Ajay Banga

Ajay Banga is President of the World Bank Group. Since taking office, he has led reforms to make the institution faster, simpler, and more focused on delivering measurable results at scale. Central to his leadership is a jobs-first strategy—mobilizing private sector investment to create employment opportunities, particularly for young people, as the most durable pathway to reducing poverty and expanding economic opportunity. Before joining the World Bank Group, Banga was Vice Chairman of the global investment firm General Atlantic. He previously served as President and CEO of Mastercard, leading nearly 24,000 employees and advancing global financial inclusion. During his tenure, he launched the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth to promote equitable and sustainable growth worldwide. Banga has held numerous global leadership roles. He served as Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce (2020–2022) and co-chaired the Partnership for Central America. He has also served on the boards of American Red Cross, Kraft Foods, and Dow Inc., and co-founded the Cyber Readiness Institute. His contributions have been recognized with several honors, including the Padma Shri Award from the President of India, the Foreign Policy Association Medal, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.