Mastercard has announced the appointment of Yasemin Bedir as President of its Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA) region, effective September 1, 2026.
Mastercard’s EEMEA region has expanded significantly in recent years, incorporating new markets and now covering 81 countries, the company said in a statement.
Bedir, who has nearly 20 years of experience at Mastercard, will also join the company’s executive leadership team. She succeeds Dimitrios Dosis, who was recently appointed Chief Commercial Officer, leading Mastercard’s “Commercial & New Payment Flows” activities.
Based in the United Arab Emirates, Bedir will oversee Mastercard’s strategy, direction and overall performance across the EEMEA region. She will work closely with the company’s partners, including retailers, fintechs, financial institutions, governments and businesses.
“Ms. Bedir is a leader who knows how to bring out the best in her teams, helping them maximize their impact for customers and drive local economic growth,” said Sachin Mehra, Mastercard’s Chief Commercial Officer, as quoted in the statement.
He added that the EEMEA region is “vast and complex” and requires “creative thinking, proven results and strong relationships,” noting that Bedir has demonstrated these qualities throughout her career.
“By working with our customers and partners across the EEMEA region, we have a real opportunity to shape and redefine how individuals and businesses move money, exchange value and facilitate commerce for years to come,” he said.
Most recently, Bedir served for four years as President of Eastern Europe, where she guided her team through a complex geopolitical and regulatory environment while strengthening Mastercard’s leadership position across these markets.
A strong advocate for talent development, Bedir has also helped foster a culture based on accountability and collaboration.
She joined Mastercard in 2007 and has gained extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of markets around the world. Her previous roles include serving as General Manager of Mastercard’s operations in Turkey and Azerbaijan, followed by nearly five years overseeing relationships with community institutions and processing service providers in North America.
“Mastercard’s teams have inspired me,” Bedir said, highlighting their resilience, innovative spirit and unwavering commitment to meeting and exceeding customer needs as key drivers of Mastercard’s daily impact.
“Together, we will build on the strong foundations that the regional team has established under Mr. Dosis’ leadership over the past five years,” she added.
Earlier in her career, Bedir worked at HSBC, Garanti Bank and Yapı Kredi in Turkey. She was also among the founders of the Professional Women Network (PWN) and has led several initiatives aimed at supporting the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
