Country Manager – Kuwait

Job Description

General management of all aspects of country business including business strategy, business development and portfolio management, matrixed management of functions to ensure each is aligned with regional strategies, government officials, central banks and other regulatory institutions, compliance & control.

• Develop and lead both short and long term business strategy with critical success factors for all areas relevant to Kuwait; ensure plans align with enterprise strategy (as needed), and achieve intended results
• Oversee all client and business development activities for Kuwait; develop customer specific strategies and innovative solutions to drive incremental revenue/ new business growth.
• Accountable for optimizing resources to achieve volume and revenue targets and P&L for Kuwait. Maximize value of investments in country.
• Monitor development of banking, financial services and payments industry, analyze trends and understand factors affecting current and potential business results.
• Lead Visa's strategy with Government, Central Bank and regulators in Kuwait.
• Build and maintain productive working relationships all key stakeholders to achieve exceptional business outcomes
• Ensure adequate controls are in place and actively manage compliance, regulatory and reputational issues (external and Visa internal) to mitigate business, operational and brand risk.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership/General Management:

• Manage financial performance, forecast and budgets. Grow the business by developing solutions using Visa's products and services that address clients' business needs. Identify metrics and success factors for business growth.
• Cultivate close relationships with decision makers of merchants, issuers, acquirers, financial institutions, governments, central banks, regulatory institutions and partner companies (as relevant) to stay abreast of their strategies, priorities and business issues.
• Represent Visa within market across sales, regulatory affairs, corporate and social responsibility by speaking at conferences and business meetings and undertaking media/public relations activities to shape perceptions of Visa. Work with regional functions to maximize utilization of Visa resources
• Take lead in managing and maximizing return on all resources applied to the country including sales, product, marketing and operational resources to ensure highest levels of service excellence are achieved
• Proactively work with regional functions (finance, product, marketing, corporate relations, merchants, digital, compliance, risk, HR) to ensure that each function is aligned and actively supports the strategic agenda of the country.
• Provide integral feedback loop to regional functions and other regions on client related issues to help shape and address client needs and develop meaningful solutions

Client Leadership:

• Provide oversight on country strategy and key account plans, prioritize and coordinate product, client and brand marketing initiatives in conjunction with global and local marketing team. Ensure Playbook is developed as required by each client segment and achieve intended goals and results.
• Lead client sales function; ensure enterprise/country specific targets and objectives are met or exceeded (direct line responsibility for client sales)
• Directly manage the 3 largest accounts in Kuwait that account for over 75% of the revenue.
• Work with the mid-market manager to influence growth of revenues from these clients for the country.
• Monitor the development of banking, financial services and payments industry, analyze trends and understand factors affecting current and potential business results of Visa. Adapt business strategy to protect existing business as well as capitalize on new opportunities
• Understand and influence product positioning and pricing of Visa and competitors' products in clients' product portfolios
• Develop a pipeline of innovative and differentiated product and service capabilities that are targeted at delivering enterprise objectives/strategies

Qualifications

• 12+ years industry experience, preferably in global payments
• Prior Country Manager experience of 1- 5 years
• Languages needed: English-speaking, Arabic advantageous
• Country of origin/Culture fit: Globally aware individual, adaptable to local environment

Additional Information

Visa is an EEO Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.

---