Mastercard has appointed Yasemin Bedir as President of its Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA) region, placing the nearly two-decade company veteran at the helm of operations spanning 81 countries.
Bedir will assume the new role on September 1, 2026, taking responsibility for Mastercard’s strategy, business direction and overall operations across one of the company’s most diverse and strategically important regions.
In her new capacity, she will work closely with financial institutions, fintech companies, retailers, governments and businesses to advance digital payments and support the growth of commerce across the region. She will also join Mastercard’s Management Committee.
Mastercard Chief Business Officer Sachin Mehra said Bedir’s extensive experience and track record made her well suited to lead the region, which encompasses markets with differing economic, regulatory and geopolitical conditions.
“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,” Mehra said.
He described the EEMEA market as complex and said its leadership requires creative thinking, a record of delivering results and strong relationships with stakeholders — qualities he said Bedir had demonstrated throughout her career at Mastercard.
Bedir, who is based in the United Arab Emirates, takes over from Dimitrios Dosis, who has been appointed Chief Commercial Payments Officer. In his new position, Dosis will oversee Mastercard’s Commercial and New Payment Flows business.
Long Mastercard career
Bedir has spent almost 20 years with Mastercard, having joined the company in 2007 and subsequently taking on leadership responsibilities across multiple markets.
For the past four years, she served as Division President for Eastern Europe, where she steered Mastercard’s business through a period marked by geopolitical uncertainty and evolving regulatory requirements.
Her tenure in Eastern Europe also involved efforts to strengthen Mastercard’s market position and deepen relationships with customers and other stakeholders across the region.
Before becoming Division President, Bedir served as General Manager responsible for Mastercard’s operations in Turkey and Azerbaijan. She also spent nearly five years in a senior North American role, where she managed relationships with community institutions and payment processors.
Her experience before Mastercard includes positions at HSBC, Garanti Bank and Yapı Kredi in Turkey.
Focus on digital payments
As EEMEA president, Bedir is expected to build on Mastercard’s existing presence in markets ranging from Eastern Europe to the Middle East and Africa. The region includes major African economies such as Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and Egypt, alongside a wide range of other emerging and established markets.
Her responsibilities will include advancing Mastercard’s efforts around digital payments and commerce while working with public- and private-sector partners to support the development of payment ecosystems.
Bedir said Mastercard’s people and their commitment to customers had been a major source of inspiration during her career with the company.
“I’ve been inspired by the teams here at Mastercard,” she said. “Their resilience, innovative spirit and relentless dedication to meet and exceed customer needs is what powers our impact every day.”
She said she would work with the regional leadership team to build on the foundation established during Dosis’ five-year tenure.
Beyond her corporate responsibilities, Bedir has been involved in initiatives supporting professional women and small and medium-sized businesses. She is among the founders of the Professional Women Network and has led programmes focused on helping SMEs grow.
Her appointment comes as Mastercard continues to expand and deepen its presence across the EEMEA region, where the increasing adoption of digital payments is creating opportunities for financial institutions, businesses and consumers across a diverse range of markets.
With responsibility for 81 countries, Bedir’s new position places her at the centre of Mastercard’s efforts to navigate the region’s varied economic and regulatory environments while expanding digital commerce and payment solutions.