Mekias Mekonnen

Senior Manager Visa Direct Commercialization - Eastern Africa

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

About

A seasoned Digital Banking and Payments Leader with extensive experience across mobile, internet, wallet, and card banking, complemented by strong exposure to international engagement and strategic partnerships. I bring a solid foundation in financial services, product development, and digital transformation, combined with hands-on experience working with global payment networks, fintechs, development partners, and regulators. My career spans leading end‑to‑end digital initiatives, managing complex integrations, and delivering high‑impact products that drive growth, revenue, and customer adoption. I excel in cross‑functional and cross‑cultural collaboration, translating strategic objectives into measurable outcomes through effective stakeholder engagement and programme management. With a decisive yet collaborative leadership style, strong analytical capability, and deep understanding of international digital payments and partnerships, I am now focused on expanding global reach, building sustainable partnerships, and driving business development with tangible impact.

Experience

  • Senior Manager Visa Direct Commercialization - Eastern Africa at Visa
    Jan 2026 - Present · 6 mos

    I lead the sales and commercialization of Visa Direct across the Eastern Africa cluster, driving adoption of real‑time money movement solutions across six markets (Ethiopia, Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles, Comoros, and Djibouti). My role focuses on enabling banks, fintechs, and ecosystem partners to scale use cases such as payouts, remittances, merchant disbursements, and B2B payments. I work cross‑functionally to take Visa Direct from strategy to execution, supporting client onboarding, implementation, go‑to‑market planning, and revenue growth while strengthening Visa’s money movement footprint in the region.

  • Manager International Engagement Division at EthSwitch
    Mar 2025 - Jan 2026 · 11 mos

  • Dashen Bank (Full-time · 8 yrs 4 mos)
    • Senior Mobile and Online Banking Product Development Specialist
      Nov 2024 - Feb 2025 · 4 mos

    • Mobile and Online Banking Product Development Specialist
      Apr 2024 - Nov 2024 · 8 mos

    • Digital End User Team Leader
      Jun 2023 - Mar 2024 · 10 mos