Why do we exist?
The CPT Group are global experts in cash, payments and money systems.
Every country in the world is going through a transformation – perhaps evolution – in the way that people pay. With the proliferation of digital payments in many forms (cards, digital wallets, account to account payments), payment systems have gone from one simple instrument – physical currency – to an increasingly diverse set of alternatives. This diversity creates opportunities and challenges.
Payments will continue to transform. The future is unknown – what it looks like and where it will go. What is certain is that central banks, commercial banks, payment operators and service providers need to adapt, and will adapt best when they are on the front foot. The CPT Group can deliver insights and can create, drive and deliver large-scale and micro-scale transformation projects across the entire cash cycle and across payment system transition pathways.
The Lion and the Bull
Where does the logo come from?
In ancient Lydia, King Croesus inherited a kingdom rich in resources but held back by a flawed system of trade. His father, King Alyattes, had introduced coins to the kingdom—an innovation that marked a significant step forward. However, these early coins were inconsistent in weight and purity, leading to uncertainty in their value and limiting their effectiveness in facilitating trade.
Croesus recognised the potential of his father’s idea but knew that to truly unlock Lydia’s prosperity, the system needed improvement. He set out to transform the coins of his kingdom, standardising coins as gold and silver, standardising weight, and mandating purity. These new coins provided a reliable measure of value, allowing traders, farmers, and artisans to conduct business with confidence.
The impact was transformative, leading to Croesus to be known as the richest man on earth. With Croesus’s coins, markets flourished, and trade expanded. The idea of standardised coins grew to Persia, Greece, and eventually through Rome across much of the world. What had begun as a flawed attempt by Alyattes was perfected by Croesus, bringing order and prosperity to his kingdom and influencing wealth and trade for millennia.
So that all would know their origin and authenticity, the coins of Croesus were sealed with the head of a lion and the head of a bull.
Just like Croesus, we recognise that transformation is needed in order to adapt to economic needs and end user needs. Our focus is on achieving the best short and long term outcomes across the entirety of the cash and payments cycle.
Meet the team
Scott Forster
Scott is a seasoned executive with 20 years of experience in the cash management industry, including leadership roles in operations, strategy, and business development.
With overarching responsibility for group transformation and growth at Australia’s largest cash management organisation, Scott played a pivotal role in driving strategic transformation programs and overseeing key divisions such as precious cargo and security fleet innovation. Scott was key to the transformation of the cash industry in Australia. He has also been actively involved in industry leadership, including as Chair of the Asian Cash Management Association’s Security Committee.
Scott holds a Bachelor of Economics from Macquarie University, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and is known for his pragmatic leadership and commitment to best practices.
Matt Sykes
Matt is an advisor with extensive expertise in driving growth, business transformation, and strategic direction across diverse industries.
Within cash and payments, Matt has broad experience in strategy, commercial deals and growth, along with organic and inorganic transformation. This includes building a banking solutions fintech from the ground up and driving strategy and commercial direction at a large multinational.
Prior to this Matt held a number of senior roles across corporate and advisory. Over his 30-year career, Matt has successfully completed deals worth over $2 billion in commercial, financing, and M&A. Matt holds a PhD in Management from Macquarie University and an MBA, and is a Chartered Accountant. He has presented his research at conferences including at the American Academy of Management and the European Academy of Management.