Director, Specialist Sales, SME, Africa

Our Purpose Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential. Title and Summary Director, Specialist Sales, SME, Africa About Mastercard Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realise their greatest potential.

Overview We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Director to lead SME Business Development in North Africa. This senior leader will be responsible for driving our sales strategy in a complex and evolving payments landscape, focusing on delivering innovative payment solutions to fintechs and large issuing banks specifically for their Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) customer base. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in Mastercard's growth strategy, leveraging deep industry knowledge to create differentiated value propositions that address client pain points and drive adoption of Mastercard solutions within the SME sector.

Strategic Leadership • Develop and execute comprehensive regional sales strategies aligned with Mastercard's North Africa business objectives • Lead a high-performing team of 4+ sales professionals, providing coaching, mentoring and performance management • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify market opportunities and drive revenue growth • Establish and maintain strong executive-level relationships with key clients and partners • Represent Mastercard at industry events and speak authoritatively on payment trends and innovations Client Solutions • Understand the complex needs and pain points of fintechs and large issuing banks across diverse North Africa, specifically as they relate to their SME customer base • Create differentiated value propositions that address client challenges in serving SME customers and deliver measurable business outcomes • Oversee the development of strategic account plans for key clients, ensuring alignment with their SME business priorities • Drive adoption of Mastercard's innovative payment solutions for SME customers across North Africa • Develop and articulate compelling business cases to prospective clients that showcase the value of Mastercard solutions for their SME offerings • Expertise in SFDC management Market Intelligence • Maintain in-depth knowledge of the African payments landscape, including regulatory developments, competitive threats and emerging technologies affecting the SME sector • Monitor and analyze SME banking and payment trends across North Africa • Identify opportunities for Mastercard to add value within the SME ecosystem through partnerships with accounting software providers (Zoho, etc.) • Monitor competitive activity in the SME payment space and develop effective counter-strategies • Collaborate with product teams to ensure solutions address evolving SME market needs • Provide regular market intelligence updates to senior leadership on SME payment trends and opportunities Required Qualifications Experience & Skills • Minimum 6 years of experience in financial services or payments technology • Proven track record of consistently exceeding sales targets and driving business growth in complex B2B environments • Understanding of the African payments landscape, card