Chief Technology Officer - Digital Asset Payments

Chief Technology Officer / CIO — Regional Fintech & Payments | Middle EastWhat strikes me most is the mix of scale and trust. You’re not starting from scratch. You’re taking a proven platform and pushing it into what’s next.What you’ll own as the Chief Technology Officer:Set and deliver the tech strategy for multi‑market growth across MEAModernize core payment processing and merchant acquiring platformsBuild next generation payment capabilities. Open banking, digital wallets, crypto railsKeep mission‑critical systems running with 99.9%+ uptimeLead PCI DSS, ISO 27001, security, and risk across regionsManage data centers and cloud across multiple jurisdictionsShape product and innovation. Tokenization, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung PayStand up fintech enablement and BIN sponsorship techPartner with regulators and drive the tech work for new licensesBuild high‑performing engineering teams and centers of excellenceI’ve seen how rare it is to guide payments at this scale and still have room to experiment. If you care about both reliability and invention, this probably fits.What you bring as the Chief Technology Officer 12+ years in senior technology leadership within payments, fintech, or financial services5+ years as CTO, CIO, or similar C‑level roleDeep knowledge of payment processing, card schemes, and merchant acquiringStrong delivery record on large payment or core banking platformsCloud‑native architectures, microservices, API‑first thinkingCybersecurity and data protection expertiseMulti‑country regulatory experience. Middle East background is highly preferredComfortable owning budgets of $10M+ and teams of 50+ peopleStakeholder savvy with both technical and commercial leadersNice to haveFintech enablement, payment facilitation, or BIN sponsorship experienceCrypto payments, open banking, or DeFi exposureRegulator familiarity. CBB, CBE, CBUAEArabic language skills are a plusWhy this roleLead the tech strategy for a market leader serving millions of consumers and businessesShape next generation payment platforms across MEAWork directly with the CEO and executive teamPackage and perksCompetitive salary with performance bonusBenefits, visa sponsorship, and relocation supportEquity participation potentialAccess to major payment and cloud partnersLeadership development and executive educationRegional travel and a high quality of life locationLocationMajor regional financial hub in the Middle East. Relocation available. Hire for 2026 - shortlisting happen now!