Sewit Ahderom appointed President of Mastercard Foundation

The Board of Directors of the Mastercard Foundation has announced the appointment of Sewit Ahderom as its new President and Chief Executive Officer.

This decision follows the announcement by Reeta Roy that she would be stepping down after 18 years at the helm of the Foundation.

Roy will continue to lead the Foundation until the end of 2025, after which Ahderom will officially assume her role on January 1, 2026.

Earlier this year, the Board initiated a search for an exemplary leader who upholds the values of the Mastercard Foundation. They emphasized the need for someone with a broad perspective, deep experience working across Africa, and a strong commitment to advancing the Foundation’s mission both on the continent and in certain parts of Canada.

After an extensive search and interview process with several candidates, the Board unanimously selected Sewit Ahderom as its choice for the years ahead.

Board Chair Zein Abdalla stated that the new leader met all their expectations and is well-positioned to contribute to the Foundation’s mission.

He said: “Sewit has an extraordinary global talent and a profound understanding of Africa. Her journey and work with the private sector, especially in agriculture and technology, align strongly with the work of the Mastercard Foundation. Most importantly, Sewit embodies our values. She is a listener, a collaborator, and someone deeply committed to delivering real impact for communities.”

Sewit Ahderom expressed her excitement about taking on the role and succeeding Reeta Roy, who had led the Foundation for nearly two decades.

She said: “I am honored to take on this responsibility. Building on the remarkable leadership of Reeta Roy whose vision centered on purposeful collaboration is both inspiring and motivating. The Foundation’s commitment to empowering young people speaks volumes. I look forward to listening, learning from youth, our staff, and partners, and continuing the collaboration that will drive transformative impact in Africa and parts of Canada.”

Sewit Ahderom brings extensive experience in job creation, agricultural development, private sector engagement, technological innovation, and leading companies that apply AI to solve challenges.

She is a co-founder of Gro Intelligence, a company that provides data analytics on agriculture, climate, and economic development.

She has also served as Vice President at Helios Investment Partners, a private equity firm focused on Africa, where she was involved in advancing industrial and infrastructure services.

Earlier in her career, she was Vice President in Citigroup’s Investment Banking division in New York.

Ahderom holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Connecticut and a Master’s degree from Columbia University.