Visa Taps Foremost Strategist Sherif Akinpelu As Senior Marketing Manager For West Africa
In a strategic move that underlines its commitment to innovative marketing approaches, Visa – one of the world’s largest card payment and solutions companies – has appointed Sherif Lanre Akinpelu as Senior Marketing Manager, Marketing Services for West Africa. This appointment brings together Akinpelu’s rich background in marketing strategy, behavioural science, and digital transformation to drive Visa’s growth initiatives in the region.
Akinpelu, known for his exceptional track record in building world-class brands and pioneering marketing solutions, comes to Visa with an impressive pedigree. Previously serving as the Group Deputy Director of Strategy and Planning at SPV Communication Solutions, where he managed the MTN Nigeria account across multiple agencies, Akinpelu has been a driving force in some of Africa’s most impactful marketing campaigns.
He championed the creation and execution of marketing, brand, and communications strategies for all of MTN Nigeria’s business units, including Data, Voice, Youth, Mass Market, Mobile Financial Services (MoMo), Enterprise Business Unit, Customer Experience, Digital/Value-Added Services, MTN Foundation, and Sponsorships.
He also spearheaded notable Nigerian and pan-African campaigns, including the We Move campaign, the MTN Nigeria 5G launch, the MTN Champs Campaign, MoMo Nigeria Positioning, and MoMo Africa Remittance. He was also a member of the Strategic Think Tank for TBWA Africa, which oversees MTN Group operations in over 17 African countries. His other previous portfolio includes high-impact work with brands like Etisalat, Dangote Cement, Keystone Bank, and the Lagos State Government, among others.
In his new role for Visa, Akinpelu will be tasked with developing bespoke marketing advisory services and data-driven marketing initiatives. He will focus on creating innovative solutions that engage banks, fintech companies, and merchants across West Africa, leveraging his unique blend of strategic thinking and behavioral science expertise.
Throughout his career, Akinpelu has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to marketing communications. He was named among the Brandcom Awards’ Top 35 Under 35 Marketing Communications Professionals in Nigeria and has consistently led brands to success at prestigious awards like the ADVAN and Loeries Awards. He also won the ADVAN Future Leader in Marketing in 2015.
Of particular note is Akinpelu’s commitment to developing marketing talent across Africa. In 2018, he founded Strategy Trybe, a platform that has already trained over 1,000 marketing professionals. The initiative was recently accredited by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON.
He holds a Master of Business Administration at Nexford University as well as a Bachelor of Sceience (B.Sc.), in Mass Communication from University of Lagos State.