In a move to strengthens Visa’s commitment to expanding digital payments and financial inclusion across Across central and West Africa, the company has appointed Aminata Kane Ndiaye as Senior Vice President and Head of the region.
Kane Ndiaye now oversees Visa’s operations in 23 countries. She leads teams working from regional hubs in Abidjan, Accra, Kinshasa, and Lagos. Her appointment supports Visa’s strategy to increase the use of secure digital payment solutions across Africa.
She brings more than a decade of experience in telecommunications, fintech, and digital financial services. Before joining Visa, she served as Chief Executive Officer of Orange Money Group. In that role, she managed mobile financial services across 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East. She also chaired Orange Bank Africa and previously led Orange Sierra Leone.
According to Kane Ndiaye, the new role offers an opportunity to support Africa’s digital transformation. She said she plans to expand access to secure payment solutions while strengthening partnerships with governments, banks, fintech companies, and businesses. In addition, she wants to build a more inclusive payment system that supports economic growth.
Visa believes her experience will help increase financial inclusion across West and Central Africa. Many people and small businesses in the region still have limited access to formal banking services. Therefore, the company plans to expand digital payment acceptance, improve cross-border transactions, and support fintech innovation.
Meanwhile, Africa’s digital payments market continues to grow rapidly. Rising smartphone use, mobile money adoption, and e-commerce have fueled this expansion. As a result, Visa has increased its investment across the continent. The company continues to work with governments, financial institutions, and technology firms to modernize payment infrastructure and improve access to financial services.
Kane Ndiaye is widely respected in Africa’s fintech industry. She graduated from HEC Paris and later earned an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Earlier in her career, she worked at Goldman Sachs and McKinsey & Company before joining Orange. Throughout her career, she has focused on using technology to expand financial access, especially for women, young people, and underserved communities.
Furthermore, industry analysts believe her appointment comes at an important time. Digital payments are becoming central to Africa’s economic growth. They help businesses reduce their reliance on cash, improve financial inclusion, and support cross-border trade. Consequently, Visa expects its latest leadership move to strengthen its position in one of the world’s fastest-growing digital payments markets.
