
Klarna Group plc has been operating for approximately 21 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Monzo Bank Limited has been in operation for around 11 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Klarna vs Monzo overview