FULL BIO:
Raja Rajamannar is chief marketing and communications officer for Mastercard and serves as a member of the company’s executive leadership team and management committee.

Over the past decade, Raja has transformed Mastercard into one of the most valuable brands in the world. At the helm of the iconic Priceless platform, he and his team are on the cutting edge of experiential, multisensory marketing for consumers and customers alike. Raja has extended the reach and impact of the brand by embracing artificial intelligence and Web3 technologies while pioneering new standards in accessible design.

Under Raja’s leadership, recent innovations have earned Mastercard recognition as No. 11 on Brand Z’s most valuable global brands, the world’s No. 1 audio brand five years in a row, as well as accolades from Disability:IN, Fast Company, Cannes Lions and other prestigious organizations. The transformation work led by Raja at Mastercard has been developed into case studies at both Harvard Business School and Yale School of Management.

A Wall Street Journal-bestselling author, Raja is a frequent speaker and media commentator. His book, “Quantum Marketing: Mastering the New Marketing Mindset for Tomorrow’s Consumers,” has become a touchstone for marketing leaders and academics around the world, and is now available in 13 languages.

Raja has deep business management experience, leading large revenue-driving organizations throughout his career. This has provided a critical foundation for ensuring marketing is a force multiplier for growth. Prior roles include president of healthcare at Mastercard, chief transformation officer for health insurance firm Elevance (formerly Anthem) and chief innovation and marketing officer for Humana. He held senior management roles with Unilever and Citibank.

Recently inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame and Forbes’ CMO Hall of Fame, Raja has been recognized as one of Business Insider’s Most Innovative CMOs six times and among Forbes’ World’s Most Influential CMOs five times.

He was also named WFA Global Marketer of the Year, Advertising Person of the Year by The Ad Club of New York, Adweek’s Brand Genius, Billboard’s Top Branding Power Player and Fashion Group International’s Tech and Brand Innovation Award recipient, among many other recognitions.

He held the title of President of the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) for six years and sits on the boards of the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), The Ad Council and Yale School of Management Consumer Insights Council. He serves on the board of PPL Corporation, a U.S. Fortune 500 company (NYSE: PPL), New York City Ballet, Cintrifuse, and not-for-profit Bon Secours Mercy Health.

Originally from India, Raja received his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Osmania University and Master of Business Administration from the Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore. He currently resides with his wife and younger son in the United States.