News

GSMA veteran takes Visa mobile.

Did you know that Visa had a mobile business? Probably not; but you do now, because it has appointed industry veteran Bill Gajda to run it. From Finextra, we have this summary of the news:

Card giant Visa has hired Bill Gajda, chief commercial officer at global wireless trade group GSMA, to head up its mobile operations.

Here's the rest of the story, just for comparison (see below!)

In his new role, Gajda is charged with running Visa's mobile strategy, working with the wireless and financial services industries to bring mobile payments and related services to people around the globe.

He joins the firm after seven years at the GSMA, which represents the interests of the worldwide mobile communications industry, spanning 219 countries and uniting nearly 800 of the world's operators.

As chief commercial officer, Gajda was responsible for strategic initiatives including mobile money, mobile money transfer, advertising, strategic partnerships, innovation and business development. He also serves as president of the GSM Foundation, a position he will continue to maintain as head of mobile at Visa.

Before joining the GSMA, Gajda was head of marketing at Ericsson, and also held key positions at Bell Canada International and Telus.

Elizabeth Buse, global head, product, Visa, says: "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."

Visa has stepped up its assault on the mobile payments and banking sectors in the last couple of years, launching several commercial trials around the world. Last year it also took a 14.4% stake in Monitise after signing a $13 million partnership deal with the UK mobile banking outfit.

Entertainingly, a very similar-reading press release can be found to reveal many of those details. The release adds the information that:

GSMA's Bill Gajda to Head up Visa's Mobile Initiative While Maintaining Role as President of the GSM Foundation

Here's the full text of the official release, just for fun!

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 22, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Visa, the world's largest retail electronic payments network, 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.