Visa has appointed Aminata Kane as the new Senior Vice President and Head of Western and Central Africa, effective September 4, 2025.
She will oversee Visa’s operations across 23 key African markets and will be based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. This strategic move reflects Visa’s commitment to deepening its footprint in the region’s fast-evolving digital payments landscape.
Kane brings extensive experience in telecommunications and digital financial services, having served as CEO of Orange Money Group, where she managed mobile financial services across 17 African countries. Prior to that, she held leadership roles at Orange in Sierra Leone and also gained global experience at Goldman Sachs and McKinsey & Company. She holds degrees from HEC Paris and the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Her appointment comes at a time when financial inclusion, digital innovation, and secure payment solutions are becoming increasingly vital across African economies. In her new role, she is expected to lead Visa’s efforts in promoting financial literacy, expanding access to digital payments, and forming local partnerships that strengthen the region’s digital economy.
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Visa’s Regional President for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Andrew Torre, praised Kane’s track record and leadership, noting that she is well-positioned to drive the company’s mission of providing accessible, reliable financial services throughout the continent.
Kane described her new role as a “privilege” and said she is eager to contribute to building a more inclusive and innovative financial ecosystem in Africa. Her leadership is expected to reinforce Visa’s growth strategy, particularly as the company scales its support for SMEs, fintech startups, and underbanked populations across Africa.
The appointment also aligns with Visa’s broader objective to facilitate cross-border trade and cashless transactions in a region poised for economic transformation. With Kane at the helm, Visa’s operations in Western and Central Africa are set to benefit from a blend of strategic insight, local expertise, and global best practices.
