Visa announces leadership change for New Zealand and the Pacific Islands

03/04/2026

Visa, a world leader in digital payments, has announced the appointment of David Peacock as Country Manager for New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. 

David succeeds Anthony Watson, who has taken on the role as Country Manager for Visa Thailand. David brings extensive leadership experience to the role, having led Visa Consulting & Analytics across Oceania, where he grew the consulting practice and strengthened Visa’s position as a leading innovator. 

“New Zealand and the Pacific Islands are dynamic, diverse markets, and I’m excited to join the team as we continue working with our clients and partners to innovate and grow. What really sets Visa apart is how we bring global expertise together with deep local insight”, said David. 

His appointment comes at a critical time for New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, where rapid digital adoption and industry forces are reshaping the future of commerce. Across both regions, secure and reliable electronic payments play a central role in driving financial inclusion, empowering small businesses, and enabling more people to participate in the digital economy. 

In his new role, David will work closely with clients and partners to strengthen engagement, support strategic deals, and help shape the future of seamless and secure payment experiences across the region.

“I’m pleased to welcome David into this role. With his deep experience and proven leadership, he’s well placed to build on the momentum of the New Zealand and Pacific Islands team and drive continued growth across these key markets”, said Alan Machet, Group Country Manager for Visa Oceania. 

“His appointment underscores Visa’s long-term commitment to enabling digital commerce and supporting the region’s expanding payments ecosystem.”

The move follows Teresa Davis’ appointment as Head of Client Engagement for New Zealand. Teresa returns to New Zealand after two years in Australia and will continue to play a central role in supporting clients and partners as the business continues to grow.

These appointments come as Visa continues to expand its presence across the markets. In October 2025, the company established a growing presence in Fiji to better support partners, enhance collaboration, and help advance the region’s expanding digital payments ecosystem - an important driver of sustainable economic development across Pacific Island economies.

 

About Visa Inc.

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.