Latest news with #CEMEA
Ya Biladi
2 days ago
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Lamine Yamal named visa ambassador for FIFA World Cup 2026
FC Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal has been appointed the new global ambassador for Visa ahead of the FIFA World Cup 26, which will take place across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. To mark this symbolic milestone and build excitement around what promises to be the biggest FIFA World Cup ever, Visa will offer exclusive experiences to Visa cardholders. These include meet-and-greet opportunities with Lamine Yamal in Barcelona and signed memorabilia ahead of the 2026 tournament, according to a press release. «Lamine represents the future of football: bold, promising, and full of fresh energy», said Tarek Abdalla, Visa's Chief Marketing Officer for the CEMEA region. «At Visa, we are constantly looking for new ways to connect with fans through the power of sport. As Visa's FIFA World Cup ambassador, Lamine reflects the spirit and passion of the beautiful game, inspiring millions of fans worldwide». «Football is more than a sport, it's a source of joy and a way to bring people together across the world. I'm proud to team up with Visa to share that passion and inspire others through sport», said Yamal. A football prodigy, Lamine Yamal continues to captivate the global stage with record-breaking performances. Known for his agility, speed, and vision on the field, the Moroccan-Spanish player is widely regarded as a rising global star and a symbol of a new generation in football.
Syyaha
2 days ago
- Business
- Syyaha
SAUDI'S BOLD BET: ACCELERATING VISION 2030 THROUGH INTELLIGENT INNOVATION
By Ismail Ibrahim, Sales Director & General Manager for CEMEA at SUSE Saudi Arabia is undergoing a once-in-a-generation transformation, one that is as much about digital intelligence as it is about economic diversification. At the heart of this transition lies artificial intelligence (AI), now a cornerstone of Vision 2030. More than just a technological upgrade, AI is evolving into a system-wide force, reshaping how the Kingdom educates its people, governs its institutions, builds its infrastructure, and positions itself on the global stage. The foundation for this AI revolution was laid with the creation of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), an organisation designed to align national policy, research, and investment around emerging technologies. With a vision to become a global leader in AI, Saudi Arabia has set ambitious goals: by 2030, AI is projected to contribute $135 billion to the country's GDP, accounting for 12.4% of its national output. What makes this vision credible is not just the scale of ambition, but the pace of execution that's already underway. A pivotal moment came in May 2025 with the launch of Humain , a sovereign AI company backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and unveiled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Humain reflects Saudi Arabia's intent to not just adopt AI, but to create its own AI infrastructure and capabilities from the ground up. Central to this initiative is the development of Arabic-language foundational models, secure data capabilities, and next-generation computing infrastructure, ensuring that AI reflects and serves the cultural and strategic priorities of the region. Yet this transformation isn't just confined to infrastructure and capabilities. Saudi Arabia is taking a whole-of-society approach to AI, embedding it in education, workforce development, and national mega-projects. Giga-projects like NEOM are integrating AI into urban planning, autonomous transport, and civic systems from the ground up, creating living laboratories for intelligent design. Even in healthcare, AI is poised to unlock $27 billion in economic value by 2030, improving everything from diagnosis to hospital operations to individualised patient care. Crucially, Saudi Arabia is not overlooking the ethical dimensions of AI also. The Kingdom ranks amongst the top three nations globally for AI ethics readinessreadines, a reflection of its early investments in responsible AI frameworks. From privacy-preserving technologies to transparent governance mechanisms, the country is positioning itself as a leader not only in innovation, but in how innovation is deployed and regulated. As the ecosystem matures, the role of enterprise technology providers becomes increasingly central. This is where companies like SUSE, known for its enterprise-grade open-source platforms, have an important opportunity to contribute. In a significant move aligning with Vision 2030, SUSE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Saudi Arabia's National Housing Company (NHC) at LEAP 2025. This strategic partnership aims to accelerate digital transformation within the Kingdom's housing sector, leveraging SUSE's expertise in open source solutions to enhance scalability, security, and efficiency in housing projects. SUSE's solutions are well-positioned to support Saudi Arabia's ambitions, —whether in national data centres, sovereign cloud environments, or smart city deployment, providing the backbone on which innovation can reliably thrive. What's unfolding in Saudi Arabia is more than an AI strategy; it's the blueprint of a digital nation. Through bold public investment, international collaboration, and a clear focus on values and talent, the Kingdom is demonstrating what's possible when a country commits not just to using AI, but to helping shape its future. For global leaders in technology, investment, and policy, Saudi Arabia is no longer just a market to watch; it's becoming a partner in building the next intelligent economy.
