Who is Jill Kramer, Mastercard’s New Marketing Chief?

Mastercard has announced that Jill Kramer will be the company’s new Chief Marketing and Communications Officer (CMCO), taking over from the current CMCO Raja Rajamannar.

Jill will be tasked with using her expertise in B2B marketing to accelerate growth and strategic performance at the global payment giant. 

Effective 1 December, Raja will begin serving as a Senior Fellow for Mastercard, allowing him to “continue to stay close to the craft I love”.

Discussing Raja’s legacy, Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach says: “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 one of the world’s most admired brands.

“We are deeply grateful for his leadership and look forward to his continued contributions.”

Who is Jill Kramer?

Jill has spent more than 25 years in marketing, with a strong focus on brand strategy, advertising and B2B communications.

She has been recognised by Forbes as one of the Most Influential CMOs for three consecutive years.

“We are excited to welcome Jill Kramer to Mastercard as our new Chief Marketing and Communications Officer,” adds Michael. “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.”

Jill joins from Accenture, where she became Managing Director of Advertising in 2015. She led global advertising strategies across digital, mobile and traditional channels in 35 countries.

In 2021, she was appointed Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, overseeing a global team of more than 2,000 professionals and leading initiatives such as the ‘Let there be change’ brand campaign.

Over the course of a decade at Accenture, Jill’s leadership helped the company nearly double its brand value from US$12bn to US$20.9bn, according to Interbrand’s Best Global Brands Annual ranking.

Prior to joining Accenture, Jill held a series of senior leadership positions at BBDO and DDB, two of the world’s leading creative agencies. 

During these tenures, she spearheaded innovative B2B brand strategies, digital marketing initiatives and communications campaigns for high-profile clients such as AT&T and ExxonMobil, earning industry recognition along the way. 

Taking to LinkedIn, Raja says: “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.”

Raja Rajamannar’s influence at Mastercard

During a 12 year-tenure as CMCO at Mastercard, Raja helped transform the organisation’s brand and marketing approach, leaving a lasting impact on the firm.

At the start of 2019, he led a significant rebranding initiative, introducing a symbol-based logo by removing the Mastercard name – a move informed by consumer testing across 26 countries. 

This change aimed to create a more universally recognisable brand identity.

Reflecting on his time as Mastercard’s marketing lead, Raja continues: “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.”

Raja also made an impact in inclusivity awareness. In 2021, he championed inclusive initiatives such as the True Name Card, allowing transgender and non-binary individuals to use their chosen names on credit cards.

He also designed the Touch Card, which assists visually-impaired users in making financial transactions independently.

He concludes: “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.”

Jill is tasked with maintaining the sustainable and competitive edge that Raja has crafted for Mastercard.