Gea Kariž is the new director of Mastercard for Croatia

Mastercard has announced three appointments in the company’s leadership in Southeast Europe to strengthen its presence in the region and better respond to market demands. Gea Kariž has been appointed as the director of Mastercard in Croatia, taking over from Cosmin Vladimirescu, who moves to the position of general director for Croatia and Romania. Bartosz Ciolkowski takes over as general director for Southeast Europe. All three appointments take effect immediately.

In her new role, Gea Kariž will oversee Mastercard’s operations in Croatia, managing business relationships with financial institutions and other stakeholders, with a focus on innovative approaches to industry challenges. Gea takes on this new role after spending six years at Mastercard, having joined in 2017. In recent years – during her tenure as marketing director for Croatia – she successfully established and nurtured relationships with key clients, banks, and merchants while overseeing communication and strategic brand development initiatives. She was also part of the global team responsible for strategic planning of cross-border travel and brand positioning in the tourism sector.

Before joining Mastercard, Gea Kariž gained extensive and valuable experience in the financial services sector through work in media, marketing agencies, and corporate environments.

“We are pleased to have appointed Gea as the director of Mastercard for Croatia and are confident that her previous experience and thorough knowledge of the Croatian market will play a key role in ensuring our continued success in the country,” said Cosmin Vladimirescu, general director of Mastercard for Croatia and Romania. “Her extensive experience in strategic planning and business development, combined with her commitment to providing innovative and socially responsible solutions for our partners and clients, makes her invaluable for this new role.”

“I look forward to facing the challenges and opportunities that my new position brings and helping to ensure continuous development and growth for our clients and partners in Croatia, a market that is very dynamic and rapidly evolving. As we continue to develop simple, secure, and innovative solutions, our focus on socially responsible initiatives remains strong, and we are committed to making a positive impact that contributes to the betterment of society,” said Gea Kariž.

Gea Kariž’s appointment comes as part of a broader series of management changes in the region, reflecting Mastercard’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its business and driving growth in Southeast Europe.

Gea Kariž succeeds Cosmin Vladimirescu, who has become the new general director of Mastercard for Croatia and Romania and will focus on strategic initiatives and growth in both markets. Since joining Mastercard in 2007, Cosmin has risen through the ranks, becoming the director of Mastercard in Romania after six years with the company. Since 2020, his mandate has included managing operations in Croatia and Romania.

Bartosz Ciolkowski, who joined Mastercard in 2005, has been appointed general director for Southeast Europe. He will be responsible for the development of electronic payments alongside business and government partners, as well as for implementing the strategy in the region, which includes Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Israel, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, and Serbia.

Previously, he managed Mastercard’s business in the Czech and Slovak markets and served as general director for Poland. He has significantly contributed to the development of the electronic payments sector with innovative solutions and products, as well as expanding the acceptance network. He also played a key role in establishing the Polish foundation for contactless payments and Mastercard’s investment in the Polish Payment Standard (PSP). Bartosz currently sits on both supervisory boards. With his new position, Ciolkowski joins the management team of Mastercard Europe.