Sewit Ahderom to lead Mastercard Foundation into Its next era

Sewit Ahderom has been appointed the next President and Chief Executive Officer of the Mastercard Foundation, ushering in a new phase of leadership for one of the world’s largest and most influential philanthropies.

She will succeed Reeta Roy, who will step down after 18 years of transformative leadership. The two will work together on a seamless transition throughout 2025, with Ahderom formally taking on the role on January 1, 2026.

The appointment follows a comprehensive global search that the Board of Directors initiated earlier this year.

The process sought a leader who exemplifies the Foundation’s values, offers a global perspective, brings extensive experience across Africa, and demonstrates the ability and commitment to scale the organization’s impact both across the continent and within Indigenous communities in Canada.

After months of deliberation and interviews with several accomplished candidates, the Board concluded that Ahderom was the clear and exceptional choice to guide the Foundation forward.

A Values-Based Leader with Deep Expertise

“Sewit is a highly talented global executive with a deep understanding of the African continent. Her career spans the development and private sectors, with expertise in agrifood systems and technology – areas closely aligned with the Foundation’s work. Most importantly, Sewit embodies our values. She is a thoughtful listener, fosters strong relationships, and is focused on delivering impactful results,” said Zein Abdalla, Chair of the Mastercard Foundation Board of Directors.

Abdalla added, “Sewit’s career as an investor and an entrepreneur provides invaluable lessons in agility, resilience, and the realities of scaling complex systems. Her first-hand experience is an asset that will enable us to support the journeys of entrepreneurs.”

Understanding the Mission

For the past two years, Ahderom has served as a member of the Mastercard Foundation’s Board of Directors, giving her a strong grounding in its mission and approach. She said the appointment was both humbling and inspiring.

“I am truly honoured to be in the service of the Foundation’s mission. Building on the extraordinary work of Reeta Roy, whose leadership has embodied partnership and purpose, it is both humbling and inspiring to carry this work forward.”

“The Foundation’s commitment to helping young people access dignified and fulfilling work speaks to me on a deeply personal level. I am excited to listen and learn  to strengthen the collaborations that will continue to shape meaningful change across Africa and within Indigenous communities in Canada.”

Experience Across Sectors

Ahderom is widely regarded as a seasoned technology leader with significant experience in both developed and emerging markets.

In recent years, she has advised on initiatives that apply emerging technologies to expand learning for displaced communities and has guided organizations on how to adopt artificial intelligence effectively to address pressing humanitarian challenges.

She previously co-founded Gro Intelligence, a data and analytics platform designed to deliver critical insights on agriculture, climate patterns, and economic development.

Before that, she served as Vice President at Helios Investment Partners, an Africa-focused private equity fund.

Earlier in her career, she worked with Industrial Promotion Services (IPS), the investment arm of the Aga Khan Development Network, and as Vice President in Citigroup’s Investment Banking Division in New York.

Her educational background includes an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Connecticut and an MBA from Columbia University.

Her career trajectory reflects a rare convergence of global finance, African investment, and technology entrepreneurship, all of which position her strongly to lead the Mastercard Foundation.

A Seamless Transition

Outgoing CEO Reeta Roy emphasized the importance of continuity as the Foundation prepares for the change in leadership.

“It’s been an honour to lead the Mastercard Foundation and to be part of an extraordinary journey of transformation in the lives of millions of young people and to know that this impact will endure over generations.”

That’s why I am thrilled about Sewit Ahderom’s appointment as the next President and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation. We have worked closely over the last two years. I respect her expertise, admire her leadership, and look forward to a smooth transition over the coming months,” Roy added.

Committed to Africa and Indigenous Communities in Canada

The Mastercard Foundation envisions a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper.

With more than $53 billion in assets, it is one of the largest and most impactful philanthropic organizations globally.

The Foundation is currently implementing its Young Africa Works strategy, which aims to enable 30 million young people to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030.

In Canada, the EleV Program is designed to enable 100,000 Indigenous youth to complete post-secondary education and successfully transition into employment by the end of this decade.

So far, these programs have provided more than 66 million people with skills and tools, and enabled nearly 18 million young people to access work opportunities. Significantly, more than half of those who have benefited are young women.

The Board of Directors and the Foundation’s leadership stressed that they remain firmly committed to these strategies.

Their approach will continue to prioritize local solutions and partnerships as the driving force behind achieving ambitious goals.

Under Ahderom’s leadership, the Foundation aims to build on this momentum and extend its reach even further in the years ahead.