Western Union Executive and Leadership Team

September, 2026

Leadership Overview

Western Union has 10 executives leading key functions including regional management, financial oversight, information technology, operational scaling, and strategic product development.

Committed to seamless global financial connectivity, Western Union delivers reliable cross-border payment solutions that bridge international currencies and empower consumers through an expansive digital and physical infrastructure.

Leadership Roles at Western Union

  • Vice President and Chief of Staff To the President and Chief Executive Officer of Western Union - Shelley Pogodzinski
  • Chief Financial Officer - Jehona Alaj-Ahmetaj
  • Chief Operating Officer - Benjamin Hawksworth
  • Director, Chief Operating Officer Business Management - Rohit Sarayan
  • Store President - Everett Hubbard
  • President, & Laca (Interim, North America) - Rodrigo Estebarena
  • Chief Information Officer - Eric Lefebvre
  • Global Vice President, Strategy & Product, Marketing, Communications Chief of Staff - Jennifer Engerman
  • Chief People Officer - Karen Whalen
  • Managing Director - Peter Bucher
  • Shelley Pogodzinski - Vice President and Chief of Staff To the President and Chief Executive Officer of Western Union

    Shelley Pogodzinski, the Vice President and Chief of Staff To the President and Chief Executive Officer of Western Union, directs the strategic priorities and executive communications for the office of the leadership team. Overseeing the flow of information, the Vice President and Chief of Staff To the President and Chief Executive Officer of Western Union ensures that the executive agenda remains focused on core financial services objectives. This leadership role involves coordinating high-level initiatives across the organization to maintain alignment with the company's long-term vision. By managing key stakeholder relationships, Shelley Pogodzinski drives the execution of critical corporate projects. The Vice President and Chief of Staff To the President and Chief Executive Officer of Western Union facilitates collaboration between the board and senior management. Through the synthesis of complex business data, the Vice President and Chief of Staff To the President and Chief Executive Officer of Western Union supports informed decision-making. Ultimately, Pogodzinski secures organizational focus on the company's mission of global financial connectivity.

    Jehona Alaj-Ahmetaj - Chief Financial Officer

    Jehona Alaj-Ahmetaj, the Chief Financial Officer at Western Union, manages the global financial health and capital allocation strategies of the organization. Overseeing fiscal planning, the Chief Financial Officer ensures accurate reporting on currency exchange spreads and transaction fee revenue. This leadership role involves maintaining robust financial controls to support the company's extensive international remittance operations. By analyzing market trends, Jehona Alaj-Ahmetaj directs investment toward digital payment platforms and infrastructure upgrades. The Chief Financial Officer collaborates with the executive board to mitigate financial risks associated with global volatility. Through precise management of liquidity and capital structure, the Chief Financial Officer sustains the company's competitive position in the financial services industry. This strategic oversight enables the organization to scale operations effectively across borders. Ultimately, Alaj-Ahmetaj drives sustainable growth by aligning financial resources with the core mission of providing seamless global money movement.

    Benjamin Hawksworth - Chief Operating Officer

    Benjamin Hawksworth, the Chief Operating Officer at Western Union, manages the day-to-day operational efficiency of the global remittance network. Overseeing internal processes, the Chief Operating Officer ensures that physical agent networks and digital platforms function in perfect synchronization. This leadership role involves streamlining transaction workflows to reduce latency in cross-border payments. By optimizing supply chain logistics for financial services, Benjamin Hawksworth drives improvements in service delivery speed. The Chief Operating Officer coordinates with regional leaders to maintain consistent operational standards across diverse international markets. Through the implementation of lean management practices, the Chief Operating Officer enhances the overall productivity of the organization. This focus on operational rigor supports the company's ability to process millions of transactions annually. Ultimately, Hawksworth secures the operational integrity of the business, ensuring that the company remains a trusted leader in the global financial services sector.

    Rohit Sarayan - Director, Chief Operating Officer Business Management

    Rohit Sarayan, the Director, Chief Operating Officer Business Management at Western Union, manages the administrative and strategic support functions for the operations division. Overseeing business management processes, the Director, Chief Operating Officer Business Management ensures that operational goals remain aligned with the broader corporate strategy. This leadership role involves tracking performance metrics across global remittance services to identify areas for efficiency gains. By facilitating communication between operational teams, Rohit Sarayan drives the successful execution of large-scale projects. The Director, Chief Operating Officer Business Management coordinates resource allocation to support the company's extensive physical and digital infrastructure. Through the analysis of operational data, the Director, Chief Operating Officer Business Management provides actionable insights that improve transaction processing speed. This focus on management excellence supports the company's ability to maintain high service standards. Ultimately, Sarayan secures operational continuity by optimizing internal workflows and project management frameworks.

    Everett Hubbard - Store President

    Everett Hubbard, the Store President at Western Union, directs the performance and service quality of the physical agent network. Overseeing retail operations, the Store President ensures that local branches provide reliable remittance and foreign exchange services to consumers. This leadership role involves managing the operational standards of physical locations to maintain the company's trusted brand presence. By optimizing the customer experience at the point of service, Everett Hubbard drives transaction volume and loyalty. The Store President coordinates with regional managers to ensure that physical infrastructure meets the needs of diverse international communities. Through the implementation of standardized service protocols, the Store President enhances the efficiency of money transfers. This focus on retail excellence supports the company's mission to provide accessible financial services. Ultimately, Hubbard secures the company's physical market reach by maintaining high operational standards and fostering strong relationships with local agents and customers.

