Head of Sales & Partnerships (APAC)

About Kora

Kora operates as a global infrastructure provider for fiat and stablecoin payments, facilitating seamless cross-border transactions for financial institutions, fintech businesses, and large enterprises. While initially focused on Africa, the company is expanding its network into Asia to bridge financial ecosystems across continents. Kora's mission is to eradicate digital barriers in finance, fostering reliable and secure payment solutions that genuinely benefit users. The company emphasizes open communication, high energy, and inclusivity in building its team.

Position Overview

The Head of Sales & Partnerships (APAC) will spearhead Kora's strategic commercial initiatives across Asia. This leadership position will focus on accelerating revenue, nurturing enterprise relationships, and cultivating partnerships that expand Kora’s payment corridors across the continent. The successful candidate will directly engage in winning key accounts, building strategic alliances, and establishing the regional commercial team from the ground up. This is a hands-on leadership role involving collaboration with various departments to shape regional strategies.

Key Responsibilities

• Own revenue targets and drive commercial performance for the APAC region, including building and managing healthy sales pipelines and securing new business.
• Identify, approach, negotiate with, and close deals with banks, fintech firms, remittance providers, PSPs, and other financial institutions needing cross-border payment infrastructure.
• Develop, implement, and execute partnership strategies by forming alliances with banks, payment aggregators, wallet providers, stablecoin firms, and related entities to grow Kora's infrastructure.
• Pinpoint requirements for establishing new payment corridors and coordinate both customer and partner onboarding until operational.
• Shape Kora’s market entry playbook for Asia, refining customer profiles, regional sales approaches, pricing, and partnership models based on real-time feedback.
• Lead complex sales negotiations, including contracts, revenue-sharing arrangements, licensing, and strategic partnerships.
• Identify, engage, and formalize commercial partnerships with licensed entities to facilitate market entry and compliance when necessary.
• Serve as the regional commercial intelligence lead, tracking competitors, pricing, evolving regulations, demand, and infrastructure trends. Provide actionable insights to senior management.
• Channel local market feedback to influence product development including support for new settlement models, compliance needs, API enhancements, and currency options.
• Cultivate and expand key customer and partner relationships to increase adoption and transaction volume beyond initial contracts.
• Recruit, train, and lead the APAC commercial organization once the foundation is established—defining best practices and scalable processes.
• Deliver regular, structured reports to executive leadership on pipeline status, revenue results, partnership progress, market risks, and key opportunities.

Requirements

• At least 8 years in enterprise B2B sales, business development, or partnership roles in fintech, payments, banking, or digital financial infrastructure.
• Proven record of finalizing complex enterprise agreements across Asian financial markets—especially with banks, fintechs, and other large financial organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to structure partnerships that drive commercial and market expansion.
• Deep knowledge of cross-border payments, correspondent banking, settlement platforms, payment rails, stablecoins, and regulatory frameworks in Asia.
• Experience leading market launches or regional commercial operations.
• Skilled in both relationship-driven enterprise sales and partnership negotiations, including revenue-share and contract structures.
• Strong grasp of AML/KYC standards, compliance needs, and licensing in APAC markets.
• Extensive network within one or more major APAC financial sectors.
• Record of building and mentoring high-performing commercial teams.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining disciplined reporting and pipeline management standards.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, and executive reporting skills.
• Fluency in English essential. Proficiency in Mandarin, Chinese, or other major Asian languages is highly regarded.
• Willingness to frequently travel throughout APAC and occasionally to Africa.

Equal Opportunity and Inclusion

Kora is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment and welcomes candidates of all backgrounds. The company accommodates individual needs throughout the recruitment process.

Benefits

• Customized professional training
• Paid parental leave
• Paid time off
• Access to up to four monthly therapy sessions
• Birthday leave
• Participation in internal interest/support groups
• Collaborative, supportive team culture

Additional Information

Kora encourages applicants who may not meet every listed requirement but have the potential to thrive in the role.