Mastercard has appointed Lavani Agarwal as its new Vice President, Head of Marketing and Communications for India and South Asia, effective June 2025. With a distinguished career spanning over 15 years, Agarwal brings a wealth of experience from leading global brands to her new role, where she will oversee the company’s brand strategy, marketing initiatives, and communications across a rapidly evolving regional business landscape.

Agarwal joins Mastercard after a successful tenure at Google, where she led brand and reputation marketing for Google and YouTube in India. In this role, she was instrumental in shaping public perception and enhancing the brands’ reputational equity amid a highly competitive digital environment.

Before her time at Google, Agarwal spent over six transformative years at Uber, holding senior leadership positions including Head of Brand and Head of Marketing Strategy & Operations for India and the broader Asia-Pacific region. Her responsibilities included coordinating large-scale brand campaigns, driving regional growth strategies, and ensuring consistent communications across heterogeneous markets.

Her marketing journey began at Procter & Gamble in Singapore, where she managed luxury beauty portfolios and oversaw regional marketing strategies. Earlier in her career, she also worked with renowned companies like 3M and Colgate-Palmolive, building a strong foundation in consumer goods marketing. Agarwal earned her Bachelor’s in Business Management focusing on Marketing and Communications from the Singapore Management University.

The appointment comes at a critical juncture for Mastercard, as the company navigates a dynamic digital payments environment in South Asia marked by rapid market expansion, evolving regulatory frameworks, and growing emphasis on financial inclusion. Agarwal’s expertise in shaping brand narratives and managing stakeholder communications will be pivotal as Mastercard continues to deepen its engagement in the region.

Mastercard’s senior leadership has welcomed Agarwal’s joining, emphasizing her ability to unify brand vision with strategic marketing execution. In her new capacity, she will report to Mastercard’s Asia-Pacific marketing leadership and play a central role in crafting campaigns, communications, and brand strategies that resonate with consumers, governments, and partner ecosystems across India and South Asia.

Lavani Agarwal’s appointment signals Mastercard’s intent to strengthen its regional presence through bold marketing leadership at a time when differentiated brand positioning and trusted communications are more valuable than ever.