MasterCard today announced that Raja Rajamannar has been named Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), effective September 9, 2013.
As CMO, Rajamannar assumes global responsibility for MasterCard's advertising, sponsorships, promotions, research, insights, and digital and consumer marketing initiatives. He will be based in Purchase, New York.
Most recently, Rajamannar served as Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer at WellPoint, Inc.
"Raja brings a unique blend of global experience and expertise to MasterCard, and I am pleased to announce his appointment as Chief Marketing Officer," said Gary Flood, President, Global Products and Solutions, MasterCard. "Raja's extensive background in the payments industry, his proven global marketing expertise, and his rich international experience make him the ideal person to continue to drive our brand's growth and momentum."
At WellPoint, Rajamannar led the company's new strategic direction and transformational agenda, and was responsible for managing its $10 billion Medicare Advantage business. He also managed various functions for the enterprise, including Marketing, Innovation, Corporate Development & Ventures, Consumer Data Analytics, Digital and International Operations.
Prior to WellPoint, he served as Chief Innovation and Marketing Officer for Humana.
Earlier, Rajamannar was at Citigroup for 15 years holding a number of roles, including Global Chief Marketing Officer, Cards and Payments, where he was responsible for transforming the credit card business model and strategies. Rajamannar served as Chairman and CEO, Diners Club North America from 2004-2006. He also served as head of credit cards for Citi's Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.
Prior to Citigroup, Rajamannar held a number of senior marketing positions at Unilever, India.
The recipient of numerous marketing and innovation awards, Rajamannar also holds a patent in the consumer packaged goods space. He has a Master of Business Administration degree from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, India, and a Bachelor of Technology degree in Chemical Engineering from Osmania University in Hyderabad, India.