Click to watchThe Mastercard Foundation has appointed Sewit Ahderom as its next President and Chief Executive Officer. She will officially take over on January 1, 2026. During 2025, outgoing CEO Reeta Roy will work with Ahderom to ensure a smooth handover.
This year, the selection process came with a lot of rigour. The Board of Directors were looking for someone with deep ties to Africa, a global perspective, and experience in tech and development. They chose Ahderom.
Zein Abdalla, Chair of the Board, said:
“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… 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 two years. That gives her an insider view. In her statement, she described the appointment as both humbling and inspiring. She pledged to listen to young people, staff, and partners as she steps into the new role.
Click to viewThis leadership change signals a tilt toward technology-driven philanthropy. In the last two years, Mastercard Foundation resources have shifted towards impact over profit; fronting the cause for Edtech and establishing an accelerator and Entrepreneurial Academy. Reeta Roy’s tenure built scale and credibility over 18 years. Ahderom brings a different blend: tech, investment, and development experience.
Her background in founding Gro Intelligence and her roles in private equity mirror a growing trend—nonprofits hiring leaders who move fluidly between tech and social impact.
As she steps in, she inherits bold agendas: the Young Africa Works strategy (30 million youth in dignified work by 2030), and support for Indigenous youth in Canada via its EleV program. The Foundation has invested in over 66 million people and enabled nearly 18 million youth to access work opportunities. With Ahderom at the helm, the Foundation may lean harder into digital tools, data, and scalable tech solutions in its next phase.
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Reeta Roy, for her part, welcomed the change:
“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… I look forward to a smooth transition over the coming months.”
The transition marks both continuity and transformation for one of the world’s most resource-rich philanthropic institutions. Its next chapter may redefine how philanthropy meets technology in Africa and beyond.
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