Mastercard appoints Folasade Femi-Lawal as The New Country Manager For West Africa

Leading company in digital payments and technology, Mastercard has appointed Folasade Femi-Lawal as its new Country Manager and Area Business Head for West Africa.

As Country Manager, Femi-Lawal will be responsible for driving the company’s strategic vision, innovation, and growth in West Africa. Folasade brings a wealth of experience as a trusted senior executive, having displayed her ability to consistently achieve business growth objectives in start-up, turnaround, and rapidly changing environments. 

She has successfully led initiatives in Mobile Financial Services and Digital Banking Strategy at First Bank, Nigeria, over the past decade, and significantly grew the card subscriber base and market share as the Head of the Cards & Messaging Business.

Before her tenure at First Bank, Folasade served as the Head of the Loan Monitoring Unit at the United Bank of Africa, overseeing critical aspects of credit risk management. With a robust background in digital payments, she has played instrumental roles in driving innovation and enhancing customer experiences across the banking sector. Before her banking roles, she also excelled as a consultant at PwC and played a pivotal role at Airtel, managing the Regional Balanced Scorecard for eight regions.

Speaking on her appointment, Mark Elliott, division President for Sub-Saharan Africa at Mastercard, said,

“We warmly welcome Folasade to the Mastercard family. With extensive experience in the digital payments ecosystem, she brings valuable assets to our West Africa operations. Her arrival comes at a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s shift toward a cashless society through digital innovation. Folasade will collaborate closely with public and private sector partners to advance this transformation”.

The firm also noted that Femi-Lawal will help drive its strategic initiatives, strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders, and advance its mission of building a more connected and inclusive digital economy in West Africa.

Commenting on the appointment, Femi-Lawal said, “I am honored to assume the role of Country Manager, West Africa, at Mastercard. Excited to collaborate with the exceptional Mastercard teams, customers, and partners, I aim to contribute to shaping the future of payments, driving digital transformation, and supporting the Nigerian government’s agenda for a robust, inclusive, and secure digital economy. Eager to enhance our presence and deliver unparalleled value.”

Folasade holds a wealth of accolades, including being honored with the Outstanding Women in Management award by the United Nations Association in Nigeria and named one of the Top 50 Women in Management Africa by Women in Management Africa.