Mastercard names Yasemin Bedir to lead EEMEA region

Mastercard has appointed Yasemin Bedir as president of its Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa region, known as EEMEA. She will take the position on September 1, 2026, and join the company’s executive leadership team.

The EEMEA region has expanded significantly in recent years and now covers 81 countries, according to Mastercard. Based in the United Arab Emirates, Bedir will oversee the company’s strategy, direction and overall performance across the region.

Her responsibilities will include strengthening Mastercard’s partnerships with merchants, fintech companies, financial institutions, governments and businesses. The appointment comes as the payments industry continues to expand across digital commerce, financial technology and new payment channels.

Bedir will succeed Dimitrios Dosis, who was recently appointed chief commercial officer for Mastercard’s Commercial and New Payment Flows activities. Dosis has led the EEMEA region for the past five years.

Mastercard said Bedir brings nearly two decades of experience within the company. She previously served as president of Eastern Europe for four years, where she worked with teams across markets facing complex geopolitical and regulatory conditions.

During that period, she also helped strengthen Mastercard’s position across Eastern European markets while promoting a working culture focused on accountability and collaboration.

Bedir joined Mastercard in 2007. She previously led the company’s operations in Turkey and Azerbaijan. She later spent almost five years overseeing relations with community institutions and payment processors in North America.

Before joining Mastercard, Bedir worked at HSBC, Garanti Bank and Yapı Kredi in Turkey. She also helped establish the Professional Women Network and has participated in initiatives supporting the development of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Sachin Mehra, Mastercard’s chief commercial officer, said Bedir had demonstrated the leadership qualities needed to manage a region as broad and complex as EEMEA. He highlighted her ability to develop teams, strengthen client relationships and support local economic activity.

Bedir said Mastercard’s regional teams had demonstrated resilience, innovation and a strong focus on customer needs. She added that she would build on the foundations established under Dosis while working with clients and partners across the region.

The new mandate comes as Mastercard continues to develop partnerships across EEMEA around digital payments, financial inclusion, fintech and cross-border money transfers.

The company has increasingly focused on expanding payment options and connecting consumers, businesses and financial institutions through digital platforms. These developments have increased the strategic importance of regional leadership as markets adopt different technologies and regulatory frameworks.

Bedir’s appointment therefore places her at the center of Mastercard’s activities across a diverse group of 81 markets. Her previous experience in Eastern Europe, Turkey, Azerbaijan and North America will form part of her background as she takes responsibility for the wider region from September.