Al Bawaba
05-06-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Visa Appoints Andrew Torre as President of Value-Added Services
Visa (NYSE:V) announced today that it has appointed Andrew Torre, a 20-year Visa veteran, as President of Value-Added Services (VAS). Mr. Torre will replace Antony Cahill who was recently named Regional President and Chief Executive Officer for Visa's European operations, subject to regulatory approval. Mr. Torre will report to Visa Chief Executive Officer Ryan McInerney and join the Company's global leadership team. He will be based in San Francisco and take on this role effective his new role, Mr. Torre will be responsible for designing, developing and delivering Visa's VAS portfolio of products and solutions. Visa's VAS business has rapidly grown into a $9B global business that has delivered annualized revenue growth of 20% since 2018, Mr. Torre has served as Visa's Regional President for Central Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA). During this time, he has overseen significant revenue growth, strengthened engagements with clients and partners, and expanded Visa's regional presence to 23 offices, serving more than 1,800 clients in 86 Torre originally joined Visa in 2002 in San Francisco where he held global roles in product, strategy and pricing. He became Visa's Group Country Manager in Russia in 2013 and later served as Group Country Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa before assuming his role leading CEMEA. Earlier in his career, Mr. Torre spent 12 years in the banking industry.'Andrew's experience leading Visa's fastest-growing region, his client-first approach, and his deep commercial expertise make him the standout choice to build on Antony's success and continue our strong Value-Added Services momentum,' said Mr. McInerney. 'We are in an optimal position to scale a high-growth and attractive margin VAS business rapidly, and we could not be more confident in Andrew's ability to make the most of this extraordinary opportunity.' An internal search for Mr. Torre's replacement has begun, and the Company expects to name his successor shortly. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba ( Signal PressWire is the world's largest independent Middle East PR distribution service.
Business Upturn
03-06-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Visa Appoints Andrew Torre as President of Value-Added Services
By Business Wire India Published on June 3, 2025, 17:18 IST San Francisco, United States: Visa (NYSE:V) announced today that it has appointed Andrew Torre, a 20-year Visa veteran, as President of Value-Added Services (VAS). Mr. Torre will replace Antony Cahill who was recently named Regional President and Chief Executive Officer for Visa's European operations, subject to regulatory approval. Mr. Torre will report to Visa Chief Executive Officer Ryan McInerney and join the Company's global leadership team. He will be based in San Francisco and take on this role effective immediately. In his new role, Mr. Torre will be responsible for designing, developing and delivering Visa's VAS portfolio of products and solutions. Visa's VAS business has rapidly grown into a $9B global business that has delivered annualized revenue growth of 20% since 2021. Since 2018, Mr. Torre has served as Visa's Regional President for Central Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA). During this time, he has overseen significant revenue growth, strengthened engagements with clients and partners, and expanded Visa's regional presence to 23 offices, serving more than 1,800 clients in 86 markets. Mr. Torre originally joined Visa in 2002 in San Francisco where he held global roles in product, strategy and pricing. He became Visa's Group Country Manager in Russia in 2013 and later served as Group Country Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa before assuming his role leading CEMEA. Earlier in his career, Mr. Torre spent 12 years in the banking industry. 'Andrew's experience leading Visa's fastest-growing region, his client-first approach, and his deep commercial expertise make him the standout choice to build on Antony's success and continue our strong Value-Added Services momentum,' said Mr. McInerney. 'We are in an optimal position to scale a high-growth and attractive margin VAS business rapidly, and we could not be more confident in Andrew's ability to make the most of this extraordinary opportunity.' An internal search for Mr. Torre's replacement has begun, and the Company expects to name his successor shortly. About Visa Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at View source version on Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Business Wire India, established in 2002, India's premier media distribution company ensures guaranteed media coverage through its network of 30+ cities and top news agencies.
National Post
03-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
Visa Appoints Andrew Torre as President of Value-Added Services
Article content Article content SAN FRANCISCO — Visa (NYSE:V) announced today that it has appointed Andrew Torre, a 20-year Visa veteran, as President of Value-Added Services (VAS). Mr. Torre will replace Antony Cahill who was recently named Regional President and Chief Executive Officer for Visa's European operations, subject to regulatory approval. Mr. Torre will report to Visa Chief Executive Officer Ryan McInerney and join the Company's global leadership team. He will be based in San Francisco and take on this role effective immediately. Article content In his new role, Mr. Torre will be responsible for designing, developing and delivering Visa's VAS portfolio of products and solutions. Visa's VAS business has rapidly grown into a $9B global business that has delivered annualized revenue growth of 20% since 2021. Article content Since 2018, Mr. Torre has served as Visa's Regional President for Central Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA). During this time, he has overseen significant revenue growth, strengthened engagements with clients and partners, and expanded Visa's regional presence to 23 offices, serving more than 1,800 clients in 86 markets. Article content Mr. Torre originally joined Visa in 2002 in San Francisco where he held global roles in product, strategy and pricing. He became Visa's Group Country Manager in Russia in 2013 and later served as Group Country Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa before assuming his role leading CEMEA. Earlier in his career, Mr. Torre spent 12 years in the banking industry. Article content 'Andrew's experience leading Visa's fastest-growing region, his client-first approach, and his deep commercial expertise make him the standout choice to build on Antony's success and continue our strong Value-Added Services momentum,' said Mr. McInerney. 'We are in an optimal position to scale a high-growth and attractive margin VAS business rapidly, and we could not be more confident in Andrew's ability to make the most of this extraordinary opportunity.' Article content An internal search for Mr. Torre's replacement has begun, and the Company expects to name his successor shortly. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
