Imran Baghirov
Director, Retail & Commerce Business Development
Mastercard • Eastern Europe Lead (Türkiye + CIS 12 Markets)
Executive leadership at intersection of Retail, Telco, Innovation and IT.
I build innovation engines. Across telecom, retail, fintech, and startup ecosystems, I have spent 26+ years transforming ideas into scalable impact — from founding Azerbaijan's first startup incubator to driving multi-million dollar services revenue growth at Mastercard in war-torn CIS markets.
Currently leading Retail & Commerce Business Development for Eastern Europe at Mastercard, owning go-to-market strategy across Türkiye and 11 CIS markets while deploying world-class data platforms (Dynamic Yield, SessionM, Cyber & Intelligence) to enterprise partners. Previously 13+ years as C-level telco executive at Azercell Telecom, founded Azerbaijan's largest technology hub (5,000 sqm, 500 capacity), and holds 2 patents at AI/eKYC intersection.
LANGUAGES
About Me
Spent 13+ years in telecom including 6 years in C-level roles. Launched two national innovation hubs (Barama & Lotfi Zadeh), supported 1,000+ startups across 3 continents.
Currently leading Retail & Commerce Business Development for Eastern Europe at Mastercard, driving growth across Türkiye and the CIS region through digital transformation, ecosystem partnerships, and high-stakes go-to-market strategies.
18 years in leading roles with P/L and staff management.
Ideal Mandate
"Senior commercial leadership - VP / Regional/Country Director"
Expertise Areas
Core domains where I deliver strategic transformation and measurable impact.
Retail & E-commerce
Driving growth in omnichannel strategies, marketplace partnerships, and customer experience transformation.
Telecommunications
Leading business transformation, 5G ecosystem development, and innovation initiatives in telco sectors.
Innovation & AI
Pioneering AI, ML integration. Hold 2 patents in AI-based innovations driving business value.
Program Management & Analytics
Executing multi-year transformation programs. Certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt for operational excellence.
Strategic Planning
Crafting strategic roadmaps balancing short-term execution with long-term growth across 3 continents.
Startup Ecosystem & Venture
Founded Azerbaijan's first startup incubator. Supported 1,000+ startups across 3 continents.
Technical Credentials
Trusted by Industry Leaders
My experience spans 15+ years working with Fortune 500 companies and innovative startups across telecommunications, retail, and fintech sectors.
Lotfi Zadeh
Mastercard
Director, Retail & Commerce BD • Eastern Europe Lead
Jan 2023 - Present
Owning go-to-market across a US$2.2B GDP territory in Türkiye and 11 CIS markets. Drives C-level partnerships across retail, telco and fintech sectors.
Azercell Telecom
Strategy & Innovation Section Manager (TeliaSonera Group)
2005 - 2019
13+ years C-level telco executive trajectory. Led strategy, innovation and new-business incubation at Azerbaijan's tier-1 operator.
Lotfi Zadeh Technology Center (LTC)
Co-Founder & Managing Partner / CEO
2019 - 2022
Scaled Azerbaijan's largest tech hub. 5,000+ sqm across two locations with 500+ resident capacity for coworking, acceleration and investments.
IBMS Solutions
Founder & CEO (Lean Six Sigma Consultancy)
2010 - 2019
Delivered US$4M+ client savings across 150+ projects in 8 countries. 50+ Lean Six Sigma projects with 30 belts certified.
Barama Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center
Manager
2015 - 2019
Built the national-first corporate-backed startup incubator in Azerbaijan to 20+ events and 100K+ engagements per year.
Advisor & Board Positions
Seedstars, Innovation Labs, Gold Ventures Investment
2018 - Present
Global startup advisor (2x Innovation Lab), mentor to founders, advisor to corporates, investor partner.
International & Sector Exposure
Türkiye + 11 CIS markets (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Georgia, and 7 more)
Telecom (13+ yrs) • Retail & Commerce (9+ yrs) • Payments / Fintech • Digital & Startups • AI & Data Platforms
Major Achievements
Proven track record of driving measurable impact.
EB-1A Awardee
Extraordinary Ability in Innovation and Leadership
2 AI Patents
AI Clone Agent & AI eKYC for Telecom
TEDx & Media
3 TEDx appearances • Radio host
Patent Portfolio
Impact at a Glance
Startups Supported
Continents Operated
Innovation Hubs Founded
Years in Leadership Roles
Let's Connect
Open to consulting engagements, speaking opportunities, and strategic partnerships. Let's discuss how we can work together.