Inside Mastercard: Jill Kramer to Lead Global Marketing Team

Mastercard is setting up its next phase of brand-led growth by appointing Jill Kramer as Chief Marketing and Communications Officer (CMCO), succeeding long time CMCO Raja Rajamannar.

Jill, a seasoned B2B marketer, will be charged with harnessing her enterprise marketing experience to accelerate growth and sharpen strategic performance across the global payments leader.

Effective 1 December, Rajamannar transitions to Senior Fellow at Mastercard, a move he says will allow him to “continue to stay close to the craft I love”.

Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach underscored the scale of Raja's influence during his 12-year tenure: “Raja’s impact on Mastercard and the marketing industry has been nothing short of transformative.

"His creativity, passion and relentless pursuit of excellence have inspired all of us and helped Mastercard become one of the world’s most admired brands. We are deeply grateful for his leadership and look forward to his continued contributions.”

The new marketing chief

Jill arrives with more than 25 years of marketing leadership, spanning brand strategy, advertising and B2B communications, and has been recognised by Forbes as one of the Most Influential CMOs for three consecutive years.

Michael highlighted the strategic fit between her capabilities and Mastercard’s ambitions: “We are excited to welcome Jill Kramer to Mastercard as our new Chief Marketing and Communications Officer.

“Jill’s global perspective and deep expertise in B2B marketing will be invaluable as we continue to accelerate our growth and innovation. Her leadership and vision are exactly what we need for this chapter.”

Most recently, she served at Accenture, joining in 2015 as Managing Director of Advertising to lead global advertising strategy across digital, mobile and traditional channels in 35 countries.

In 2021 she became Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, overseeing a 2,000-plus person team and spearheading initiatives including the “Let there be change” brand platform.

Over a decade, her stewardship helped nearly double Accenture’s brand value from US$12bn to US$20.9bn, per Interbrand’s Best Global Brands ranking - evidence of disciplined brand building tied to enterprise outcomes.

Before Accenture, Jill held senior roles at creative powerhouses BBDO and DDB, where she led innovative B2B brand strategies, digital marketing programmes and communications campaigns for marquee clients including AT&T and ExxonMobil, earning industry recognition.

That combination of agency rigor and global in-house leadership positions her to integrate creativity, reputation and performance marketing at Mastercard’s scale.

Raja expressed confidence in the transition, saying: “As I pass on the baton to Jill Kramer, who brings remarkable experience from her time as CMCO at Accenture, I do so with confidence and excitement.”

Handing over the baton 

The current CMCO's legacy at Mastercard is defined by bold brand architecture, multisensory identity systems and inclusive design as business strategy.

In 2019, he introduced a symbol-based logo - removing the Mastercard name - following consumer testing in 26 countries to create a more universally recognisable identity.

He also advanced inclusion with the True Name Card, enabling transgender and non-binary people to use their chosen names, and the Touch Card, designed to help visually impaired users conduct transactions independently.

Reflecting on his tenure, Raja says: “It has been one of the most fulfilling chapters of my life – filled with creativity, discovery and the joy of building something truly meaningful alongside extraordinary people.”

He added: “We pioneered multisensory marketing, introduced symbol branding, created a sonic identity that resonated around the world and explored what a brand could look, sound and even feel like.”

For marketing leaders, this handover signals continuity anchored in Mastercard’s long-term brand investment, with renewed emphasis on enterprise-grade B2B growth.

Jill’s remit will include elevating commercial impact from brand platforms, deepening global orchestration across 35+ markets, and sustaining differentiation through inclusive innovation - areas where Mastercard already leads.

She inherits an admired, future-fit brand system and is tasked with maintaining the sustainable and competitive edge that Raja has crafted for Mastercard, while translating that equity into measurable business outcomes across clients, partners and consumers worldwide.