Ann Cairns

As Mastercard’s top ranking executive outside its Purchase, N.Y. headquarters, Cairns, a one-time offshore oil rig engineer, manages 1,900 people and is responsible for the company’s non-North America operations—a growing part of MasterCard’s overall business. In 2015, the company’s international markets generated 65% of its $9.66 billion in revenue, up from 61% the prior year. In July, MasterCard deepened its presence in Cairns’ native U.K. by buying a 92.4% stake in VocaLink Holdings, a payment processor that handles 90% of the country’s salaries and more than 70% of its household bills.