Visa has appointed Aminata Kane as Senior Vice President and Head of Western and Central Africa, effective September 4, 2025, signaling a major push to strengthen its footprint in a region teeming with digital potential but hampered by financial inclusion challenges. Based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Kane will oversee Visa’s operations across 23 countries, anchored around four strategic hubs—Abidjan, Accra, Kinshasa, and Lagos.

This move aligns with Visa’s restructuring strategy aimed at accelerating the growth of digital payment ecosystems in key African markets. The region, rich in mobile money innovation yet constrained by underdeveloped infrastructure and limited access to formal banking, presents both an opportunity and a challenge for the global payments giant. Kane’s appointment marks a decisive step toward navigating that complexity.

A seasoned leader in the digital finance and telecom sectors, Kane brings over a decade of executive experience from Orange’s operations in the Middle East and Africa. Most notably, she served as Regional CEO for Orange Money Group, overseeing the rollout and operations of Orange Money and Orange Bank Africa across 17 countries. Her leadership helped extend mobile-based financial services to millions, bridging the gap for underserved communities.

Beyond corporate achievements, Kane is a strong advocate for digital inclusion, especially for youth and women. Her work founding the Orange Digital Centre and the Orange Foundation in Sierra Leone stands as a testament to her commitment. These initiatives are dedicated to equipping individuals with digital skills and fostering entrepreneurship, critical for Africa’s fast-changing digital economy.

“Aminata’s leadership and deep expertise in digital financial services will be instrumental in driving Visa’s mission to expand financial inclusion across Western and Central Africa,” said Andrew Torre, Visa’s Regional President for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa. “We are excited to have her lead this dynamic region and believe her strategic vision will enhance our efforts to build more accessible and innovative digital payment ecosystems.”

Educated at HEC Paris and the MIT Sloan School of Management, Kane began her career at Goldman Sachs before moving to McKinsey & Company, where she honed her skills in financial strategy and market expansion. Her accomplishments have earned her global recognition, including being named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and one of Africa’s top 100 women CEOs.

Kane’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for Visa. With growing interest in mobile money and fintech solutions, the region holds immense potential for growth. Yet, persistent challenges—ranging from low banking penetration to cybersecurity threats—require nuanced leadership and localised strategies. Visa aims to tackle these through targeted programs like its Fintech Accelerator and partnerships that foster inclusive innovation.

Commenting on her new role, Kane said, “Joining Visa at this moment of digital transformation in Africa is a true honor. This is an opportunity to shape a more inclusive, innovative ecosystem that reflects the talent, ambition, and potential of our region. I look forward to collaborating with our teams, partners, and public stakeholders to expand access and drive sustainable growth.”

With Kane at the helm, Visa’s ambitions in Western and Central Africa appear to be in capable hands.