Riyadh, KSA - 25 June 2018: Celebrating another major milestone in its commitment to developing the next generation of female business leaders, Mastercard, a leading technology company in the global payments industry, proudly welcomes Reema Nezar Al Shammasi as the first woman to join its Riyadh office, following her appointment as the Marketing Manager for Saudi Arabia.

In this newly created role, Reema will lead Mastercard’s brand engagement strategy in the Kingdom, enabling the company to better serve the needs of its growing base of customers and advance its in-country marketing strategy.

“Reema is a vital addition to the team, and we are delighted to welcome her as she steps into her new role. Saudi women have a unique perspective to offer, and her appointment serves as a testament to our commitment to supporting the Kingdom’s vision to bring more women into the private sector, and will enable us to forge stronger partnerships with our stakeholders,” said J.K. Khalil, Cluster Head, Saudi & Bahrain, Mastercard.

“We are excited to be expanding our presence and marketing capability in Saudi with the appointment of Reema. She is a dynamic marketing professional with a deep understanding of the local market, and through her leadership capabilities, she is set to inspire other young women to harness their full potential as economic assets and pursue careers in the technology sector,” said Beatrice Cornacchia, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Middle East and Africa, Mastercard.

Women in Saudi Arabia are emerging as an important consumer segment following a number of national reforms that encourage them to play a greater role in the country’s economic growth and development. For instance, the Saudi Vision 2030 aims to increase the participation of women in the workforce from 22% to 30%, creating new opportunities for companies operating within the Kingdom and highlighting the need to better understand their impact on business strategies.

Al Shammasi joins Mastercard from Nestlé where she served as the Brand Manager, responsible for business planning and project management, brand strategies, alignment with regional teams, monitoring market and consumer trends, and managing multi-channel campaigns amongst other responsibilities. In the past, she has also served in the marketing divisions of Saudi-based organizations including Nada and Mayar Foods.

Fluent in Arabic and English, Al Shammasi holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Otago, and a Graduate Diploma of Commerce from the Lincoln University in New Zealand.