Mastercard’s Beena Pothen named Executive of the Year - Financial Technology at Malaysia Management Excellence Awards 2024

The company is powering the digital economy in Malaysia under the direction of Beena Pothen.

Mastercard’s Malaysia & Brunei Country Manager Beena Pothen triumphed at the Malaysia Management Excellence Awards 2024, being recognised for guiding the company through its digital transformation. 

Pothen has played a pivotal role in establishing the company as a regional leader, driving innovation and fostering inclusive growth across Malaysia. Under her leadership, Mastercard has become a global exemplar of public-private collaboration that utilises technology to create lasting positive change.

One of her major achievements was the establishment of the Mastercard Data & Services Hub in Kuala Lumpur under her leadership. The hub employs over 200 young Malaysian professionals and provides expert advisory services in cybersecurity, credit risk, and data analytics. This move strengthened Mastercard’s presence in the Asia Pacific region and has also positioned Malaysia as a critical hub for digital innovation and expertise.

Pothen further highlighted Malaysia’s growing prominence in the global cybersecurity arena by bringing the 2023 Southeast Asia Fraud & Cyber Forum to Malaysia. The forum, which is traditionally held in various global locations, attracted experts from over 115 organisations. In addition to this, to enhance upskilling in the space of cybersecurity, the Cyber Innovation Hub at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) was launched, an initiative designed to foster a cyber-ready workforce and boost the country’s capabilities to address future digital challenges.

Pothen has been at the forefront of Mastercard’s tokenisation initiatives, which safeguard data and reduce fraud risks. Under her guidance, Mastercard’s Click to Pay solution in Malaysia was ranked No. 1 in Asia Pacific in terms of the number of transactions and No. 3 globally. 

Pothen’s leadership extends beyond product innovation, with a strong focus on creating an inclusive and supportive work environment. Under her stewardship, Mastercard Malaysia was named a Great Place to Work in 2023. Her commitment to employee development is reflected in initiatives like the Women's Leadership Network, which empowers employees through personal branding workshops and career growth opportunities.

Pothen’s commitment to social responsibility and inclusive growth has positioned Mastercard as a key force in driving financial and digital inclusion in the country. For instance, the launch of the Mastercard Strive Malaysia programme, which aims to empower 100,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Malaysia by 2025, particularly focussing on supporting women-owned businesses. Through the recently launched Strivers’ Hub under the Strive programme, the platform provides MSMEs with tools for upskilling and digitising their businesses. 

Guided by the belief that businesses can do well by doing good, Pothen has led Mastercard’s numerous CSR initiatives in Malaysia, which include volunteering projects with several organisations involving children and elderly homes, helping out the indigenous community, and even pet shelters.

Pothen’s focus on innovation, inclusivity, and social responsibility positions her as a true leader in the corporate world, making her deserving of the Executive of the Year - Financial Technology accolade. 

The Malaysia Management Excellence Awards recognises the country’s top leaders, innovators, and teams whose initiatives have driven significant business success for their companies.

The awards programme also celebrates efforts in areas such as employee engagement, health and wellness, diversity and inclusion, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives that have positively impacted workforce or customers.

The Malaysia Management Excellence Awards is presented by Asian Business Review Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2025 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's employee engagements and management initiatives, please contact Danica Avila at [email protected].