Sewit Ahderom, Ethiopian entrepreneur and investor, has been appointed President and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation. This appointment comes after 18 years of leadership by Reeta Roy, who has made the foundation a key player in education, financial inclusion and youth empowerment in Africa.

A member of the foundation’s board for two years, Ahderom knows his missions and operations well. She co-founded Gro Intelligence, a platform that analyzes agricultural and climate data, and was vice-president at Helios Investment Partners, an investment fund specialized in Africa. The manager has also worked on projects using artificial intelligence and technology in the humanitarian and development sectors.

Zein Abdalla, Chairman of the Board of Directors, emphasizes his flexibility, his resilience and his ability to manage complex systems, in accordance with the values of the foundation. The new CEO wants to listen to local communities and work in partnership with them, while developing digital solutions to improve employment, education and entrepreneurship. His presidency opens a new chapter to help young Africans and support innovation on the continent.