Visa names new head of corporate comms for Malaysia

Digital payment technology company Visa has named Sharmine Ishak (pictured) as its new head of corporate communications for Malaysia. He will report directly to Grace Tan, the head of corporate communications for regional Southeast Asia, who overseas the Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand markets.

In announcing the appointment on LinkedIn, Sharmine said that Visa's purpose to uplift communities everywhere by being the best way to pay, and be paid, resonates deeply with him.

"Because it’s more than just payments. It’s about access, empowerment, and inclusion. It’s about making everyday life simpler, fairer, and more connected for people. And that’s exactly the kind of world I want to help build," he said. 

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Sharmine also shared that he views the new role not just as a career milestone, but a meaningful opportunity to tell stories that matter and contribute to an organisation that’s shaping the future of money through technology and trust.

"With the support of a strong, passionate, and synergistic team driven towards that same vision, we are set on great things ahead," he added, as he steps into the new role this week. 

Sharmine also boasts over 16 years of experience in corporate and brand storytelling, stakeholder engagement and business strategy. He was most recently a senior communications manager at Lazada Malaysia for two years. 

In a separate post recounting his time at Lazada, Sharmine said it was a privilege for him to be a part of a dynamic regional communications team collaborating across six countries.

"Lazada taught me the true speed of tech, the diversity and depth of eCommerce, and the power of storytelling, even in the face of uncertainty. Through shifting retail landscapes and the rise of AI, from campaign chaos to quiet wins, we adapted and kept going to tell the stories that matter," he added. 

Prior to Lazada, he was the associate senior manager for public relations and branding at Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) for five years beginning 2017, leading the corporate rebranding for GSC, and elevating the entertainment brand's reputation among industry stakeholders, business partners and consumers. 

He also had a four-year stint with Ogilvy Public Relations as a senior account manager, and began his career in editorial.

Earlier in January last year, Visa named Sisca Margaretta as its new senior vice president and head of corporate communications for its operations in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. She reports to K.C. Kavanagh, Visa’s chief communications officer who is based in New York and Stephen Karpin, Visa's regional president for APAC.

Margaretta was charged with overseeing the corporate communications team across all of Visa’s markets in the Asia Pacific region, as she leads the team to develop and execute integrated communications plans that support Visa's business objectives.

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