NFC Times Exclusive Insight – Retailer consortium MCX didn’t fire its CEO, Dekkers Davidson, because one of its major founding merchants, Best Buy, snubbed the group by agreeing to accept Apple Pay. But that was probably the last straw.

MCX, which includes some of the largest retail chains in the U.S., including Wal-Mart, Target and Best Buy, announced Tuesday it was replacing Davidson with an interim CEO, Brian Mooney, a former executive with big U.S. merchant acquirers Bank of America Merchant Services and First Data. The announcement from MCX carried the typical line when an exec’s departure is not exactly voluntary, saying Davidson left to “pursue other opportunities.” 

MCX has denied that the Best Buy debacle had anything to do with Davidson’s departure. It also contended in a statement that Best Buy remains a “strong MCX partner” and backer of the retail group’s CurrentC wallet and mobile-commerce platform.