Afterpay (ASX:APT), a provider of “Buy Now, Pay Later” payment services, today announced that it has appointed Zahir Khoja as General Manager of North America.

He will be responsible for key functions of the North American business including sales, client relationships, business growth and partnerships, as the company continues its rapid market expansion. Previously, Mr Khoja served as the executive vice president of global merchant solutions and partnerships at Mastercard.

Zahir Khoja, Afterpay’s new General Manager of North America, said:

“Because of its customer-centered business model and partnerships with the world’s best brands, Afterpay has quickly become the global leader in Buy Now, Pay Later. It’s an absolute honor and privilege to join this business with such strong momentum, especially in North America. I look forward to building on its success with new, innovative customer and industry partnerships.”

Mr Khoja joins Afterpay with more than 20 years of global experience leading businesses including building high performing sales teams. He most recently held a tenure at Mastercard in a global capacity, where he was responsible for developing and executing solutions that enabled new growth opportunities for the business and its partners.

Prior to Mastercard, he led M-Paisa (mobile money for the unbanked) and mobile commerce solutions for Roshan in Afghanistan, which earned him global recognition for his contribution to driving financial inclusion in the country. Prior to this, he held several additional senior-level positions at Virgin Mobile, TELUS and Pepsi Cola in Canada and currently serves on the boards of Vintro and Kudos.