Stephen Adams

Stephen Adams is Head of Japan for Square, where he leads the company's strategy and growth across one of its most important international markets. Based in Tokyo, Stephen is responsible for accelerating Square's expansion in Japan, adapting Square's global platform to local needs, deepening partnerships, and helping Japanese businesses digitise and grow.

Stephen brings more than 15 years of experience working in Japan across payments, financial services and investment. Prior to joining Square, he was Vice President and Head of Japan Merchant Sales and Acquiring at Visa Japan, where he led major initiatives to drive cashless adoption nationwide. Earlier in his career, he worked at The Blackstone Group in Japan, specialising in real estate private equity.

A Tokyo resident since 2011, Stephen combines deep local market knowledge with global perspective. He is focused on making Square the go-to commerce and payments partner for Japanese sellers, from small businesses to complex, multi-location operators.