Ava Kelly
About Ava Kelly
Ava Kelly serves as the Chief Product Officer at Thredd, bringing extensive experience in payments and digital banking. She has held various leadership roles at major financial institutions, including Visa and American Express, and has a strong background in product development and strategic partnerships.
Current Role at Thredd
Ava Kelly serves as the Chief Product Officer at Thredd, a position she has held since 2023. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing product development and strategy, leveraging her extensive experience in technology and product management. Her focus includes driving innovation and the commercialization of new products within the organization.
Previous Experience at Visa
Ava Kelly has held multiple roles at Visa, including SVP, Head of North America Consumer Credit from 2008 to 2010, and SVP, Head of Global Affluent, Product Strategy & Activation from 2010 to 2012. She also worked as VP, Head of Consumer Credit Product Consulting from 2006 to 2008, and as Product Director for the Visa Signature Platform from 2004 to 2006. Her tenure at Visa contributed to her strong background in payments and digital banking.
Career at American Express
Ava Kelly's career at American Express spanned several roles, including Director of Marketing for Global Merchant Services from 2002 to 2003 and Chief of Staff to the President/CEO from 2003 to 2004. She also served as Canadian Marketing Manager for the Stored Value Group from 1997 to 1999 and as Senior Marketing Manager for Membership Rewards from 2000 to 2002. These positions helped her develop expertise in marketing and strategic planning.
Education and Academic Background
Ava Kelly studied at the University of Toronto, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Commerce and Economics. This educational background laid the foundation for her career in product management and marketing within the financial services sector.
Leadership and Management Skills
Ava Kelly possesses extensive experience in managing cross-functional teams across various regions. Her leadership skills have been instrumental in the successful delivery of large-scale initiatives. She specializes in strategic partner development, negotiation, and management, enhancing issuer, merchant, and co-brand partnerships throughout her career.