75. Ryan McInerney

Ryan McInerney, born in 1975 in Michigan, is a prominent American business executive and the current CEO of Visa Inc., a role he assumed in February 2023. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a degree in finance (class of 1997), McInerney’s leadership reflects both traditional financial insight and a forward-looking vision. His ties to his alma mater deepened in 2024 when he was elected to the university’s Board of Trustees, beginning his term on July 1.

McInerney’s early career included a stint at McKinsey & Company as a principal consultant, followed by a pivotal role at JPMorgan Chase. There, he helped launch the firm’s first mobile banking product and eventually led the consumer banking division, overseeing more than 75,000 employees.

In 2013, he joined Visa as president of global business. Over the next decade, he played a crucial role in expanding Visa’s digital payments footprint. In a 2022 Forbes interview, he expressed interest in integrating cryptocurrency into mainstream payments, reinforcing his commitment to innovation: “In an increasingly digital world, we want Visa to be the best way to pay and be paid for everyone, everywhere.”

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As CEO, McInerney has navigated complex markets and shifting geopolitics. At Visa’s 2025 Investor Day, he emphasised neutrality in business partnerships, referencing a deal with X Corp.: “We’re not in the business of picking winners or losers—the consumer will decide.”

Beyond the boardroom, Visa has taken bold steps into cultural and sports marketing, most notably, its sponsorship of the Racing Bulls Formula 1 Team. Under McInerney’s leadership, Visa’s involvement in F1 aligns with its global branding and digital ambitions, linking cutting-edge tech with the high-speed world of motorsport.

In October 2024, McInerney attended a high-profile CEO gathering hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris, just as the Justice Department filed an antitrust suit against Visa, highlighting the delicate balance of corporate diplomacy in McInerney’s role.

As Visa races into new markets and technologies, McInerney’s leadership continues to shape the future of global payments, both on Wall Street and the F1 circuit.