The Mastercard Foundation has announced the appointment of Sewit Ahderom as its next President and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2026. She will succeed Reeta Roy, who has led the Foundation for 18 years. Throughout 2025, Roy will work closely with Ahderom to ensure a smooth and thoughtful leadership transition.
This year’s selection process was notably rigorous. The Foundation’s Board of Directors sought a leader with strong African roots, a global outlook, and deep experience in technology and development. Sewit Ahderom emerged as the ideal candidate.
Zein Abdalla, Chair of the Board, shared his confidence in the appointment:
Sewit is a highly talented global executive with a deep understanding of the African continent. Her career spans both the development and private sectors, with expertise in agrifood systems and technology. Sewit embodies our values, she is a thoughtful listener, fosters strong relationships, and is focused on delivering impactful results.
Ahderom has served on the Foundation’s Board for the past two years, giving her a unique insider perspective. In her statement, she described the appointment as both humbling and inspiring, and emphasized her commitment to listening to young people, staff, and partners as she steps into the role.
Ahderom’s appointment signals a strategic evolution for the Foundation, one that leans more heavily into technology-driven philanthropy. Under Reeta Roy’s leadership, the Foundation built scale and credibility, investing in over 66 million people and enabling nearly 18 million youth to access work opportunities.
In recent years, the Foundation has shifted its focus from profit to impact, championing EdTech, launching an Entrepreneurial Academy, and establishing an accelerator program. Ahderom’s background, founding Gro Intelligence, and her experience in private equity, reflects a growing trend of nonprofits recruiting leaders who bridge tech innovation and social impact.
As she takes the helm, Ahderom inherits ambitious initiatives, including:
- Young Africa Works: A strategy aimed at enabling 30 million young Africans to access dignified work by 2030.
- EleV Program: Supporting Indigenous youth in Canada through education and employment pathways.
With her expertise in data, digital tools, and scalable solutions, Ahderom is well-positioned to lead the Foundation into its next chapter—one that may redefine how philanthropy intersects with technology across Africa and beyond.
Outgoing CEO Reeta Roy expressed her support for the transition:
It’s been an honour to lead the Mastercard Foundation. 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, and I look forward to a smooth transition over the coming months.
This leadership change represents both continuity and transformation for one of the world’s most influential philanthropic institutions.
