Visa has appointed digital finance trailblazer Aminata Kane as Senior Vice President and Head of Western and Central Africa, effective September 4, 2025, marking a bold step in its ambition to deepen financial inclusion and accelerate digital transformation across Africa.

Based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Kane will lead a newly established sub-regional team that spans 23 markets and four key offices in Abidjan, Accra, Kinshasa, and Lagos. Her appointment signals Visa’s strengthened commitment to delivering inclusive, innovative payment solutions tailored to the needs of emerging African economies.

Kane brings a strong track record of leadership in mobile finance and digital innovation, having most recently served as Regional CEO of Orange Money Group, where she steered mobile money and digital banking operations across 17 countries. Throughout her career, she has been a champion of youth and women’s empowerment through technology, notably founding both the Orange Foundation and Orange Digital Center in Sierra Leone.

“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 that her strategic vision will help enhance our efforts to create more accessible and innovative digital payment ecosystems.”

With early career stints at Goldman Sachs and McKinsey & Company, and academic credentials from HEC Paris and MIT Sloan School of Management, Kane brings both global perspective and local insight. She is recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and ranks among Africa’s Top 100 Women CEOs.

Reflecting on her appointment, Kane said: “I am deeply honored to join Visa at such a pivotal moment for Africa’s digital transformation. Building on years of work advancing digital and financial inclusion across Africa and the Middle East, this is a unique opportunity to help shape a more inclusive, innovative ecosystem that reflects the talent, ambition, and potential of our region.”

Her leadership is expected to help Visa scale solutions that empower small businesses, strengthen public-private collaboration, and expand digital access in underserved communities, reaffirming the company’s commitment to inclusive economic progress across the continent.