Leigh Clapham, who previously held the role, will move to a newly created position as Customer Delivery Leader, Europe.

Effective immediately, Fam will be responsible for overall management and strategic direction for one of MasterCard's key regions in the world - the UK and Ireland - as well as driving business globally for MasterCard's UK-based Global Accounts.

The announcement is one of a number of global organisational changes designed to better align MasterCard's global customer-focused strategy with customers' expectations in the new economic and marketplace environment, and to ensure that it continues to innovate and deliver products and services that better position it for success now and in the future.

Javier Perez, President of MasterCard Europe, commented on the appointment: "As a global organisation at the heart of commerce, we think globally and act locally, and the changes we're announcing today underline that successful strategy. I'm delighted to welcome Hany to his new position and know he'll bring the knowledge and experience that he has accumulated from his time with MasterCard in this and other regions to bear in his continued leadership of our UK-based global customers, as well as his new responsibilities for the UK & Ireland market."

Hany Fam, Group General Manager, UK & Ireland Markets and Global Accounts, said: "In order for our business to continue evolving successfully at this challenging and exciting time, we are continuing to create real value for our global customers, as well as those in the UK and Ireland, by providing an even more integrated, market-led approach. I look forward to building on our customer-focused strategy with the talented team we have in the UK & Ireland and globally."

An internal appointment, Fam has previously held a number of senior roles in MasterCard Worldwide, most recently as Group General Manager of European Global Accounts, based in Europe and responsible for oversight of business with MasterCard's largest customer banks. Prior to this, he successfully built MasterCard's relationship with HSBC over a period of seven years, during which he was based in the US.

Previously based in Singapore, Fam has also held positions within MasterCard as Global Head of the Household International Business Unit and Senior Vice President, Sales and Business Development for Asia/Pacific, developing more than 20 strategic alliances with the largest partner banks across the region. He launched the company's first Master Member Alliance program, which leveraged the organisation's assets in gaining significant business and share commitments. He also developed and implemented the first sales incentive program and comprehensive sales training system outside the US.

Before joining MasterCard, Fam launched the consulting business of Edgar Dunn & Company in Asia/Pacific, a high-end financial services, e-business and general management practice. Fam also held the position of Deputy CEO of Cashcard Australia Limited, the largest EFT and ATM network in Australia. Prior to this, he was the Chief Technology Officer for Toshiba International's Power Division in Australia.

For a period of five years prior to that, Fam was a nuclear physicist at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, where he participated in the development of one of the first particle accelerators built in Australia for medical research purposes.

Fam is an associate fellow of the Australian Institute of Management, a full member of the Australian Institute of Banking, a member and practicing professional of the Australian Computing Society, and an accredited member of The Australian and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine.