Senior Director - Head of Sponsorships CEMEA

Visa is a world leader in payments and technology, with over 259 billion payments transactions flowing safely between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities in more than 200 countries and territories each year. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive while driven by a common purpose – to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

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Sponsorships are a key element of Visa's global marketing strategy. We proudly sponsor some of the world's most prominent sporting events, using these platforms to engage audiences and tell stories of progress and determination. We also collaborate with clients to create co-marketing programs that drive mutual business growth.

Reporting to the Senior Vice President CMO CEMEA, the Senior Director, Sponsorships CEMEA, is a key member of the regional marketing leadership team. This role focuses on all aspects of sponsorships, working with global teams to deploy marquee properties like the FIFA World Cup, Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team, Olympics, Paralympics, and NFL in the CEMEA region. Additionally, the role manages relationships, deal structures, and commercialization across regional sponsorship properties, including AFCON, AFC, ACL, and talent deals with athletes and stars like Mo Salah, Pep Guardiola, and Ronwen Williams.

The role also provides strategic guidance for sponsorships across 90 markets within CEMEA, covering music, culinary, gaming, and more as we evolve with client, product, and business needs. You will lead the evolution of our Sponsorships Marketing practice in CEMEA, creating a vision for the function and maximizing the value of our unique sponsorship assets.

Responsibilities:

• For global and regional properties, lead the creation of CEMEA activation platforms with emphasis on rich, customizable ideas for co-marketing with clients.
• Lead the relationship with Confederation of African Football, ensuring a positive and productive relationship that provides ample space to activate the property.
• Manage CEMEA’s Visa Brand Ambassadors including sports stars and talents with view of maximizing endorsement and support for Visa and client goals.
• Lead the relationship with Team Visa athletes in CEMEA
• Work together with the Global Sponsorships Marketing team on all aspects of the activation of global properties in CEMEA (Olympics, FIFA, F1, NFL) – planning in-market hospitality, giving input on global campaign development to reflect the dynamics and needs of the CEMEA market
• Lead the exploration, evaluation and recommendation of further partnership opportunities in CEMEA – both in and outside the world of sports.
• Measure and track program key metrics to optimize future program.
• Oversee the creation of case studies to be used globally.

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

• Extensive experience sponsorships with proven capabilities in all sides of Sponsorships Marketing – understanding rights, governing bodies, activation, etc.
• An inspirational leader able to create a vision for Sponsorships Marketing and communicate it in an engaging way that connects with all audiences – Visa leadership, clients, property holders, athletes and the media.
• Strong strategic thinker with a results orientation who approaches any challenge with thoughtfulness, drive, and appropriate urgency.
• Great collaborator able to create productive relationships with key leaders at Visa and our Global Sponsorships Marketing team.
• Strong executive presence with highly effective written and verbal communication skills including the ability to present with impact.
• Global/multi-market sensibility and awareness, with an empathetic outlook to work well with other markets and cultures around CEMEA – able to accurately represent the views and interests of CEMEA markets with global teams.
• Strong planning, organizational and problem solving skills.
• Solid financial and analytical acumen with strong ROI orientation.
• Bachelor’s degree in business or marketing, MBA preferred.

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.