Thomas Priore has traveled an impressive path from his early education to becoming a leading figure in the fintech industry. Born into an immigrant family that instilled strong work ethics, Priore often recalls his grandfather’s advice that success requires “half a day” of work—meaning a full twelve hours of diligent effort.

This foundation of hard work and dedication served Priore well throughout his academic career. A distinguished graduate of Harvard University, he later earned an MBA from Columbia University, building a solid foundation for his future in finance.

After completing his education, Priore began his career in the early 1990s at PaineWebber, where he spent eight years in the Fixed Income Sales and Trading department, eventually rising to Vice President. In 1999, he joined Guggenheim Securities and founded the firm’s Structured Finance Trading and Origination business, also managing its Fixed Income division.

Priore’s entrepreneurial drive led him to establish ICP Capital, a boutique investment banking and asset management enterprise that became a market leader in structured finance with over $20 billion in assets under management at its peak. Drawing on both his investment banking experience and the payments-industry expertise of his brother, John Priore, Thomas co-founded Priority in 2005.

Initially serving as Executive Chairman, Priore assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer in December 2018, taking over day-to-day leadership of the company. Under his guidance, Priority has grown from a founder-funded startup to become the 4th-5th largest non-bank payment processor in the United States, serving nearly one million customers and processing approximately $115-120 billion in annual transaction volume.

Throughout his career, Thomas Priore has demonstrated a remarkable ability to identify emerging trends and adapt to changing market conditions. His journey from Harvard graduate to fintech leader showcases his vision, determination, and commitment to innovation.