Payments
10 card issuing program experts
These ten payments professionals have held roles in which running card issuing programs or card products was part of their own work. Readers can learn how card programs are set up with card schemes, processors and sponsor banks, and what it takes to launch and run them.
Professionals to explore
01—10Agustín Salgado
LinkedInExperience: Head of Cards Products · AstroPay
Former Head of Cards Products at AstroPay (2025–2026), where the profile says he managed cards end-to-end, from product development and P&L ownership to relationships with BIN sponsors, schemes, processors, embossing and logistics partners, across local and cross-border issuance programs. He led a 6-person cross-functional team there and has been Business Development Manager at Revolut since 2026.
Ahmed Merayyan
LinkedInExperience: Vice President - Head of Cards Product Development · Arab Bank
Vice President - Head of Cards Product Development at Arab Bank since 2024, where the profile says he leads the bank's card product and digital transformation strategy; it also says he has been acting Head of Cards Portfolio for Arab Bank Group since January 2026. He was previously Group Head of Operations at Arab Financial Services (2021–2024).
Aurimas Budreckis
LinkedInExperience: Product - Xapo Card · Xapo Bank
Product - Xapo Card at Xapo Bank since 2024, after serving as Director of Product Management (Embedded Finance) at Epos Now (2023–2024) and Director of Product at Modulr (2021–2023). The profile describes expertise in card issuing and the ability to deliver card programmes end-to-end, from greenfield launches to the optimisation of established products in global fintech environments.
Deyan Denchev
LinkedInExperience: Head of Card Issuing · emerchantpay
Former Head of Card Issuing at emerchantpay (2019–2025), and Senior Product Manager, Nexo Card at Nexo since 2025. At emerchantpay the profile says he led issuing projects, including scheme and processor certification, banking provider integration and card vendor setup, and oversaw card program management including BIN sponsorship.
Gaurav Kumar
LinkedInExperience: Head Projects, Process and P&L- Issuing · YES BANK
Former Head Projects, Process and P&L- Issuing at YES BANK (2017–2020), and Head of Issuing - Digital Wallets & Cards at VaultsPay since 2024. He was also Vice President - Issuing and Acquiring at TerraPay (2021–2024), and the profile describes 18 years of experience across digital payments, cards, merchant acquiring and issuing.
Geoffrey Ong
LinkedInExperience: Card Program Management (Team Lead Senior Manager) · Klarna
Card Program Management (Team Lead Senior Manager) at Klarna since 2025, after serving as Analytics Lead Klarna Card (Senior Manager) (2023–2025). The profile says he leads a four-person cross-functional team responsible for managing partnerships and joint initiatives with card networks, issuer processors and physical card manufacturers.
Haider Alsaden
LinkedInExperience: Head of Card Schemes and Card Products · Miray Holdings
Head of Card Schemes and Card Products at Miray Holdings since 2024, where the profile says he shapes the cards and payments strategy across regulated fintech businesses, driving card issuing, payment infrastructure and strategic partnerships in markets including the UAE, Turkey, Hong Kong, Canada and Brazil. He was earlier Head of Cards and Cheques Operations at United Arab Bank (2010–2023).
Janne Hanka
LinkedInExperience: Global Card Program Management Lead · Klarna
Former Global Card Program Management Lead at Klarna (2024–2025), where the profile says he oversaw the strategic and tactical governance of card product programs. His other Klarna roles were Accountable Group Lead (2021–2024) and Senior Engineering Manager (2020–2021), and he was Head of Market Unit Financial Services Sweden at Tieto (2016–2020).
Mohammed Qasim
LinkedInExperience: Head of Card & Issuing · dafa
Head of Card & Issuing at dafa since 2025, alongside the role of Senior Operations Officer there since 2022; he was earlier Operation Officer at dafa (2020–2022). The profile describes him as an operations and card issuing leader with 5+ years of experience in fintech and payments.
Ravi kumar Gadhireddy
LinkedInExperience: Senior Manager - Issuing Portfolio Cards and Payments · neoleap
Senior Manager - Issuing Portfolio Cards and Payments at neoleap since 2024, after serving there as Sr. Project Manager Cards and Payments (2022–2024). The profile headline describes the role as Head of Issuing Portfolio, and he also held Project Manager Cards and Payments at Network International (2014–2022).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's setting to yours, since a fintech launching its first card through a BIN sponsor faces different questions than a bank running an established card portfolio. Also decide whether you need help with partner selection and launch or with running and improving a live program.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How did you choose between issuer processors, BIN sponsors and program managers, and what would you weigh differently now?
- 02What caused the biggest delays in getting a card program certified and launched, and how did you manage them?
- 03Which metrics tell you whether a live card program is healthy, and which levers improve its economics?
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
Request a correction or removal