Head of Cards & Payments

Velaris Executive Search is partnering with an established financial institution to appoint a Head of Cards & Payments .

The role combines commercial strategy, payment product development and strategic business relationship management.

The successful candidate will lead a team, manage selected key business relationships and drive the growth and commercial performance of payment products through new business opportunities and cross-functional initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic partnerships – develop and strengthen relationships with key strategic partners, identify new commercial opportunities, and drive joint business and product development initiatives
• Commercial growth – drive initiatives aimed at increasing product usage, customer engagement and transaction volumes, while improving commercial performance
• Cards & payment products – contribute to the development and enhancement of existing and new payment products
• Pricing & profitability – oversee pricing analyses, commercial models, business cases and profitability assessments, supporting the development of competitive and commercially sustainable propositions
• Business development – identify new growth opportunities, evaluate market trends and develop business initiatives supporting the expansion of products and services
• Leadership & execution – lead and develop a dedicated team, define business priorities, monitor performance and ensure effective cross-functional collaboration

Candidate Profile

We are looking for an experienced business leader with a strong understanding of the banking and payments sector, combining commercial acumen with product expertise and relationship management capabilities.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Significant experience in cards, payments, digital banking or payment products, gained within a financial institution or an established payments organisation
• Strong understanding of card products, card schemes, digital payment solutions and the broader payments ecosystem
• Proven experience in developing commercial relationships, managing external partnerships and negotiating business arrangements
• Solid understanding of pricing, revenue models, product profitability and commercial performance
• Experience in driving product growth, developing new business propositions and supporting the launch of new products or services
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities, with experience in managing teams and delivering results through cross-functional collaboration
• Strong analytical thinking, commercial judgement and the ability to translate market opportunities into measurable business outcomes
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and influencing skills
• Proficiency in Polish and English is a must

The Opportunity

This position offers the opportunity to play a leading role in shaping payment product development and driving key commercial initiatives within an established financial institution.

The successful candidate will combine strategic leadership with hands-on business involvement, leading a team, developing key business relationships and driving commercial growth.

We welcome applications from experienced professionals with a strong background in cards, payments and commercial development.