Visa has officially announced the appointment of Tareq Muhmood as Regional President for Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA). In his new role, Muhmood will oversee Visa’s operations across more than 86 dynamic and fast-evolving markets, leading a network that includes over 1,800 clients through 23 local offices.
With over three decades of experience in banking and payment services, Tareq Muhmood is a well-established industry leader. Prior to this appointment, he served as Head of Value-Added Services for Visa Europe, based in London. He joined Visa in 2019 as Regional Director for Southeast Asia in Singapore, and previously held senior leadership roles at Ahli United Bank, ANZ, and HSBC.
Now based in Dubai, Muhmood assumes his new role with immediate effect, reporting directly to Oliver Jenkyn, Group President of Global Markets at Visa.
He replaces Andrew Torre, who has been appointed President of Visa’s Global Value-Added Services division — a rapidly growing segment generating $9 billion globally, with an average annual growth rate of 20% since 2021.
“We are thrilled to have Tareq lead one of our most vibrant regions,” said Oliver Jenkyn. “His deep expertise at the intersection of financial services, technology, and emerging markets will be instrumental in accelerating the adoption of digital payments across CEMEA. With experience in 13 different countries, Tareq brings a truly global perspective and a strong track record of navigating complex markets while fostering client relationships at the highest level.”
“It’s an incredible honor to lead the CEMEA region and continue building the future of payments, commerce, and financial exchange in such diverse and promising markets,” said Tareq Muhmood. “Having spent a third of my career here, I’m excited by the opportunity to further advance digital payment adoption among consumers, merchants, and economies. I look forward to working closely with our teams and partners to drive inclusive growth across the region.”
As the digital payments landscape continues to evolve rapidly, Visa is positioning itself at the forefront of financial innovation. Under Muhmood’s leadership, the CEMEA region is poised for even greater momentum and impact.
