Mekelle/Tel Aviv/Nairobi/Pretoria/London
Mastercard Foundation Appoints Shewit Adhanom as New President and CEO
The Mastercard Foundation today announced the appointment of Shewit Adhanom as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, marking the beginning of a new chapter for one of the world’s largest philanthropic organizations.
Shewit Adhanom brings extensive expertise in agrifood systems, technology, and entreprenet areas that strongly align with the Foundation’s mission of advancing education and financial inclusion for young people in Africa and Indigenous communities in Canada.
With a career spanning global finance, African investment, and technology-driven innovation, Shewit Adhanom has held senior leadership roles at Gro Intelligence, Helios Investment Partners, Industrial Promotion Services (IPS), and Citigroup’s Investment Banking Division in New York. She has also advised on initiatives that apply emerging technologies to support displaced communities and promote the responsible adoption of AI in humanitarian work.
She holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Connecticut and an MBA from Columbia University.
Outgoing President and CEO, Reeta Roy, expressed confidence in her successor:
“It’s been an honour to lead the Mastercard Foundation and be part of an extraordinary journey of transformation in the lives of millions of young people. That’s why I am thrilled about Sewit Ahderom’s appointment as the next President and CEO. We have worked closely over the last two years. I respect her expertise, admire her leadership, and look forward to a smooth transition.”
The Foundation, with over $53 billion in assets, continues to advance its ambitious strategies. Its Young Africa Works initiative aims to enable 30 million young people to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030, while its EleV Program in Canada seeks to empower 100,000 Indigenous youth to complete post-secondary education and transition into meaningful employment.
To date, these efforts have equipped more than 66 million people with skills and tools, and enabled 18 million young people to access work opportunities—over half of whom are young women.
Established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company, the Mastercard Foundation is an independent registered Canadian charity. Its Board of Directors and leadership team remain committed to building on its mission and supporting locally driven solutions to create lasting impact.