    Rodrigo Estebarena - President, & Laca (Interim, North America)

    Rodrigo Estebarena, the President, & Laca (Interim, North America) at Western Union, directs the strategic growth and operational performance across the North American and Latin American markets. Overseeing regional expansion, the President, & Laca (Interim, North America) ensures that cross-border payment solutions meet the specific regulatory and consumer demands of these territories. This leadership role involves managing the integration of digital and physical services to maximize market share. By analyzing regional financial trends, Rodrigo Estebarena drives the adoption of new remittance technologies. The President, & Laca (Interim, North America) collaborates with global teams to align regional activities with the company's overarching financial connectivity goals. Through the optimization of regional agent networks, the President, & Laca (Interim, North America) enhances the speed and reliability of money transfers. This focus on regional leadership supports the company's mission to bridge financial systems. Ultimately, Estebarena secures the company's competitive position by driving growth in key international corridors.
    Rodrigo Estebarena

    Eric Lefebvre - Chief Information Officer

    Eric Lefebvre, the Chief Information Officer at Western Union, architects the digital infrastructure required for secure, high-volume cross-border financial transactions. Overseeing the technology stack, the Chief Information Officer ensures the stability of digital platforms used for international money transfers. This leadership role involves integrating advanced cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive financial data across global networks. By modernizing legacy systems, Eric Lefebvre drives the transition toward agile, cloud-based payment processing. The Chief Information Officer collaborates with product teams to enhance user experience through innovative digital interfaces. Through the deployment of scalable software solutions, the Chief Information Officer supports the company's ability to handle complex currency exchange transactions in real-time. This technological focus remains critical to maintaining the company's reputation for reliability. Ultimately, Lefebvre secures the digital backbone of the organization, enabling efficient financial connectivity for millions of users worldwide.

    Jennifer Engerman - Global Vice President, Strategy & Product, Marketing, Communications Chief of Staff

    Jennifer Engerman, the Global Vice President, Strategy & Product, Marketing, Communications Chief of Staff at Western Union, directs the development of product roadmaps and integrated marketing campaigns. Overseeing strategic initiatives, the Global Vice President, Strategy & Product, Marketing, Communications Chief of Staff ensures that new financial offerings align with evolving consumer needs. This leadership role involves crafting communication strategies that reinforce the company's brand identity in the global payments market. By analyzing competitive positioning, Jennifer Engerman drives the launch of innovative digital remittance features. The Global Vice President, Strategy & Product, Marketing, Communications Chief of Staff collaborates with cross-functional teams to ensure consistent messaging across all international channels. Through the alignment of product development with market demand, the Global Vice President, Strategy & Product, Marketing, Communications Chief of Staff enhances customer engagement. Ultimately, Engerman secures the company's market relevance by championing customer-centric product evolution and clear brand communication.

    Karen Whalen - Chief People Officer

    Karen Whalen, the Chief People Officer at Western Union, directs the global human resources strategy and talent development initiatives. Overseeing organizational culture, the Chief People Officer ensures that the workforce remains equipped to support the company's complex financial services operations. This leadership role involves implementing talent acquisition programs that attract experts in fintech and international payments. By fostering an inclusive environment, Karen Whalen drives employee engagement across diverse global regions. The Chief People Officer collaborates with leadership to align human capital strategies with the company's growth objectives. Through the development of training programs, the Chief People Officer enhances the technical and operational capabilities of the staff. This focus on people management supports the company's ability to maintain high service standards in a competitive market. Ultimately, Whalen secures the organization's future by building a high-performing team capable of navigating the evolving landscape of global money movement.
    Karen Whalen

    Peter Bucher - Managing Director

    Peter Bucher, the Managing Director at Western Union, directs regional market expansion and oversees the execution of cross-border payment strategies. This leadership role involves managing complex financial relationships across diverse international jurisdictions to ensure consistent service delivery. By optimizing local agent networks, Bucher strengthens the company's footprint in emerging markets. The Managing Director maintains rigorous oversight of regulatory compliance standards while driving revenue growth through localized remittance solutions. Peter Bucher also coordinates with global teams to align regional performance with broader corporate objectives. Through the implementation of efficient transaction protocols, the Managing Director enhances the overall speed and reliability of money transfers. This focus on operational excellence supports the company's mission to provide accessible financial services to a global customer base. Ultimately, Bucher secures long-term market stability by fostering deep integration within regional financial ecosystems.

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Western Union Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads Western Union?
    Western Union is led by Shelley Pogodzinski (Vice President and Chief of Staff To the President and Chief Executive Officer of Western Union), along with executives such as Jehona Alaj-Ahmetaj (Chief Financial Officer) and Benjamin Hawksworth (Chief Operating Officer).
    Who is part of Western Union’s executive team?
    The executive team of Western Union includes leaders such as Shelley Pogodzinski (Vice President and Chief of Staff To the President and Chief Executive Officer of Western Union), Jehona Alaj-Ahmetaj (Chief Financial Officer), Benjamin Hawksworth (Chief Operating Officer) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does Western Union have?
    Western Union has 10 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in Western Union’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of Western Union includes roles such as Vice President and Chief of Staff To the President and Chief Executive Officer of Western Union, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Director, Chief Operating Officer Business Management, Store President.