Principal, Services Business Development, Qatar & Kuwait Cluster Lead

Our Purpose

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title and Summary

Mastercard Services is a key differentiator for Mastercard, delivering cutting-edge capabilities that help our customers grow, innovate, and make smarter decisions.

Our agile, global team develops and delivers end-to-end solutions for a diverse customer base. These capabilities include payments-focused consulting, loyalty and marketing solutions, Test & Learn experimentation, and data-driven insights and risk management services.

We serve a broad range of client segments, including Financial Institutions, Retail & Commerce, Digital Partners, and Governments.

The Role

The Principal, Services Business Development, Qatar & Kuwait Cluster Lead will be responsible for leading the Services business across Qatar and Kuwait, with direct accountability for revenue growth, client relationships, business development strategy, and team leadership.

The role holder will:

- Develop and execute the Services business development strategy for Qatar and Kuwait, with direct revenue and business performance accountability.

- Lead, develop, and coach a senior team working closely with Mastercard account teams and clients.

- Deliver against ambitious revenue and business development objectives.

- Operate as a player-coach, actively leading priority opportunities while coaching the team throughout the business development process.

- Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders, including C-suite executives.

- Serve as the senior face of Mastercard Services across Qatar and Kuwait.

- Partner with Mastercard market and account leadership to define how Services can support client and market strategic priorities.

- Translate client needs into relevant Mastercard Services propositions, strategies, and actionable plans.

- Lead and influence complex, high-value opportunities through compelling, fact-based client engagement and negotiation.

- Communicate complex ideas clearly and deliver persuasive presentations to senior client audiences.

- Apply strong analytical thinking and structured problem-solving to complex or ill-defined business challenges.

- Build, recruit, manage, develop, and retain a high-performing team focused on expanding revenue, share, and client impact.

- Partner closely with Services product teams to align client needs, market priorities, and product innovation road maps.

- Collaborate with Advisors & Consulting Services, Finance, and other internal stakeholders to actively track pipeline, delivery, revenue, and overall business performance.

- Travel regularly across the markets to support clients, advance priority opportunities, and coach the team.

All About You

- Deep understanding of Mastercard Services value propositions and the ability to translate them into a focused territory and client strategy.

- Proven track record in progressively complex business development, sales, and strategic account management roles within financial services.

- Strong commercial drive, with demonstrated ability to build, expand, and commercialize senior client relationships.

- Significant experience in management consulting and/or data-driven solution selling.

- Payments consulting experience, preferably gained within a management consulting environment.

- Strong understanding of revenue management and P&L ownership.

- Successful experience leading, developing, and coaching senior teams.

- Strong networker and collaborator who can listen, build common ground, and influence stakeholders to advance opportunities.

- Excellent executive communication, presentation, influencing, and negotiation skills.

- Ability to lead large, complex deals involving multiple internal and external stakeholders.

- Strong analytical and structured problem-solving capabilities.

- Demonstrated experience resolving conflict and navigating complex stakeholder environments.

- Experience setting ambitious goals and translating strategic priorities into executable plans.

- Able to prioritize what matters most, multitask, and be flexible to learn and pivot fast

- Fluency in English; Arabic language capability is highly desirable.

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;

• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;

• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and

• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.