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Job Description The Director, Credit Product Lead for CEMEA will define and lead Visa's regional credit product agenda across Central Europe, Middle East and Africa. The role will work closely with Regional and market leadership, Product, Advisory, Analytics, Risk and other cross-functional partners to accelerate sustainable credit growth across a highly diverse set of markets.
Credit growth is a key pillar of Visa's 2030 strategy, and CEMEA represents one of the high potential regions for credit growth. This role will help determine where and how Visa captures that opportunity by identifying the priority markets, customer segments and product propositions for the next three to five years. With global credit card issuance continuing to expand, Visa is positioned to capture a disproportionate share of that growth if the right strategic, commercial and capability foundations are established now.
The role holder will translate this ambition into a practical regional strategy and market-level execution plans, combining Visa's network, data, products, advisory capabilities and partnerships to expand responsible access to credit and strengthen client economics.
Directors in Product Development/Management at Visa are responsible for leading the development, commercialization, and optimization of technology products within the payments ecosystem. This role requires deep expertise in product strategy, design, and execution, with a focus on delivering innovative solutions that address customer needs and drive business growth. Directors operate in complex, matrixed environments, collaborating across functions to define product goals, manage lifecycles, and ensure successful launches and ongoing enhancements.
The position demands strong analytical and problem-solving skills, the ability to navigate ambiguity, and a proven track record of recruiting, growing, and retaining technical talent. Directors are expected to drive consensus in cross-functional teams, forecast business trends, and translate insights into agile technology solutions. Exceptional communication and leadership skills are essential for influencing stakeholders and building credibility across regional and functional lines.
All roles require digital fluency, including the ability to work with emerging technologies such as Generative AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot) to support everyday work.
Key Responsibilities:
- Own and drive the CEMEA credit product strategy, including market prioritization, segment choices, product roadmap and commercial model with a three-to-five-year growth agenda.
- Drive multiple levers of credit growth across diverse CEMEA markets, spanning countries with established/ mature credit businesses as well as emerging but high potential markets.
- Accelerate credit adoption across emerging markets by enabling new-to-credit consumers and issuers through innovative and non-traditional credit products and propositions. This may include instalment-led, secured, ecosystem-based and alternative underwriting models that broaden access to responsible credit.
- Support clients with the capabilities required to build, launch and scale sustainable credit businesses, including proposition design, acquisition, underwriting and portfolio strategy driving usage and risk-adjusted profitability.
- Develop structured client upskilling programs that combine Visa expertise, data, advisory support, playbooks and market best practices, tailored to the maturity and regulatory context of individual CEMEA markets.
- Build market-level opportunity assessments and business cases using consumer research, Visa data, competitive intelligence, portfolio economics and regulatory insights; convert these into clear investment and execution priorities.
- Partner with Country Management, Sales, Product, Visa Consulting and Analytics, Risk, Marketing, Finance, Legal, Government Engagement and regional product teams to secure alignment and deliver coordinated execution.
- Engage senior client stakeholders at financial institutions/fintechs, regulators and ecosystem partners to identify barriers to credit expansion and develop scalable solutions.
- Establish performance metrics and governance for the regional credit agenda, track pipeline and portfolio outcomes, and provide regular updates and recommendations to CEMEA leadership.
- Act as a trusted advisor and subject-matter expert on card and payments-linked credit, sharing global and regional best practice and representing CEMEA in global credit product forums.
Qualifications - 12 or more years of experience including 5+ years building and managing cards and payments-linked credit businesses, with accountability for strategy, product development, portfolio performance and commercial outcomes.
- Deep understanding of the credit value chain, including customer segmentation, proposition design, acquisition, underwriting, portfolio and line management, pricing, activation, engagement, collections, risk and profitability.
- Strong knowledge of payments economics and lending business P&L; experience across multiple CEMEA markets or comparable emerging and developed markets is highly desirable.
- Proven ability to translate strategy into market-level execution. This would include prioritization, business-case development, product launch, client commercialization and performance management.
- Strong client leadership and executive communication skills, with the ability to influence senior internal and external stakeholders across different cultures and market contexts.
- Strategic thinking, strong analytical capability and financial acumen, with confidence using data to frame opportunities, make trade-offs and measure outcomes.
- Track record of leading complex, cross-functional initiatives in a matrixed organization and delivering against demanding timelines.
- Self-directed, collaborative and comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving environment with a broad regional remit.
- Bachelor's degree required; an MBA or other relevant postgraduate qualification is preferred.
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.
