Copyright Adweek
Mastercard has appointed Accenture marketing boss Jill Kramer as its next chief marketing and communications officer, succeeding longtime marketing leader Raja Rajamannar effective Dec. 1. Rajamannar will move into the role of senior fellow after more than 12 years leading the company’s global brand and marketing transformation divisions. During Kramer’s time as chief marketing and communications officer, Accenture’s brand value nearly doubled from $12 billion to $20.9 billion, according to Interbrand. She spent nearly a decade at Accenture after holding senior roles at BBDO and DDB, where she led campaigns for brands including AT&T and ExxonMobil. Under Rajamannar’s leadership, Mastercard transformed into a marketing-led, data-driven organization. A former chair of the ANA’s Global CMO Growth Council, he also founded Mastercard’s healthcare business and authored Quantum Marketing, now taught at more than 300 universities. In a LinkedIn post, Rajamannar called his time at Mastercard “one of the most fulfilling chapters of my life— filled with creativity, discovery, and the joy of building something truly meaningful alongside extraordinary people.” “As I pass the baton to Jill Kramer … I do so with confidence and excitement for what lies ahead,” he wrote. “Raja’s impact on Mastercard and the marketing industry has been nothing short of transformative,” said Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach in a statement. “His creativity, passion and relentless pursuit of excellence have inspired all of us and helped make Mastercard one of the world’s most admired brands. We are deeply grateful for his leadership and look forward to his continued contributions.” He added that Kramer’s “global perspective and deep expertise in B2B marketing will be invaluable” in Mastercard’s next chapter.
