PayIt appoints new president and COO as fast-scaling KC govtech company hits pivotal moment
November 16, 2023 | Startland News Staff
A veteran govtech leader is joining one of Kansas City’s best-known scale-ups as the company eyes a new era of growth and the expansion of its national and international footprint.
PayIt — a leader in digital customer experience solutions with integrated payments for state, local, and provincial governments — announced on Thursday the appointment of Tom Nieto as its new president and chief operating officer.
Nieto, who comes with 15 years of industry experience, is expected to focus on driving strategy for PayIt, scaling its operations, and building out capabilities to continue to drive growth for the company.
“Tom’s rich blend of highly relevant professional experiences, strong leadership style, and passion for the PayIt mission made him an easy choice to help guide our business through its next stages,” said John Thomson, co-founder and CEO of PayIt. “I am confident that his contributions will drive our company forward, and our customers, current and future, will benefit from the progress we make with Tom on the team.”
PayIt currently has more than 225 employees distributed across North America, with its headquarters in downtown Kansas City, as well as offices in Nashville and Toronto.
Thomson and co-founder Mike Plunkett will remain in essential roles with the company, PayIt said.
With Nieto on board, Thomson will be able to focus even more of his efforts on strategic growth and business decisions as the new president takes over overseeing more of the scaling business’s operations.
In his new role as chief development officer, Plunkett — who previously served as COO — will prioritize client relationships, key business development efforts, and leadership development within the company.
RELATED: PayIt co-founder: No one-size-fits-all formula for scaling one of KC biggest startup ideas
Nieto was most recently COO at Accela. He previously held leadership positions at companies including Box and Boston Consulting Group. Nieto holds an M.B.A. from Harvard University and B.A. in International Relations from Stanford University.
PayIt’s modern customer experience and payments platform for government simplifies the way government agencies serve their communities. Cities, towns, counties, states, and provinces use PayIt to collect revenue, work more efficiently, and deliver a better customer experience.
Click here to learn more about PayIt.
The company consolidates services including property tax, DMV, outdoors, courts, and utilities into one connected experience for residents — launching quickly and saving government agencies up to $6 per transaction, according to PayIt.
“Payit is at a pivotal moment in our continued growth trajectory,” said Nieto. “Our differentiated offering and talented team has us poised to continue our growth across North America.”
“I am excited to join PayIt to build our next phase of growth and deliver an unparalleled experience to our clients and the customers they serve,” he added.

2023 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Dolphin Tank makes a splash with women in tech: Meet the next three founders pitching
The Dolphin Tank pitch showcase returns to Kansas City this month with a trio of women-led tech startups riding a wave of heightened exposure for their ventures. Now in its second year in Kansas City, Springboard Enterprises’ Dolphin Tank is set for 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, at Polsinelli, 900 W. 48th…
Chiefs celebration turned much of downtown KC into a parking lot; Startups along the parade route got to work, joined the party
Prime locations along the Chiefs championship parade gave several local startups an opportunity to celebrate with their team members and families Wednesday as traffic and business largely came to a halt across midtown and downtown Kansas City. “It’s not every day Chiefs players are walking the streets out front and waving at our team in…
KC’s first Black-owned brewery could open within weeks; Here’s how its debut lager could land in your hand even sooner
Vine Street Brewing’s long-anticipated opening is nearly here, said Kemet Coleman, teasing a late March first pour for the taproom and brewhouse space, which sits adjacent to the city’s historic jazz district. “It’s crazy to see something that for so long has been just an idea in our minds starting to become real,” said Coleman,…
Fashion meets cannabis: This KS-engineered, on-the-go rolling station blocks odors, makes smoking prep safer
Missouri voters legalized it; now cannabis accessories can cleanup in a newly de-stigmatized market A Kansas City cannabis lifestyle brand hopes this month’s legalization of recreational marijuana sales in Missouri will spark new interest in its products designed for on-the-go cannabis users, said Mohamed Dia. Gopack Station markets itself as “fashion meets cannabis,” said Dia,…


