SOUTH AFRICA – Global payments group Visa, has appointed Maurice Newa as the new managing director of the Southern Africa cluster, a statement from the group has said.

Newa would be responsible for the development and implementation of Visa’s growth strategy in the region and report to Aida Diarra, senior vice-president, and head of sub-Saharan Africa, and would be part of the sub-Saharan Africa leadership team.

Prior to joining Visa, Newa worked at Vaya Technologies, an Econet Group subsidiary, where he was chief executive.

He brought to Visa over 25 years of experience in regional and global roles in mobile telephony, Fintech (mobile money and mobile insurance), digital technology solutions, and blue-chip fast-moving consumer goods companies, Visa said.

“We are excited to bring Maurice on board. His appointment reflects the importance we place on the southern Africa markets. The experience he brings will enable him to make immediate contributions to our strategy and growth,” said Aida Diarra Visa senior vice-president and head of sub-Saharan Africa.

“His appointment reflects the importance we place on the southern Africa markets. The experience he brings will enable him to make immediate contributions to our strategy and growth”

Aida Diarra – Senior vice-President & Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, Visa

“We look forward to Maurice’s leadership in building on our efforts to help accelerate digitising commerce in southern Africa,” said Diarra.

He holds a Bachelor of Social Science degree in economics, a post-graduate diploma in Accounting and is a Fellow of the Institute of Marketing Management. He is also an alumni of business school INSEAD, London Business School and Harvard Business School in leadership, strategy development and management.

Maurice began his professional career in 2010 as the Chief Operating Officer at Mobile Telecoms Company (MTC) Namibia.

He joined Safaricom as Director of Marketing Strategy and Customer Care in 2011 before moving on to Bharti Airtel as Deputy Managing Director and Executive Board Director in its Malawian subsidiary in 2012.

Maurice was Chief Commercial Officer of Airtel Nigeria from 2014 to 2016 before joining Econet Telecom in Lesotho as Chief Commercial Officer and Turn-around Strategist.

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