SVP, Group Country Manager, CIS & Southeast Europe (CISSEE)

Company Description

Visa is a world leader in payments technology, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories, dedicated to uplifting everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

At Visa, you'll have the opportunity to create impact at scale — tackling meaningful challenges, growing your skills and seeing your contributions impact lives around the world. Join Visa and do work that matters — to you, to your community, and to the world.

Progress starts with you.

Job Description

Team Summary

The CISSEE team at Visa drives growth and innovation across 17 dynamic markets in Central Asia, Caucasus, Ukraine and South-Eastern Europe. Focused on advancing digital payments and financial inclusion, the team partners with banks, merchants and regulators to deliver secure, cutting-edge solutions tailored to local needs.

What a SVP, GCM, CISSEE does at Visa:

The Group Country Manager has overall management responsibility for all aspects of Visa’s CISSEE’s business operations, including P&L responsibility for the Visa business in the markets. They will be expected to effectively develop local initiatives and deploy Visa’s relevant global solutions across the group to strengthen Visa’s client and other partnerships and drive local and regional business growth. This is achieved through:

Strategic & Market Leadership

• Define success factors and set growth strategy for CISSEE cluster.
• Develop and implement sales strategies, tactics, and action plans.
• Identify new business opportunities and design market entry strategies.
• Monitor banking, fintech, and payments ecosystem trends to forecast impact.
• Anticipate shifts in merchant and consumer payment behaviors and adapt strategy.
• Lead Visa’s engagement with governments, central banks, and regulators.
• Build strong industry presence through conferences, media, and public relations.
• Align functional teams to support CISSEE strategic priorities.
• Represent Visa externally on a regular basis through interactions with key clients, the media, domestic regulators, government agencies, consumers, merchants and the broader fintech / emerging digital ecosystem.

Client Leadership

• Build deep relationships with clients and ecosystem players (banks, merchants, acquirers, regulators).
• Drive holistic client/account planning with Country Managers.
• Advise clients on strategic ideas and innovative solutions for mutual growth.
• Maintain close ties with senior decision-makers and influencers across financial institutions.
• Clearly articulate Visa’s product positioning and pricing versus competitors.

People Leadership

• Inspire and lead large, diverse, geographically dispersed teams.
• Foster collaboration with global functions (finance, product, marketing, strategy).
• Champion servant leadership and authentic relationship-building.
• Ensure cross-functional alignment on client and market strategies.
• Attract, develop, and retain top talent; implement succession planning.

Operational Leadership

• Drive execution of CISSEE strategy, ensuring revenue acceleration and resource optimization.
• Oversee operational management of market offices within risk and compliance frameworks.

Why this is important to Visa

The Group Country Manager for CISSEE is vital to Visa’s success because this region spans diverse, high-potential markets with complex regulatory environments and rapidly evolving payment ecosystems. The role ensures Visa’s leadership in driving digital payment adoption, navigating regulatory frameworks, and building strategic partnerships with banks, merchants, and governments. By aligning local strategies with global priorities, the GCM accelerates growth, fosters innovation, and strengthens Visa’s influence across markets that are central to expanding financial inclusion and sustaining long-term regional performance.

Qualifications

What you will need:

• A minimum of 20 plus years of experience including 10 years of commercial / sales leadership experience within the broader payments industry, or adjacent sectors where technology (digital / e and m-commerce) feature strongly.
• Strong track record of client service, strategic development and execution, where the advancement and deployment of the digital and customer agenda has been a key driver of success.
• Track record in developing and leading client relationships and new business opportunities with key partners in the market. 
• Experienced in navigating ambiguity, innovation and leading businesses in the capture, expansion, and retention of client relationships in a high-growth / fast-paced environment.
• Strong B2B2C experience, with knowledge of expanding into new customer distribution channels. 
• Track record in establishing strong connections with government representatives and regulators, including a familiarity with political, governmental, and regulatory landscapes across this region.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Robust decision-making and analytical skills.  Strong command of financial, market and consumer data with the ability to grasp complex and detailed issues.  Financially literate with an excellent understanding of risk management.
• Consistent record of meeting stretched financial and business targets.
• Experience of working in a global matrix organization with the ability to navigate complex structures and empower decision-making locally.
• An inclusive leader with experience building, empowering and developing high performing teams.
• Experience of leading change programs within a business and has experience leading a high performing team on a journey of cultural and transformational change.
• Takes a hands-on approach to all activities with real passion and high levels of energy.
• Courageous innovator with resourcefulness in overcoming challenges.
• High integrity, learning agility, and passion for technology-driven innovation.
• Minimum degree level qualification, MBA considered valuable.

Additional Information

Visa is an EEO Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.