Fine-tuning its management structure for automation and payment systems, Visa Interuational has promoted William L. Chenevich and Scott J. Lodeshess to group executive vice president.
Mr. Chenevich, 50, executive vice president for delivery systems since early this year, was given global responsibility for payment systems. He reports to Wesley C. Tallman, president of the products and information services group.
Mr. Loftesness, 46, oversees advanced payment system strategies and reports to Visa International chief executive officer Edmund P. Jensen. Mr. Lofteshess, at Visa since 1985, had most recently been involved in cardholder information services and remote banking.
The two executives have operating and strategic responsibilities that had been centralized under Roger Peirce, Visa International's chief of delivery systems, before he departed for First Dam Corp. early this year.
The moves underscore the importance of systems as Visa pursues its goal of becoming a truly global currency, said Mr. Jensen, who himself is only about four months into his job at Visa after a career at U.S. Bancorp in Oregon.
"The talent and background of both Scott and Bill will help Visa consume and expand its lead in the systems and technology area," Mr. Jensen said. "Both play key roles in focusing Visa's efforts on the effective delivery by financial services [to customers] who want convenience, speed, and reliability."
Other Personnel Changes
The changes are related to other recent personnel moves, including Mr. Tallman's taking the products and information services post, effective in March. Mr. Tallman has gained prestige as his responsibilities have become more focused since Mr. Jensen's arrival in January. Prior to that, Mr. Tallman headed product and market development for both Visa International and Visa U.S.A.
In a recent interview, Mr. Tallman said an organization like Visa must manage the natural tension between visionary thinking, which strategists at the card association are noted for, and the market realities faced by member banks. Mr. Tallman was given the latitude to orchestrate the periodic shifts in emphasis between strategy and tactics.
Not Just a Card Company
"I have talked a lot about product, but the infrastructure has to deliver it," he said. "My job is to balance product ideas, systems, and marketing. It was all right to separate those functions when we were just a credit card company, but we're not that any more."
Besides Mr. Chenevich, a highly regarded bank operations executive whom Mr. Peirce hired last year from Home Savings of America, the people reporting to Mr. Tallman, and their responsibilities, are: Denny D. Dumler, automated tellers and the Plus network; Peter Gustafson, Interlink and other deposit access products; Richard Hagedorn, credit products; Mike Nash, cash products including travelers checks; John Bennett, marketing; Harvey Bondar, market research; and Linda Mock, market development.
