Group Product Head – Cards at Equity Bank Kenya

Position Overview: 

As the Group Product Head of cards, you will play a pivotal role in driving the strategy, design, and execution of card product offerings across multiple markets. This role focuses on optimizing and enhancing the bank’s card products, including credit, debit, prepaid, and proprietary cards, with a deep emphasis on the Way4 platform and card-related processes. You will oversee the entire product lifecycle from ideation to execution and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration, compliance, and innovative delivery of card solutions. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the cards ecosystem, including issuing, acquiring, settlement, and compliance, and will lead the charge in delivering card products that meet customer needs while driving business growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Card Product Strategy:
  • Define and execute a comprehensive product strategy for the bank’s card products (credit, debit, prepaid, and proprietary cards) that aligns with overall business goals and market trends.
  • Ensure differentiation of card products to maximize value from international card schemes and proprietary card solutions within domestic markets.
• Platform & Technology Leadership:
  • Lead the integration and optimization of the Way4 platform, ensuring efficient processing and management of card transactions.
  • Collaborate with IT teams to implement emerging technologies and best practices within card systems, ensuring a seamless customer experience.
• Card Processes & Innovation:
  • Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of card products, ensuring robust processes are in place for issuing, acquiring, settlement, chargebacks, and disputes.
  • Drive continuous innovation by identifying opportunities to enhance card processes, streamline operations, and introduce new product features (e.g., contactless payments, virtual cards).
• Compliance & Risk Management:
  • Ensure all card products comply with regulatory requirements and are aligned with industry best practices and security standards (e.g., PCI DSS).
  • Collaborate with legal, compliance, and risk teams to mitigate operational and regulatory risks.
• Cross-functional Collaboration:
  • Work closely with internal stakeholders, including technology, marketing, compliance, and operations teams, to deliver seamless and integrated card solutions.
  • Partner with external vendors, schemes, and fintech partners to identify new opportunities and stay ahead of industry trends.
• Team Leadership & Development:
  • Lead and develop a team of product managers and specialists, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence.
  • Mentor and guide the team in agile methodologies, ensuring timely and quality delivery of projects.
• Performance & Reporting:
  • Track and analyse key performance indicators (KPIs) related to card products, including profitability, customer satisfaction, and transaction volumes.
  • Report regularly to senior leadership on product performance and market opportunities.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Advanced degree (MBA or equivalent) is a plus.

Experience:

• 8+ years of experience in product management, with a strong focus on card products and payment systems.
• Proven expertise with the Way4 platform and deep knowledge of card processes, including issuing, acquiring, and settlement.
• Experience working with Visa, Mastercard, UPI, and proprietary card schemes.
• Strong background in payment technologies, including POS, mobile payments, and real-time payments.

Skills:

• Solid understanding of regulatory and compliance requirements in the card industry, including PCI DSS.
• Demonstrated experience in managing and leading cross-functional teams.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to think strategically and critically about product issues.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of influencing stakeholders at all levels.