Chief Executive Officer

About the Role

A global scaling fintech with a strong footprint across India, the Middle East, Europe, and South America is preparing to launch its Electronic Money Institution (EMI) operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Our mission is to build secure, seamless, and inclusive digital payment infrastructure that connects merchants and consumers across borders.

As Chief Executive Officer – KSA, you will lead the company’s market entry, regulatory setup, and commercial expansion in the Kingdom. You will be responsible for obtaining and operationalizing the SAMA EMI license, building the local leadership team, and driving business growth in alignment with national digital transformation goals.

This is a high-impact, strategic leadership role for a fintech executive with deep knowledge of Saudi Arabia’s payments and financial ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

Market Entry & Strategy

• Lead the end-to-end launch of the EMI business in KSA, including license acquisition, operational setup, and market penetration.
• Develop and execute the go-to-market strategy, ensuring product localization and competitive differentiation.
• Identify key merchant segments, partnerships, and ecosystem collaborations across banks, fintechs, and large retailers.
• Align commercial priorities with Vision 2030 and national financial inclusion objectives.

Regulatory & Compliance Leadership

• Oversee the EMI licensing process with SAMA, ensuring full adherence to all regulatory requirements.
• Build strong relationships with SAMA, government authorities, and industry stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain AML/CFT, data privacy, and operational compliance frameworks that meet both local and global standards.

Leadership & Organization Building

• Recruit and lead a high-performing KSA leadership team across commercial, compliance, operations, and technology.
• Embed a culture of integrity, innovation, and accountability.
• Drive alignment between local operations and global strategy.

Commercial Growth & Partnerships

• Take full P&L responsibility for the KSA business.
• Lead enterprise and merchant acquisition strategies to grow transaction volumes and market share.
• Forge strategic alliances with banks, telcos, eCommerce platforms, and payment partners to expand acceptance.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the senior representative of the company in KSA to regulators, investors, partners, and media.
• Provide regular business performance updates to the Board and global management.

Key Requirements

• Proven track record as CEO, MD, or Country Head in fintech, payments, or financial services.
• Strong understanding of the Saudi payments ecosystem, including EMI regulations, digital wallets, and local payment schemes.
• Demonstrated success in launching or scaling a regulated financial institution in KSA.
• Expertise in licensing, compliance, and governance within regulated environments.
• Strategic yet hands-on leadership approach with strong communication and execution capabilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with EMI, open banking, or payment acquiring platforms.
• Exposure to VC/PE-backed fintech environments.
• Degree in Finance, Business, or related discipline; MBA preferred.
• Fluency in English and Arabic highly desirable.