Elijah Ntongai, an editor at TUKO.co.ke, has over four years of financial, business, and technology research and reporting experience, providing insights into Kenyan, African, and global trends.

Global payments technology company Visa has named Tareq Muhmood as the new regional president for Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA).

Muhmood will oversee operations in more than 86 markets, including Kenya.

In the new position, Muhmood will oversee Visa's business in the CEMEA region that encompasses emerging digital economies and increasing demand for new financial products.

The region serves over 1,800 clients from 23 local offices and is Visa's most rapidly growing market.

Muhmood has over 30 years of experience in banking and payments. He was previously responsible for Visa's Value-Added Services for Europe in London.

He joined Visa in 2019 as Group Country Manager, Southeast Asia, from Singapore. Before Visa, he held significant leadership roles at Ahli United Bank, ANZ, and HSBC.

In his comment on the appointment, Oliver Jenkyn, Visa's Group President of Global Markets, recognised Muhmood's experience and leadership ability.

"We are pleased to appoint a leader with Tareq's extensive experience at the intersection of financial services, technology and high-growth markets. His international outlook and leadership will be invaluable to sustaining our momentum across this vital region" Jenkyn said in a statement seen by TUKO.co.ke.

Muhmood is taking over from Andrew Torre, who has been promoted to President of Visa's global Value-Added Services business

Speaking on his new role, Muhmood said, "I am honored to lead the CEMEA region and continue to propel the innovation under way in propelling payments and commerce forward. Having spent most of my career in this region, I am excited to propel digital payment growth and work with businesses and governments across Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe."

Muhmood will be based in Dubai and will be reporting directly to Oliver Jenkyn. His appointment is expected to advance Visa's efforts to drive growth in digital payments infrastructure and financial inclusion across Kenya and other priority markets in the region.

In other news, Maersk, the world shipping giant, appointed logistics expert Tito Okuku as its new Managing Director for East Africa from May 5, 2025.

Okuku will spearhead Maersk business in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and the wider region and is coming back to Maersk after holding the position of managing director at APM Terminals Kenya.

He has more than 25 years of logistics and supply chain experience. Okuku joined Maersk from DHL Supply Chain, having worked as the managing director for East Africa.

In Maersk's own words, it looks forward to Okuku driving sustainable growth in the East African logistics community.

Source: TUKO.co.ke