Marrakech – Mastercard has named Yasemin Bedir president of its Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA) region, effective September 1, placing a nearly 20-year company veteran at the head of one of its largest territories. Mastercard announced the appointment from Dubai on August 10.
The EEMEA region has expanded in recent years, growing into an 81-country business that Mastercard describes as vibrant, agile, and high in growth potential. Bedir will take charge of the region from a UAE-based post and join the company’s Management Committee.
She succeeds Dimitrios Dosis, who was recently appointed Chief Commercial Payments Officer and now oversees Commercial & New Payment Flows.
Bedir will oversee the strategy, direction, and overall performance of Mastercard’s operations across the region, working through partnerships with retailers, fintechs, financial institutions, governments, and businesses.
Sachin Mehra, Mastercard’s Chief Business Officer, framed the appointment around results. Bedir, in his words, is “a leader who finds the best in her teams” to deliver impact for customers and “to fuel local economies.”
He described EEMEA as “a vast and complex region that demands creative thinking, proven results, and strong relationships,” and credited Bedir with having “delivered that throughout her career.”
Mehra also pointed to the road ahead, citing “a true opportunity to shape and redefine how people and businesses move money, exchange value and enable commerce for years to come.”
Bedir’s most recent post was Division President for Eastern Europe, a role she held for four years. She guided that team through a complex geopolitical and regulatory environment while working to strengthen Mastercard’s position across those markets.
Her path at the company runs long. Bedir joined Mastercard in 2007. She later became General Manager of its Türkiye and Azerbaijan operations, then spent nearly five years overseeing community institution and processor relationships in North America. In that assignment, she became the first female senior executive from Türkiye to work at Mastercard USA.
The new president responded to the appointment by turning to her teams. “I’ve been inspired by the teams here at Mastercard,” Bedir remarked, pointing to their resilience, innovative spirit, and dedication to customer needs as the force behind the company’s daily impact.
She promised continuity, adding that the region would “build on the strong foundation the regional team has created under Dimi’s leadership over the past five years.”
Before Mastercard, Bedir worked at HSBC, Garanti Bank, and Yapı Kredi in Türkiye. She is among the founders of the Professional Women Network (PWN) and leads several projects aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises grow.
Her professional profile also lists recognition among Fortune’s top 50 most powerful women in Türkiye and a seat on the YASED board.
Read also: Mastercard: 87% of Moroccan SMEs Confident About Business Outlook
