Mastercard appoints new Executive VP for East & West Arabia

Mastercard, a global payments technology firm, has announced the appointment of J K Khalil as Executive Vice President and Division President for East Arabia, and Adam Jones as Executive Vice President and Division President for West Arabia, effective immediately.

Additionally, the former MENA East cluster will now be known as the East Arabia division, and the MENA Central cluster will become the West Arabia division. The appointments of Khalil and Jones are strategic efforts to strengthen the company's regional leadership, accelerate growth, and enhance stakeholder relationships while boosting multi-rail capabilities in key Middle Eastern markets.

In his elevated role, Khalil brings over 20 years of leadership experience across banking, consulting, and technology sectors. He joined Mastercard eight years ago and has held key roles including Cluster General Manager for MENA East, Country Manager for KSA, Bahrain, and Levant, and Middle East Region Lead in UAE.

Previously, Khalil worked with Booz & Co., Barclays Investment Bank, BNP Paribas Personal Finance, and Trilog Group, holding key roles. Academically, he holds an MBA from the University of Chicago, an MS in Engineering, Computer System, and Networking from the University of Beirut, and holds certifications in executive leadership from Columbia Business School and the University of California.

On the other hand, Jones brings more than 15 years of leadership experience in the payments industry. He joined Mastercard in 2015 as Vice President of Commercial Markets in MEA and transitioned into roles including Country General Manager for MENA Central, Country Manager for East Africa, and Global Commercial Travel & Expense Lead. He will continue spearheading the company’s efforts for advanced digital transformation and developing a strong payments ecosystem.

Previously, Jones worked with American Express Middle East as the VP of Commercial Business and is serving as a Board Member at HyperPay. Academically, he holds a BA in Marketing from Solent University and possesses core skills including strategic partnerships, relationship management, business strategy, sales, and marketing.

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Commenting on his new role and responsibilities, Khalil said, “Mastercard has been driving payment innovation and boosting financial inclusion for more than 50 years and has been active in the Middle East for over 30 years. The creation of the East Arabia division is a clear indication of not only the potential but also the incredible growth witnessed in what used to be the MENA East cluster. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our partners, who have been with us on this journey, to the MENA East team for their passion and dedication, and to the Mastercard leadership for recognising the incredible growth and potential in these strategic markets.”

Jones added, “Mastercard is a trusted technology partner that is contributing to the advancement of digital transformation efforts to benefit governments, businesses, and people. By establishing the West Arabia Division, the business has taken a monumental step forward based on the dedication, resilience, and exceptional achievements of the MENA Central team. I am proud to be part of Mastercard and look forward to driving impactful strategies that place our customers at the heart of everything we do, add value to local economies, and unlock new growth opportunities.”