LONDON — Visa has hired Portland director Claire Hardy as its new senior director of communications for Continental Europe.

Hardy had been at Portland since 2019. She was previously at Worldpay for four years, latterly as director of corporate affairs and global corporate social responsibility. Earlier in her career she was an associate at Finsbury.

In her new role, Hardy will report to Visa Europe chief communications officer Elvira Schachermeier.

Hardy said: “Visa was founded on the idea that safe, fast and reliable digital payments should be available to everyone, everywhere.

“As Covid-19 continues to cause enormous hardship for many in Europe and around the globe, I can’t think of a more worthwhile aim than to help drive a more inclusive economic recovery, connecting the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payments network, while supporting businesses and economies to thrive.”