Global payments technology company, Visa, has announced the appointment of Marianne Mwaniki as senior vice president in charge of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Ms Mwaniki, a Kenyan banker, will be charged with building on Visa’s long history of corporate giving and to accelerate the delivery of the company’s social impact goals by helping small and microenterprises thrive.

“Marianne has a wonderful combination of strong global experience in the financial industry and a demonstrated passion for driving social change,” said William Sheedy, executive vice president of corporate strategy, mergers & acquisitions and government relations at Visa.

“Her leadership will advance Visa’s commitment to strengthening communities, operating responsibly, and prioritizing the inclusiveness and growth of micro and small enterprises around the world.”

Prior to joining Visa, Ms Mwaniki spent more than 20 years in the international banking sector, leading teams across Africa, Europe and Asia.

She previously served as managing director at Standard Chartered, handling individual clients in Africa.

Mwaniki is currently a board member of the British Chamber of Commerce Kenya and a founding member of the Africa Leadership Network. She holds a master’s degree from the London School of Economics.