Visa has announced the appointment of Michael Berner as the new Head of Southern and East Africa (SEA), effective immediately. In this role, he will oversee Visa’s operations across 24 markets in the region and report to Andrew Torre, Regional President for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA).
With more than 20 years of experience in financial services, Berner brings extensive expertise to the position. He will be based in Johannesburg and continue to serve as part of Visa’s CEMEA regional leadership team.
Michael Berner’s Journey at Visa
Michael Berner joined Visa in 2019 as Country Manager and later held the role of Senior Vice President, Head of Merchant Sales and Acquiring, CEMEA. Before joining Visa, he was Managing Director and Member of the Executive Board at Citibank Russia.
Speaking on his new appointment, Berner expressed his enthusiasm for leading Visa’s growth in the region:
“I am thrilled to lead Visa’s Southern and Eastern Africa team and look forward to working with our partners, financial institutions, and governments to introduce new innovations, accelerate financial inclusion, and enable the ecosystem. There is significant opportunity to bring the benefits of digital payments to even more consumers and businesses while enhancing the commerce experience.”
Driving Digital Payments and Financial Inclusion in Africa
Andrew Torre, Regional President, CEMEA, for Visa, emphasized the importance of the Southern and East African markets in Visa’s global growth strategy:
“Southern and Eastern Africa is one of the world’s fastest-growing payments regions and home to some of the most impactful innovations driving the expansion of digital payments in Africa. Visa has been present in the region for more than 40 years, and we are pleased to have Michael’s expertise to advance our plans, working closely with clients and partners.”
With digital payments adoption rising rapidly across Africa, Visa is committed to strengthening financial inclusion, fostering innovation, and expanding access to secure payment solutions.
About Michael Berner
Michael Berner holds a master’s degree in financial management from Moscow Automobile and Road Institute (MADI). He has also completed postgraduate programs at Columbia Business School, the University of California, Berkeley, and Harvard University.
Looking Ahead
Under Michael Berner’s leadership, Visa aims to accelerate digital transformation, enhance financial services, and drive economic growth across Southern and East Africa. With a strong focus on partnerships, technology, and financial inclusion, Visa continues to lead the way in shaping the future of digital payments in Africa.
