Merit Janow

Board Chair, Mastercard

Merit E. Janow has been a member of Mastercard's Board of Directors since 2014 and has served as Board Chair since 2022.  She specializes in international economics, trade law and Indo-Pacific economic and financial policy. 

​

Janow is involved with several other organizations engaged with the Indo Pacific, including the National Committee on US China Relations, and was appointed Board Chair of Japan Society in 2022.  Janow served as Dean of Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) from 2013-2021 and remains on the faculty and teaches at SIPA and Columbia Law School.

​

She had three periods of government service: four years as the North American member of the WTO Appellate Body; three years as the Executive Director of the US Department of Justice, Antitrust Division International Advisory Committee from 1997-2000 and three and a half years serving as Deputy Assistant USTR for Japan and China from 1990-1993.

​

She currently also serves on other corporate and nonprofit Boards including: the American Funds/Capital Group, Aptiv and the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

​

Janow grew up in Asia and speaks Japanese. She has a BA in Asian Studies and JD from Columbia Law School.