Aminata Kane appointed Visa’s Head for Western and Central Africa
Visa has appointed digital finance expert Aminata Kane as its new Senior Vice President and Head of Western and Central Africa, effective 4 September 2025. Based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Kane will oversee Visa’s newly structured sub-regional operations, covering 23 markets through key offices in Abidjan, Accra, Kinshasa and Lagos.
The appointment of Kane marks a strategic move by the global digital payments giant to bolster its presence in the African region and drive inclusive digital payment solutions. With over a decade of leadership in digital financial services and telecommunications, Kane’s new role places her at the centre of Visa’s efforts to expand financial inclusion in a region brimming with digital growth potential.
“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.”
Before joining Visa, Kane served as Regional Chief Executive Officer of Orange Money Group, where she managed mobile financial services and Orange Bank Africa operations across 17 countries. Her career includes high-profile roles in Orange’s Middle East and Africa operations and earlier work with McKinsey & Company in Paris and Goldman Sachs.
Kane is also widely recognised for her commitment to social impact, having championed youth and women empowerment initiatives such as the Orange Foundation and the Orange Digital Center in Sierra Leone—platforms focused on equipping individuals with digital skills and leadership training.
In her remarks, Kane described the appointment as a timely opportunity to contribute to Africa’s accelerating digital economy. “I am deeply honoured to join Visa at such a pivotal moment for Africa’s digital transformation,” she said. “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.”
“I look forward to collaborating closely with our teams, partners, and public sector stakeholders to expand access, empower businesses, and deliver trusted, impactful payment solutions that drive sustainable growth and opportunity for all,” she added.
Kane holds degrees from HEC Paris and the MIT Sloan School of Management. She has been named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and ranked among the Top 100 Women CEOs in Africa.
Visa, a global leader in digital payments, facilitates transactions across more than 200 countries and territories, with a core mission to ensure that economies that include everyone, uplift everyone. The company views broad access to financial tools as essential to the future of money movement.