Mastercard announced a few days ago the appointment of Juan Pablo Vivas as the new general director of its Spanish subsidiary. This appointment marks an important milestone in the company’s strategy to drive innovation and digitalization of payments in the Spanish market.
A profile with extensive experience in the sector
Juan Pablo Vivas comes to this position with over two decades of experience in the payment industry. His career at Mastercard spans a decade, during which he has held various strategic roles in different markets.
Before taking on this new role, Vivas held key positions in the company, including:
- Product Manager for Mexico and Central America
- Global Head of Consumer Credit Product Management
- Global Head of Digital Payments Issuer Engagement and Labs
- Global Account Manager for Citi at Mastercard
His previous experience includes 13 years at American Express, where he rose to the position of vice president of Global Marketing and Payment Products for Latin America.
Objectives and challenges in his new position
In his new role, Vivas will have the mission to:
- Accelerate innovation and digitalization of payments
- Foster partnerships with public and private entities
- Implement Mastercard’s services and solutions to enhance the payment experience
The new general director has expressed his enthusiasm for this new chapter, stating: “I am very excited about this new stage leading the business in Spain and in an industry that I am passionate about and that is currently experiencing such an interesting and high-growth moment.”
Changes in the executive structure
This appointment comes within the framework of a broader restructuring at Mastercard. Paloma Real, who held the position of general director for Spain since 2017, has been promoted to President of the Western Europe Division at Mastercard, which includes the markets of Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, and Italy.
Real has expressed her confidence in Vivas, highlighting his experience and ability to “continue driving forward the growth of Mastercard in Spain, and leading the transformation of the future of the payment industry in the country.”
Educational background
Juan Pablo Vivas has a solid academic background. He holds a degree in Business Administration from the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas ICAI-ICADE and a degree in Marketing from the Escuela Superior de Estudios de Marketing (ESEM).
With this appointment, Mastercard reaffirms its commitment to the Spanish market and its vision for the future of the digital payments sector in the country.