Bobby Thomson is Senior Vice President, Global Head of Government Affairs at Visa Inc., where he leads Visa’s engagement with key business and government leaders in the U.S. and around the world to promote the growth of electronic payments and foster financial inclusion. Thomson is also responsible for partnering with public and private sector stakeholders to develop and advance Visa’s global public policy agenda across a wide range of issues that are critical to the electronic payments industry. In his role at Visa, he serves on the Global Markets Leadership Team and helps shape the company’s strategy on emerging policy issues. A payments industry veteran, Thomson previously served as Head of U.S. Government Affairs at Visa, where he directed all corporate U.S. state and federal advocacy efforts, and as Vice President, Federal Government Affairs at American Express Company. Thomson holds an MBA from the George Washington University, where he graduated with honors. He also holds a BA from DePauw University in Greencastle, IN, and is a graduate of DePauw’s Management Fellows Program. Thomson is a Trustee Emeritus of Illinois College in Jacksonville, IL where he received an honorary doctorate in 2018 and an honorary BA in 2009. Thomson is a member of the Ford’s Theatre Society Board of Governors President’s Circle. He also serves on the boards of the Ripon Society, the Public Affairs Council, and the Information Technology Industry Council. He is also a member of the Board of Advisors of the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) in College Park, Maryland. He and his wife, Erin, reside in Arlington, VA with their two children.