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Jorge Salum
Sr. Director, Business Development, Visa
Professional Background
Jorge Salum is a distinguished Senior Business Development Leader at Visa, where he heads the organization’s business operations across 14 markets in the English and Dutch Caribbean. His role encompasses collaboration with various financial institutions, government bodies, fintech companies, and other stakeholders to effectively expand the reach of digital and electronic payments. Jorge has been with Visa since 2013, initially taking on the role of Business Development Leader. In this capacity, he spearheaded Visa's merchant acquiring business throughout the Caribbean. He worked diligently with merchants, acquirers, processors, and technology enablers to broaden Visa's acceptance network and promoted the introduction of innovative payment acceptance technologies. Under his stewardship, the Caribbean market has seen significant growth and modernization in payment processing and acceptance.
Education and Achievements
Jorge's academic achievements are as impressive as his professional ones. He earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Miami Herbert Business School, where he focused on Business and Health Administration. Before that, he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the prestigious University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His educational background has played a crucial role in shaping his analytical skills and strategic mindset, which he applies in his current role in the competitive world of fintech and business development.
In addition to his successful career at Visa, Jorge has a diversified professional history that includes working for industry giants such as Procter & Gamble and Mobile Financial Services, a joint venture between MasterCard and Telefonica. His varied experience spans multiple regions, including both North and South America. He has held several pivotal roles such as Regional Sales Strategy Manager for Latin America and Director of Business Development at Visa, leading initiatives that align business growth with cutting-edge financial technology solutions.
Notable Contributions and Impact
Outside of his role at Visa, Jorge has demonstrated exceptional leadership capabilities through his contributions to various organizations. His keen understanding of market dynamics and consumer needs allows him to create strategies that drive uptake of digital payment solutions. At Visa, he has not only focused on expanding merchant networks but has also pushed for the adoption of electronic payments that cater to local market needs, ultimately helping businesses thrive in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. His expertise in business strategy and development has set a benchmark for others in the industry.
In previous roles, including his significant tenures at Procter & Gamble, Jorge developed an acute sense for consumer behavior and market trends. His achievements span from increasing market share to optimizing sales strategies in highly competitive environments. Such a blend of experience in both technology-driven financial services and traditional consumer goods provides him with a surround vision of market needs, enabling better problem-solving and innovation in the fintech space.
Achievements
Some of Jorge's key achievements include:
- Successfully leading the merchant acquiring business at Visa in the Caribbean, resulting in expanded acceptance and growth of digital payment solutions.
- Implementing new payment acceptance technologies that have significantly enhanced consumer experience in the Caribbean region.
- Driving strategic sales initiatives at Mobile Financial Services, which helped optimize financial solutions for various markets.
- Significant contributions towards building market strategies that benefited consumer goods initiatives during his earlier career at Procter & Gamble.