Bio - Kris Tsaousidis

Kris started working in Client Facing roles over 20 years ago.  She has owned her own small business, where she worked to transform a struggling organization into an agile export business.  Seeking a new challenge, Kris left her family business in the hands of her husband and took on a role at American Express Merchant Services.   

She spent 17 years at American Express, working in both the issuing and merchant divisions.  She became known as a strong leader who was committed to clients and her colleagues.  Most recently, she was the VP Small & Medium Enterprise in Global Commercial Services.  She led a team of approximately 200 sales and account management colleagues, partnering with Marketing and Product Development to offer omnichannel solutions that meet small and medium-sized business’s needs. 

During the pandemic, Kris focused on reinforcing a sense of belonging among her team and their partners, building a sense of purpose that allowed the team to rely on each other and succeed in the face of uncertainty.  She was the Executive Sponsor for the Inclusion and Diversity Taskforce and an active mentor. 

Kris decided during the pandemic she wanted to use the time not spent travelling improving herself and becoming a better partner and leader.  She applied to the University of Fredericton for the Executive MBA in Global Leadership and is expecting to graduate by the end of 2022. 

In November 2021, Kris became the VP of Merchant and Acquiring Solutions for Canada and is a member of the Canadian Leadership team.  What excites her most about her role is the immense possibility of how Visa can partner with merchants and acquirers in defining post-pandemic Canada. 

When not at work or in class, Kris volunteers as the Chief Safety Officer for Canoe Kayak Canada, Western Ontario Division.  She is married to Lambos for 23 years and they have two children, Niko and Grace who are preparing to launch as adults.  Together, they can be found hiking the trails of the Oak Ridges Moraine with their perfect dog – Gali.