Mastercard has announced the appointment of Yasemin Bedir as President of the Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA) region, effective September 1. In recent years, the company's EEMEA region has been expanded to include additional markets and now unites 81 countries, representing a dynamic, agile business with high growth potential.
Bedir, who has nearly 20 years of experience at Mastercard, will also join the company's Management Committee. In this role, she will succeed Dimitrios Dosis, who was recently appointed Chief Commercial Payments Officer and now leads the Commercial & New Payment Flows division.
In her new role, based in the UAE, Bedir will be responsible for the strategy, development, and overall success of Mastercard's operations in the region, building partnerships with retailers, fintech companies, financial institutions, government entities, and businesses.
"Yasemin is a leader who knows how to unlock the strengths of her teams, helping them achieve maximum impact for our clients and contribute to the development of local economies," said Sachin Mehra, Chief Business Officer at Mastercard. "This is a large and complex region that requires innovative thinking, proven results, and strong partnerships. Throughout her career, Yasemin has consistently demonstrated these qualities. Together with our clients and partners in the EEMEA region, we have a real opportunity to shape and redefine how people and companies transfer funds, exchange value, and conduct commerce in the years ahead."
For the past four years, Bedir served as President of Mastercard's Eastern Europe division, leading the team through a challenging geopolitical and regulatory environment and strengthening Mastercard's leadership position in these markets. She actively supports talent development and fosters a corporate culture based on accountability and collaboration.
Bedir joined Mastercard in 2007. During her tenure, she has gained experience and deep understanding of various markets around the world. Notably, she served as General Manager for Mastercard in Turkey and Azerbaijan, and then for nearly five years oversaw relationships with local financial institutions and processing companies in North America.
"I have always been inspired by Mastercard teams," said Bedir. "It is their resilience, innovative approach, and unwavering commitment to meeting and exceeding client expectations that allow us to achieve meaningful results every day. Together, we will continue to build on the strong foundation that the regional team has created under Dimi's leadership over the past five years."
Prior to joining Mastercard, Bedir worked at HSBC, Garanti Bank, and Yapı Kredi in Turkey. She is also a co-founder of the Professional Women Network (PWN) and leads several projects aimed at supporting the growth of small and medium-sized businesses.
