Mastercard Appoints Yasemin Bedir Lead for Europe, ME, Africa : TechMoran

Mastercard has appointed Yasemin Bedir as president for its Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA) region, effective 1 September, placing her in charge of the company’s operations across 81 countries. Bedir, a nearly 20-year veteran of Mastercard, will also join the company’s Management Committee and succeeds Dimitrios Dosis, who was recently named Chief Commercial Payments Officer, leading Commercial & New Payment Flows. Based in the UAE, Bedir will oversee strategy, partnerships and go-to-market execution with retailers, fintechs, financial institutions, governments and businesses across the region.

"Yasemin is a leader who finds the best in her teams to help them deliver the greatest impact for our customers and to fuel local economies," said Sachin Mehra, Chief Business Officer, Mastercard. "This is a vast and complex region that demands creative thinking, proven results and strong relationships. Yasemin has delivered that throughout her career. Working with our customers and partners across the EEMEA region, we have a true opportunity to shape and redefine how people and businesses move money, exchange value and enable commerce for years to come."

Context and background

Bedir joins the role after serving as Division President for Eastern Europe for four years, a period in which she navigated complex geopolitical and regulatory dynamics to strengthen Mastercard’s position across those markets. She originally joined the company in 2007 and has built a portfolio of regional and global roles, including serving as General Manager for Turkey and Azerbaijan and overseeing community institution and processor relationships in North America for nearly five years.

• Effective date: 1 September
• Region: Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA) — 81 countries
• Predecessor: Dimitrios Dosis (now Chief Commercial Payments Officer)
• Committee role: Member of Mastercard’s Management Committee
• Tenure at Mastercard: Joined in 2007; described as a nearly 20-year veteran

In a statement reflecting on her appointment, Bedir emphasised the role of teams and continuity in the region: "I’ve been inspired by the teams here at Mastercard. Their resilience, innovative spirit and relentless dedication to meet and exceed customer needs is what powers our impact every day. Together, we will build on the strong foundation the regional team has created under Dimi’s leadership over the past five years."

Experience and priorities

Prior to Mastercard, Bedir held roles at HSBC, Garanti Bank and Yapı Kredi in Turkey. Beyond her corporate responsibilities, she is among the founders of the Professional Women Network (PWN) and leads projects aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises grow. Her stated emphasis on talent development, accountability and collaboration is likely to inform how she approaches the EEMEA portfolio, which spans diverse regulatory regimes and levels of digital payment adoption.

Mastercard’s positioning in the EEMEA region will now be shaped by Bedir’s mandate to drive partnerships across public and private sectors and to capitalise on opportunities in retail, fintech and institutional payments. With her seat on the Management Committee, Bedir will be a key voice in shaping the company’s broader global strategy as it adapts to evolving market conditions and customer needs across the 81-country region.