Family and Token.io colleagues mourn ‘compassionate leader’ Tim Corke

Tim Corke, the chief operating officer of Token.io, has been remembered by colleagues as “a calm, capable, and compassionate leader” whose lasting legacy is “putting people first”.

Tim passed away suddenly on Friday, 13 February, following an accident, leaving behind his partner Bethan and five children.

During his career, Tim founded or co-founded several ventures, including mobile payments company eMerit, which he eventually sold to Monitise.

He held senior operational roles at Monitise and Bottomline Technologies, before joining Token.io in early 2020.

Todd Clyde, chief executive officer of Token.io, who first met Tim in 2012, described him as “an entrepreneur at heart”.

“When I met him 14 years ago, he had just exited his fourth startup, which is an amazing feat, and a strong signal that he is an entrepreneur that can turn ideas into real businesses,” said Clyde.

In addition to his responsibilities at Token.io, Tim took on mentoring and advisory roles, including with the London Business School’s Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, where he helped “the next generation of founders think through their ventures and strategy”, Clyde recalled.

“Tim leaves behind a legacy that is both professional and profoundly human. He was an entrepreneur at heart, a builder of businesses, a shaper of the payments industry, and a leader who cared deeply about the impact of his work on people’s lives,” said Clyde.

Remembering Tim Corke

“At Token.io, he will be remembered as the calm, capable, and compassionate leader who helped turn an idea into a meaningful company – and who always put people first, whether it was a customer, a colleague, or a stranger waiting for a life-saving transplant.”

Simon Foskett, senior technical program manager at Token.io, said: “Tim was a calm, caring champion of his team. If I went to him with a problem, I’d come away confident and enthusiastic about the path forward. He’d never give you the answer, but empower you to develop it yourself — and he’d be the first one to recognise your success.”

Roland Igancz, head of implementations at Token.io, said: “Tim was an empathetic leader who always remained calm and treated others with kindness. By communicating expectations with care and respect, others felt an intrinsic motivation to perform. As a mentor, he saw the potential in you that you could not yet see in yourself.”

Ellen Marshall, partner manager at Token.io, said: “Six years ago when I joined Token straight out of university, I had no idea what I was doing. Tim joined shortly after and I had the honour of working for him. He believed in me, mentored me, and always had my back. I owe the start of my career to him and I’ll miss him deeply.”

Jess Gerrow, vice president, marketing at Token.io, said: “Tim was never hesitant to roll up his sleeves, always quick to champion others’ success, and ever ready for a laugh or a chat (especially if the topic was his gorgeous family, or his many animals). He was a cheerleader, a brilliant mind, and generous in countless ways.”

Organ donation and fundraising

Tim’s generosity and selflessness is exemplified by his decision to be an organ donor, through which he has positively impacted the lives of six people.

Tim’s family and friends hope that his final act will encourage others to consider organ donation and the legacy it can create.

“Last year in the United Kingdom, there were only 1,400 deceased donors and 1,000 living donors – far short of meeting the needs of more than 8,000 people waiting for organ transplants. Although the UK uses an ‘opt-out’ system, families are always consulted, so it’s vital to talk with your loved ones about your wishes,” said Gerrow.

In 2025, Tim ran the Cheltenham Half Marathon to raise funds for the Sue Ryder Foundation, which provides vital palliative care, end-of-life support, and bereavement services.

At the time, Tim said: “You really don’t know you need their help until you are deep into some of the worst things you will ever experience and, at that point, you are so glad they exist.”

Tim’s family have asked for donations in his memory to be made to the Sue Ryder Foundation https://tim-corke.muchloved.com/

To learn more about becoming an organ donor, visit your national health service or organ donation registry website for information on how to register and the choices available to you https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-your-decision/