On June 17, 2025, Visa announced Aminata Kane as Senior Vice President and Head of Western and Central Africa, effective September 4, 2025, based in Abidjan, now the company’s regional hub. Her appointment reflects Visa’s deepening commitment to the continent under the guidance of a seasoned and visionary executive.
After completing her education at HEC Paris and MIT Sloan School of Management, she began her career at Goldman Sachs and later at McKinsey in Paris, honing her analytical and strategic expertise.
Over ten years in digital finance
With over ten years in digital finance, Kane climbed the ranks at Orange, initially serving as Regional CEO of Orange Money Group, overseeing operations in 17 countries, and later as CEO of Orange Sierra Leone. She revitalised the subsidiary, making it a national market leader with double-digit revenue growth, and introduced mobile microcredit and banking solutions tailored to local realities.
A staunch advocate for digital inclusion, she founded an Orange Digital Center in Sierra Leone to train youth and women in digital careers.
Aminata’s leadership and deep expertise in digital financial services will be instrumental in driving Visa’s mission to expand financial inclusion across Western and Central Africa
At Visa, her mission is twofold: lead a region covering 23 markets across hubs in Abidjan, Accra, Kinshasa, and Lagos, and drive large-scale financial inclusion in areas where over 60% of the population remains unbanked by traditional institutions. She plans to boost interoperability, partner with fintechs, and support SMEs to build an accessible, innovative payment ecosystem.
This appointment aligns with Visa’s bold commitment to invest $1 billion in Africa by 2027. Andrew Torre, Visa’s Regional President for CEE, Middle East, and Africa, stated: “Aminata’s leadership and deep expertise in digital financial services will be instrumental in driving Visa’s mission to expand financial inclusion across Western and Central Africa”.
I am deeply honored to join Visa at such a pivotal moment for Africa’s digital transformation
Named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and among Africa’s 100 most influential women CEOs, Aminata Kane combines strategic acumen with local engagement. She commented: “I am deeply honored to join Visa at such a pivotal moment for Africa’s digital transformation…Building on years of work advancing digital and financial inclusion … this is a unique opportunity to help shape a more inclusive, innovative ecosystem that reflects the talent, ambition, and potential of our region.”
