GSMA's Bill Gajda to Head up Visa's Mobile Initiative While Maintaining Role as President of the GSM Foundation
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 22, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Visa Inc. (NYSE: V), the world's largest retail electronic payments
network1, announced today that Bill Gajda, currently Chief
Commercial Officer at the GSMA, will join Visa as head of mobile.
Gajda's position at Visa is designed to further advance Visa's mobile
strategy, working in collaboration with the wireless and financial
services industries to bring mobile payments and related services to
consumers around the globe.
Gajda comes to Visa with nearly 15 years experience in the wireless
industry, including seven years with the GSMA, the organization which
represents the interests of the worldwide mobile communications
industry. Spanning 219 countries, the GSMA unites nearly 800 of the
world's mobile operators, as well as more than 200 companies in the
broader mobile ecosystem.
During his tenure at the GSMA, Gajda held senior level positions
including chief marketing officer, and most recently, chief commercial
officer, where he was responsible for strategic initiatives including
Mobile Money, Mobile Money Transfer, Mobile Advertising, Strategic
Partnerships, Mobile Innovation and Business Development. Gajda also
currently serves as president of the GSM Foundation, a position he will
continue to maintain as head of mobile at Visa Inc.
"Visa has made great strides in forming strategic alliances and working
in collaboration with the wireless industry to bring mobile financial
services to consumers in both mature and emerging markets," said
Elizabeth Buse, global head of product at Visa Inc. "Bill's experience
in working with mobile network operators, handset manufacturers and
other leaders in wireless, combined with his track record in helping to
developing successful business models, will be a significant asset as
Visa's aims to commercialize mobile financial services around the globe."
Previous to his role at the GSMA, Gajda was head of marketing at
Ericsson, and also held key positions at Bell Canada International and
TELUS.
About Visa
Visa is a global payments technology company that connects consumers,
businesses, financial institutions and governments in more than 200
countries and territories to fast, secure and reliable digital currency.
Underpinning digital currency is one of the world's most advanced
processing networks--VisaNet--that is capable of handling more than 10,000
transactions a second, with fraud protection for consumers and
guaranteed payment for merchants. Visa is not a bank, and does not issue
cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for consumers. Visa's
innovations, however, enable its financial institution customers to
offer consumers more choices: Pay now with debit, ahead of time with
prepaid or later with credit products. For more information, visit www.corporate.visa.com.
1 Based on payments volume, total volume, number of
transactions and total number of cards in circulation.
SOURCE: Visa Inc.
Visa Inc.
Will Valentine, 415-932-2564
globalmedia@visa.com