AMMAN, JORDAN, September 26, 2006 - Visa International, the world's leading payment organization, recently appointed Mr. Naser Abu Ghazaleh, its new General Manager for the Levant.

The position was previously held by Mr. Said Shuqom who has resigned from Visa International leaving behind him a five-year track record of note-worthy achievements.

Upon assuming his new post, Abu Ghazaleh will be responsible for carrying on with Visa International's efforts to continually provide card users with a superior service and to support all market actors. He is expected to draw upon his vast experience in the fields of retail banking, marketing, and relationship management to lead Visa International towards assuming further notable recognition in the local markets it operates within.

Commenting on this promotion, Mr. Abu Ghazaleh said," It gives me great joy to be working with one of the world's leading payment organizations. My firm belief in all what Visa International has to offer is what inspired me to take on this new post. Visa International has made many great strides in the years Mr. Shuqum spent with the organization. On this occasion, I sincerely thank him for all his efforts and achievements, and I realize that his shoes will be hard to fill. My aim is and always will be to assure today's consumers that Visa has a lot to offer them. Visa, after all, is one of the worlds safest, most convenient, and most efficient methods of payment for day to day spending. The great efforts we go through to prevent fraud, help solidify this reputation. Once again, I am proud to be working for such a powerful entity, and I am certain that Visa International will continue to respond to the demands of the modern market. I wish Mr. Shuqom the best of luck in all his future endeavors, and I hope that I will be able to meet if not surpass the high standards that the communities Visa International operates within have come to expect."

Abu Ghazaleh obtained his Master's degree in Business Administration in 2001 from University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, and his Bachelor's Degree in the same field in 1989 from the University of Central Arkansas in the USA. Over the past 17 months, Abu Ghazaleh held the position of Relationship Manager with Visa International for the Levant, and prior to joining Visa International, he spent more than 11 years working in the field of retail banking.