Visa announces senior leadership changes in Asia Pacific

• Both changes are effective from 1 April 2023
• Chris Clark was previously regional president for Visa APAC

Visa announced two senior leadership changes in the Asia Pacific region, with Chris Clark elevated from regional president to chairman, Asia Pacific, and Stephen Karpin named as his successor as regional president, Asia Pacific. 

In a statement, the world leader in digital payments said both changes are effective 1 April 2023.

Over the last ten years as regional president for Visa Asia Pacific, Chris Clark has been committed to expanding the reach of electronic payments and growing Visa’s business by forging strong client and partner relationships. 

Additionally, he drove digital innovation in the regional payments ecosystem and built new partnerships with established and startup fintechs, all supported by an amazing team of great payments professionals. 

“I am excited to step into this new role, and I know that Karpin is the right person to drive strong growth for the business of all our clients and partners,” Clark said.

In the role of chairman, Asia Pacific, Clark will support regional and global initiatives, including strategic engagements with government and industry stakeholders, drive Visa’s market expansion strategy and continue his role as a non-executive director of the Visa Europe Board. 

“In his 20-year career at Visa, Clark has shown exemplary leadership, more than doubling the size of our Asia Pacific business,” Stephen Karpin said. 

“In addition to his expansive business aptitude, Chris is known for his deep commitment to our clients and teams across our markets,” he added. 

“I look forward to following the path he has set, continuing to work closely with our clients and partners, expanding our relationships and ensuring that Visa Asia Pacific remains among the best places to work and achieve,” Karpin said. 

As regional president,. Karpin will be responsible for the full business operations, client management and go-to-market plans for the region, based in Visa’s regional headquarters in Singapore. 

Karpin has a deep background in the payments industry and knowledge of Asia Pacific markets, beginning his career at Visa in 2014 as group country manager Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific. 

In 2017 he was appointed as group country manager, Regional Southeast Asia, and since 2019 he has served as country manager, Japan, Visa’s largest Asia Pacific market. 

Previously, he spent 17 years in senior roles at Commonwealth Bank and Westpac in Australia and at Citibank in Australia, Singapore and Japan.