Country Manager Sweden

Visa is a world leader in payments technology, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories, dedicated to uplifting everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

At Visa, you'll have the opportunity to create impact at scale — tackling meaningful challenges, growing your skills and seeing your contributions impact lives around the world. Join Visa and do work that matters — to you, to your community, and to the world.

Progress starts with you.

Visa seeks a Country Manager for Sweden to lead the team and drive dynamic growth in the market.    

What is it all about? 

The Country Manager will be responsible for delivering the scorecard targets for the market by driving effective sales, account and people management.  The role will lead a team to enable Visa to build deep relationships with key clients, predominantly in the ‘core’ part of Visa’s business, with an emphasis on Financial Institutions.  This individual will play a key role alongside other executives to represent Visa, by delivering on the company’s core market mission: growing the business with Cards, Account-to-Account, CBDC, as well as our established and growing suite of scheme and rail agnostic products and services.  Advancing market share is a priority.  By building deep partnerships with clients, opening access and offering creative solutions, Visa is at the forefront of protecting and growing the company’s brand and market share. Commercial acumen and an excellent understanding of the broader market landscape will be critical to this appointment. 

The role will report to the Regional Managing Director for the Nordic & Baltic (N&B) cluster in Europe.

What we expect of you, day by day:

• Lead the development and implementation of the market strategy to enable the activities of others that delivers key targets and revenue acceleration.
• Ensure that the initiatives of diverse functions within the market are integrated and aligned to Visa’s broader business plans and strategic goals in Europe and across the N&B cluster.
• Drive consultative and solution sales efforts within the market and ensure cultural and working style differences are understood and respected.
• Build and develop strong relationships with partners and clients in the market.  Responsible for working with clients and teams to identify new and ongoing requirements, and introduce new products or services.  
• Develop and grow local market share by both identifying, developing and securing new business opportunities and expanding existing business.
• Represent Visa externally on a regular basis through interactions with key clients, the press, domestic regulators, government agencies, consumers, merchants and the broader fintech / emerging digital ecosystem.
• Lead local initiatives within the wider Visa community in Europe and ensure the market has the necessary resources to achieve scorecard targets.
• Lead and manage the product portfolio for a signature accounts, ensuring Visa clients have excellent support service from the Visa team.
• Partner with key internal and external clients to ensure that Visa is the primary influencer within the markets payments industry. Serve as an advocate of the industry and represent Visa in the marketplace.
• Provide inspirational leadership to the team, ensuring maximum efficiency and engagement by managing conflicting and competing demands across multiple client accounts.
• Lead the annual business and account plans for key clients, liaising with the Key Account Managers / Business Development leaders in relation to the product or portfolio.
• Collaborate and engage with colleagues across Visa, endeavouring to provide guidance and support with complex negotiations and ensure the business is appropriately involved and informed about client matters, delivering solutions as one team.
• Everyone is a leader at Visa – tremendous levels of communication to demonstrate expertise and specialist knowledge, acting in a mentorship capacity to the team.  
• Excellent knowledge of the Swedish Payments and Fintech ecosystem, and specifically of Visa’s products and services.  Strong and developed understanding of the impact of market to the N&B cluster and Europe region strategy that will enable Visa to reach its ambitious goals.
• Champion Visa’s consumer and employer brand in the market – leading by example on Visa’s Leadership Principles and values.  An ambassador in the market for exceptional talent and company brand attraction.

This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in office will be confirmed by your Hiring Manager.

What we are after:

• The ideal candidate will have in-depth experience, including significant experience in a commercial / sales leadership role within the broader payments industry or adjacent sectors where technology (digital / e and m-commerce) feature strongly in the ecosystem.
• Experience and track record in payments with deep understanding of the four party model and the evolution of payments landscape and ecosystem
• Leadership of an enterprise or the commercial functions of a business where the development and deployment of the digital and customer agenda is a key driver of success.
• Growing a business in a high-growth / fast-paced environment would be advantageous. Leading key client relationships and growing significant sales portfolios.
• Track record of leading businesses in the capture, expansion / extension and retention of client relationships.
• Robust decision-making and analytical skills. Strong command of financial, market and consumer data with the ability to grasp complex and detailed issues. Financially literate with an excellent understanding of risk management.
• Demonstrated success developing strategy and leading it through to execution and delivery. Consistent record of having met challenging financial and business targets.
• An appreciation and resonance around political, governmental and regulatory environments in the N&B markets would be desirable.
• Experience building, leading and developing high performing teams. Ability to work collaboratively with executives from Visa’s clients and partners to leverage Visa’s products and services in order to build broader payments solutions, and to enhance the organisation’s client relationships.
• Commercially astute with experience of working in a global matrix organisation with the ability to navigate complex structures and empower decision-making locally.
• Experience of leading change programmes within a business and has led a team on a journey of cultural and transformational change.
• Proven success managing large client relationships and developing new business opportunities with key partners in the market. Leads and inspires the team with a growth mindset and a real passion for digital and innovation
• Experience of working in a multi-national, multi-cultural, diverse and highly-matrixed organisation with the ability to make an impact and gain immediate respect and credibility.
• An intellectually curious but humble leader with a high degree of compassion, able to engage, enable and inspire others.
• A hands-on approach to all activities with real passion and high levels of energy. Agile and comfortable adapting to different environments.
• Creative and resourceful in overcoming barriers and unexpected roadblocks. Courageous in spirit, driving change through innovation.

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.