Annual Chair Letter

Delivering impact and value

April 26, 2024 | By Merit E. Janow

Dear Fellow Stockholder,

Despite the challenges of a rapidly evolving economic and technological landscape, Mastercard has been consistently delivering exceptional value to our shareholders, a validation of the strength and resilience of our strategy. 2023 was no exception.

The core elements of the strategy highlight the interconnected nature of core payments, new payment flows, value-added services and the opportunities in new networks. Mastercard’s strengths in these areas reflect more than a decade of investment in building and advancing a world-class set of differentiated solutions.

Even with the best products and strategy, outstanding results do not happen on their own. They require excellent execution, and the Board honors the resilience and creativity that the entire Mastercard organization brings to its work.

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Mastercard’s 33,000+ employees and their dedication to having a positive impact on a global scale. Their efforts to expand access to the digital economy and to create a safer and more connected digital financial ecosystem are clear examples of their work in action and a legacy that they are leaving.

As people’s lives become increasingly more digital, the Board believes that Mastercard will continue to prosper and grow – even in areas we are just beginning to imagine.

The Mastercard management team is committed to fostering an innovation environment that seizes and invests in growth opportunities and builds new partnerships, while staying true to the principles that guide its activities. You see this in how Mastercard responsibly approaches data and technology to enable the testing, learning and deployment of new tools and services.

As a Board, we have the responsibility and obligation to ask tough questions and apply our diverse expertise to the challenges and opportunities Mastercard faces worldwide. The Board collectively has a wealth of experience across geographies, industries and sectors. The proxy statement describes our corporate governance policies and practices and our commitment to be independent, rigorous and transparent.

Looking ahead, we see significant opportunities and a bright future for Mastercard. Thank you for supporting our Company and for giving us the opportunity to continue as Directors. Michael and I look forward to discussing these areas and more during our upcoming annual meeting.

Merit E. Janow
Board Chair