MasterCard 2005 Annual Report Download - page 8

6
In 2005, we delivered value to merchants on man
y
different fronts, from the accelerated rollout of MasterCard Pa
y
Pas
s
to
co-mar
k
eting an
d
promotiona
l
programs invo
l
ving g
l
o
b
a
l
, regiona
l
an
d
l
oca
l
partners in mar
k
ets aroun
d
t
h
e wor
ld
. Our
dedicated website, www.mastercardmerchant.com, continued to
g
row as a resource that enables merchants to make the
most o
f
their relationship with MasterCard. The year also saw the debut o
f
MasterCard Connect, a program that streamlines
processin
g
and reduces merchants’ costs b
y
connectin
g
merchants directl
y
to Banknet
®
, our advanced global processing network.
®
In addition, last year we began conducting Merchant Advisory Group Meetings to give merchants a voice in the evolution o
f
MasterCard products and policies. To date, meetin
g
s have been held in Australia, Canada, the United Kin
g
dom, the United
States and, most recently, South A
f
rica. These meetings have e
ff
ectively brought MasterCard together with top-tier merchants
representin
g
all industr
y
cate
g
ories, includin
g
retail, travel and entertainment, and new markets. In addition, we created a
Point o
f
Interaction Advisory Group that allows us to work with transaction acquirers, merchants and
fi
nancial institution
issuers from around the world to discuss the future of
p
oint-of-sale environments.
Clearly, as with all o
f
our constituents, the bottom line is making connections — understanding what matters to people most
and usin
g
insi
g
ht and vision to deliver what the
y
need.
Fostering a Dynamic Cu
l
tur
e
In this hi
g
hl
y
competitive marketplace, the qualit
y
of our workforce is what sets us apart. In 2005, we stren
g
thened our
ranks through a range o
f
programs and initiatives aimed at attracting talent, empowering leadership and
f
ostering
or
g
anizational vitalit
y
. These efforts continued to win public reco
g
nition for MasterCard, whether b
y
Com
p
uterworld, whi
c
h
again named us one o
f
the Best Places to Work in IT
;
Essence Magaz
i
ne, which cited us as one o
f
the best places to work
for African-American women
;
Hispanic Ma
g
azine, which named us one of the best companies at providin
g
opportunities
f
or Hispanics; or Diversity Inc., which counted us among the top 50 companies
f
or diversity and top 10 companies
f
or
executive women. The result, I believe, is a workforce to be proud of, and one dedicated to achievin
g
success b
y
upholdin
g
our
l
ea
d
ers
h
ip princip
l
es an
d
h
ig
h
et
h
ica
l
stan
d
ar
d
s.
As part of our transition to a publicl
y
traded compan
y
, we proudl
y
established The MasterCard Foundation in 2006. This
sizable charitable
f
oundation is run by an independent board o
f
directors and will
f
ocus on providing micro
fi
nance programs,
as well as supportin
g
y
outh education causes, around the world.
Much o
f
the credit
f
or the
f
ormation o
f
this signi
fi
cant charitable endeavor goes to our
fi
nancial institution shareholders
and out
g
oin
g
board of directors. I am
g
rateful for the leadership and
g
uidance of our former board members. In particular,
I want to thank our
f
ormer chairman, Baldomero Falcones Jaquotot, who led us through this historic transition to a publicly
held compan
y
. Likewise, we look forward to workin
g
with our incomin
g
board, which will preside over the most excitin
g
c
h
apter yet in t
h
e MasterCar
d
story
.
The truth is, even with our man
y
accomplishments, we believe the best is
y
et to come — for our industr
y
in
g
eneral, and
f
or the new MasterCard Worldwide in particular. For despite the explosion in electronic commerce, we have only scratched
the surface of the pa
y
ments opportunit
y
. No compan
y
is better positioned than we are to make the most of it — and to
deliver shareholder value — as we demonstrate our role at the heart o
f
commerce
.
Robert W. Selander
Pr
es
i
de
n
t
a
n
d
C
hi
e
f Ex
ecut
iv
e
O
ffi
cer
May
2006
L
etter to S
h
are
h
o
ld
ers