Ann Cairns

Ann Cairns is the Executive Vice Chair of Mastercard, representing the company and brand around the world. As a senior ambassador and executive leader, she brings inclusion, diversity, and innovation to the forefront not just within Mastercard, but around the world, building new global partnerships with governments, businesses and NGOs. With a background in engineering affording her exceptional technological acumen and early-career leadership opportunities, Cairns excels at both managing change caused by external factors and driving change through innovation and advocacy.

Prior to taking the Executive Vice Chair role, Cairns was President of International Markets, managing all customer-related activities worldwide, guiding the company’s expansion into new and diverse geographies, opening up new customer segments, and embracing the digital revolution with her focus safety, security and convenience.

Before joining Mastercard, Cairns headed the Financial Services Group with Alvarez & Marsal in London, where she led the European team managing Lehman Brothers Holdings International through the Chapter 11 process. She also helped restructure banks across Europe including Ireland & Iceland.

Her additional senior leadership experience includes a tenure as CEO of Transaction Banking at ABN-AMRO and 15 years in senior operational positions at Citigroup.

She began her career as an award-winning research engineer, moving through the ranks to become the Head of Offshore Engineer-Planning for British Gas; Cairns was the first woman qualified to go offshore in Britain.

She is chair of ICE Clear Europe, global co-chair of the 30% Club, chair of Financial Alliance for Women and a member of the UK Government’s AI council.

She has a Pure Mathematics degree and honorary doctorate from Sheffield University and a M.Sc. with research into medical statistics and honorary doctorate from Newcastle University.