Head of Middle East

About Airwallex

Airwallex is a unified global payments and financial platform catering to over 250,000 businesses worldwide, including major clients like Brex, Qantas, and SHEIN. Originating from Melbourne, the company has a workforce of more than 2,300 employees across 27 offices globally and boasts a valuation of US$11 billion. It is backed by prominent investors such as T. Rowe Price, Visa, Mastercard, and Sequoia.

Role Overview

We are seeking a senior leader to helm Airwallex's Middle East operations. This role encompasses full commercial, operational, and cultural leadership within the region, being the foremost Airwallex representative on the ground. The successful candidate will spearhead strategy development, team growth, and ensure sustainable, cash-flow-positive business growth.

Primary Responsibilities

• Drive SME and Enterprise sales teams to meet revenue, customer growth, and product adoption targets.
• Develop and implement comprehensive go-to-market strategies and enhance customer experience across the Middle East.
• Set and pursue a long-term commercial vision, identifying fast-growing market segments and verticals.
• Collaborate with Legal, Risk & Compliance teams to secure required licenses and regulatory permissions for expansion.
• Hold complete Profit & Loss accountability, steering commercial margins towards cash-flow-positive outcomes.
• Oversee and optimize regional marketing expenditures, aligned with global directives.
• Design incentive schemes for commercial teams within global frameworks.
• Elevate Airwallex's brand visibility in the Middle East through targeted events, campaigns, and partnerships, coordinating with global marketing.
• Serve as a credible external liaison to regulators, government entities, and industry groups, shaping public and regulatory perception.
• Represent the company at industry forums, regulatory meetings, and speaking engagements.
• Build, attract, and retain a high-performing and diverse team for commercial and operational functions.
• Champion culture and employee engagement, collaborating with People & Talent teams.
• Ensure clear communication of business updates and alignment with global company values.

Required Qualifications

• Over 12 years of experience in financial services, fintech, or related technology sectors with leadership roles in the Middle East.
• Proven ability to manage P&L and drive commercial expansion in scaling or high-growth businesses.
• In-depth knowledge of the payments, banking, and cross-border finance environment in the UAE and/or Saudi Arabia.
• Experience in building and leading high-performing commercial and operational teams.
• Familiarity with regulatory and licensing processes in the Middle East region.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience growing a fintech or payment platform in the GCC, preferably from early or greenfield stages.
• Direct experience leading regulatory and licensing negotiations with regional authorities.
• Previous senior leadership experience such as Country Manager or GM with substantial P&L responsibilities and limited HQ support.
• Established relationships within UAE and Saudi fintech and banking ecosystems, including regulators and partners.
• Track record of closing significant enterprise deals in financial services, payments, or SaaS sectors.
• Arabic language skills are a significant advantage; deep understanding of GCC cultural business norms is essential.
• Demonstrated resilience by seeing previous market-building roles through multiple growth phases.

Commitment to Safety and Equal Opportunity

Applicants should beware of recruitment scams; Airwallex will never request bank details or sensitive identification during the hiring process. All official correspondence comes from @airwallex.com email addresses. Airwallex is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and considers all candidates on merit regardless of legally protected statuses. Accommodations for disabilities or special needs can be requested during the hiring process.