Our executives
Simon Forbes is Mastercard’s Division President for UK and Ireland, responsible for the strategy, direction, and success of the region.
An industry expert, Simon has been at the forefront of changes and innovation in payments. He joined Mastercard in 2014, holding a variety of roles, including leading Mastercard’s relationships with high street retail banks and developing its business with pan-European retail and travel merchants. Before that, he spent six years at American Express.
Simon leads a business that enables economic growth by helping people, businesses and governments pay and get paid safely and securely. With his teams, he believes passionately in fostering greater financial and digital inclusion and helping small businesses grow. Mastercard’s flagship Strive UK program has already reached one million entrepreneurs, equipping them with the digital skills they need to grow their business.
Mark Barnett is President of Mastercard Europe and a member of the company’s management committee since 1 June 2020. He is responsible for the overall success of the only true multi-rail payments technology company, across a region that encompasses 53 countries and serves over 950 million people through partnerships with retailers, financial institutions and businesses.
In this role, Mark leads a business focused on doing well, doing good and making people’s lives easier by delivering simple and secure ways to pay and by fostering a culture where he drives new technology and innovation to position Mastercard as the partner of choice.
Mark joined Mastercard in 2003 and has held various roles. Prior to his current role, Mark was the President of the Mastercard UK, Ireland, Nordics and Baltics Division.
Mark has over 20 years’ experience in the retail banking and payments industry. Most of his client work has been at board level; developing payments strategy, designing innovative new products, advising card schemes and processors, supporting government payment initiatives and implementing major transformation programs.
Mark has an MBA from Imperial College Business School, University of London, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, also from London University.
Ling Hai is President for Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa (APEMEA) at Mastercard and member of both the Executive Leadership Team and Management Committee. He is responsible for advancing Mastercard’s business strategy, sales, business development, product management and engagements with customers and regulators in more than 165 markets. He is also Chairman of Mastercard NUCC Information Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Mastercard's joint venture entity in China.
In his former capacity as Co-President for Asia Pacific at Mastercard, he oversaw all the company’s activities in the region. He was also previously President, Head of Enterprise Development and Division President of Greater China for Mastercard.
Ling Hai serves on various corporate and non-profit boards – Board Director for the National Committee of US-China Relations, Board Deputy for the EDISON Alliance, Board Director and Member of Risk Committee for Cuscal Limited and Board Chair for Wan Shi Wang Lian Network Technology. He is also a Member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Ling Hai obtained his MBA from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business. He also holds an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters and a Bachelor of Science degree from The College of Saint Rose.
Michael Miebach, President of Mastercard, is responsible for overseeing the sales, marketing, products, services, and technology organizations for the company. Mastercard’s Board unanimously elected Michael to succeed Ajay Banga as Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 2021.
Michael brings deep expertise in digital innovation, emerging technologies, regulation, fintech, and financial services to forge innovative partnerships across the ecosystem. He has a wealth of insights and global experience from a 25-year career spanning payments and banking services and technology.
As Chief Product Officer, Michael helped transform the company’s offerings from consumer cards to providing a variety of multi-rail payment solutions. Michael has been a key driver in developing and executing the strategy to evolve and diversify Mastercard, leading the acquisition of Vocalink and the pending transaction with Nets--to address a broader set of payment flows.
His collaborative approach creates scalable and trusted solutions for the exchange of payments and data towards a more inclusive digital economy where everyone is connected, and everyone can thrive.
He previously led Mastercard across the Middle East and Africa and held senior roles at both Barclays Bank and Citibank.
He is a member of the digital advisory council of Fannie Mae, which makes sustainable homeownership and workforce rental housing a reality for millions of Americans, and a member of the Board of Directors for the nonprofit Accion which gives people across the world the financial tools and services they need to prosper. Both roles give Michael the opportunity to pursue his passion for bringing more people greater opportunities in the formal economy. Michael is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Ronald McDonald House New York City, a charity that offers vital resources and compassionate care to children and their families being treated by the world’s leading pediatric cancer hospitals.
Michael holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Passau in Germany. He lives with his family in New York.
