MasterCard Appoints Advertising Industry Leader

MasterCard Appoints Advertising Industry Leader As New Zealand Representative

New Zealand, September 1, 2003 -- MasterCard International today announced the appointment of International Cards Limited, represented by Mr John Roberts, as a consultant in New Zealand effective from today.

The appointment sees advertising industry leader John Roberts working closely with MasterCard's partner banks to develop new opportunities both in card issuance and usage.

Bob Whiddon, MasterCard's Senior Vice President responsible for New Zealand said "We look forward to the contributions that International Cards Limited will make in growing the MasterCard business in New Zealand, with Roberts working very closely with our member banks and other business partners."

Roberts holds both accounting and post-graduate business degrees. He began his advertising career in New Zealand advertising agency J.Ilotts before he went on to establish his own successful business, Rialto Advertising where he was National Chairman and CEO for 10 years.

In 1992, he joined the national board of Saatchi & Saatchi, and held CEO positions both in Christchurch and Auckland. In 1996, he was appointed CEO/Regional Director for Saatchi & Saatchi Asia/Pacific and was based in Singapore. During this time he managed the regional Visa business for Japan, North Asia, Southeast Asia and the Indian sub Continent.

Upon returning to New Zealand last year, he took the role as Managing Director for McCann Erickson World Group, one of the largest communications agencies in New Zealand, and personally managed the MasterCard account.

Roberts has been very involved in community and social responsibility programs. For 3 years he was a board member of the New Zealand Woman's Refuge Trust, and most recently championed an anti-racist campaign with the Human Rights Commission, "We're All New Zealanders."

ENDS

** About MasterCard International MasterCard International is a leading global payments solutions company that provides a broad variety of innovative services in support of our global members' credit, deposit access, electronic cash, business-to-business and related payment programs. MasterCard International manages a family of well-known, widely accepted payment cards brands including MasterCard, Maestro and Cirrus and serves financial institutions, consumers and businesses in over 210 countries and territories. The MasterCard award-winning Priceless advertising campaign is now seen in 96 countries and in 45 languages, giving the MasterCard brand a truly global reach and scope. For more information go to www.mastercardinternational.com.

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