FAMReports News Desk | October 2025
Mastercard Foundation, one of the world’s largest philanthropic organizations, has announced the appointment of Sewit Adherom as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. She will officially assume office on January 1, 2026, succeeding Reeta Roy, who has led the institution for nearly two decades.
The leadership change marks a significant moment in the Foundation’s journey, reinforcing its Africa-first vision while introducing a deeper focus on technology-driven solutions to unlock opportunities in jobs, skills, and entrepreneurship across the continent.
Adherom brings an impressive track record in technology, finance, and development. She is the co-founder of Gro Intelligence, a platform that leverages data to analyze agriculture, climate, and economic trends. Before that, she served as Vice President at Helios Investment Partners, a leading Africa-focused private equity firm.
According to Zein Abdalla, Chair of the Mastercard Foundation Board of Directors, Adherom 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 – areas that closely align with the Foundation’s work.”
A Legacy of Growth and an Africa-First Agenda
Founded in 2006, Mastercard Foundation has grown into a powerful global philanthropy, holding over $53 billion in assets. Its flagship strategy, Young Africa Works, aims to enable 30 million young Africans to secure dignified employment by 2030.
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Key programs include:
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, which has supported over 40,000 young people, primarily in Africa, to complete their education and transition into meaningful careers.
Young Africa Works, through which over 13 million young Africans have secured dignified work opportunities.
A $1.5 billion partnership with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic to boost vaccine access across the continent.
What Sewit Adherom’s Appointment Means for Africa
Adherom’s appointment signals both continuity and innovation. While staying true to the Foundation’s Africa-first philosophy, she is expected to push the organization toward greater use of technology and innovation in addressing Africa’s most urgent challenges.
Her career as an investor and entrepreneur is seen as an asset for guiding the Foundation’s work with startups and social enterprises. Abdalla noted, “Sewit’s career provides invaluable lessons in agility, resilience, and the realities of scaling complex systems. Her first-hand experience will enable us to better support entrepreneurs across Africa.”
Having already served more than two years on the Foundation’s Board, Adherom is well-acquainted with its mission and partners. In her first remarks following the appointment, she said she is “excited to listen and learn from young people, our staff, and our partners, and to strengthen the collaborations that will continue to shape meaningful change across Africa and within Indigenous communities in Canada.”
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With Africa’s youth population projected to double by 2050, the leadership transition at Mastercard Foundation comes at a defining moment. Sewit Adherom’s appointment reinforces a long-term commitment to preparing the continent’s young people with the skills, tools, and opportunities to thrive in a rapidly changing, technology-driven global economy.
Her vision promises to deepen the Foundation’s role as a transformative force for African development, building on Reeta Roy’s legacy while charting a new path powered by innovation, data, and entrepreneurial partnerships.
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