Visa has appointed Anne Kinuthia Otieno as its new Vice President and Head of East Africa, effective August 4, 2026, reinforcing the company’s commitment to expanding digital payments and financial inclusion across the region.
In her new role, Anne will lead Visa’s operations across seven East African markets, overseeing initiatives to strengthen partnerships with financial institutions, accelerate digital commerce and expand access to secure digital payment solutions.
The appointment follows her tenure as Managing Director of Airtel Money Kenya, where she led the mobile money business through a period of growth and market expansion. She brings more than two decades of experience spanning banking, telecommunications and digital financial services, having previously held senior leadership positions at Absa and Barclays Bank in retail banking, SME banking, product innovation, distribution and risk management.
Michael Berner, Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director for Southern and Eastern Africa at Visa, said Anne’s extensive regional experience and strong commitment to financial inclusion make her well positioned to lead Visa’s next phase of growth in East Africa.
Commenting on her appointment, Anne described East Africa as one of the world’s most innovative payments markets and emphasized the opportunity to accelerate digital commerce, strengthen financial inclusion and work closely with clients, partners and governments to drive the region’s digital economy forward.
The appointment comes as digital payments continue to gain momentum across East Africa, with increasing collaboration between financial institutions, fintech companies and governments to expand access to inclusive, secure and innovative payment ecosystems.
