MasterCard Technology Leader George Spies Receives InfoWorld's CTO 25 Award

O'FALLON, Mo., June 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- George Spies, senior vice president, MasterCard Global Debit Operations, was honored this week as a recipient of InfoWorld's CTO 25 Awards for 2008. International Data Group's InfoWorld Media Group recognizes 25 senior IT executives who have demonstrated leadership within their companies and in the IT community with this annual award.

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The executive editorial team of InfoWorld Media Group, which covers the enterprise technology market and identifies emerging technology segments, selected Spies in recognition of his work in spearheading the technical development of MasterCard Integrated Processing Solutions(TM) (IPS), a powerful new debit and prepaid processing platform that MasterCard introduced in April. Through a single connection, MasterCard IPS provides banks and other financial institutions with a suite of branded debit network and payment card issuer processing services including PIN, signature, and ATM.

"Although technology is fundamental to the business of MasterCard, the company isn't often categorized as a tech company, so I'm especially honored to be recognized among so many top-notch IT achievers," Spies said. "InfoWorld has been part of the information technology landscape for 30 years, and this award validates the talent and dedication of the whole MasterCard technology team, which continues to grow IT as a business driver while constantly advancing our goal to make every MasterCard transaction more valuable."

Spies is based at the MasterCard Global Technology and Operations headquarters in O'Fallon, Mo., and under his leadership the MasterCard technology team built the platform from the ground up -- with an extremely tight timeline -- to enhance the MasterCard debit offering for its financial institution customers.

MasterCard IPS frees financial institutions from cobbled-together legacy payment systems that make achieving their business goals time-consuming and unpredictable. In addition, it introduced an advanced, user-friendly customer interface, the proprietary MasterCard Portfolio Viewer, which simplifies the process for financial institutions to package cardholder data into customized reports.

"With MasterCard IPS, George Spies and his team built a next-generation platform with our financial institution customers in mind, incorporating advanced functionality to provide them with the most agile, flexible and forward-thinking debit payments and processing solutions. The new platform is a pivotal asset for MasterCard," said Rob Reeg, president, Global Technology and Operations, MasterCard Worldwide.

"In his 12 years at MasterCard, George Spies has built his reputation around devising and carrying through business-driven IT strategy planning, execution and leadership, and he and his team definitely delivered with MasterCard IPS," Reeg added.

In addition to projects such as the new debit platform, Spies helps ensure that MasterCard Global Technology and Operations remains, as he puts it, "brilliant at the basics and brilliant at the hard stuff, too." For MasterCard, that means processing more than 18 billion payment transactions each year in 210 countries and territories with 99.999 percent network availability.

More information on InfoWorld's CTO 25 Awards for 2008 is available at: www.infoworld.com.

About InfoWorld Media Group

InfoWorld Media Group helps IT Decision Makers choose the right technology, within the context of a cohesive strategy for business impact at their organizations. InfoWorld identifies and promotes emerging technology segments that add unique value for the organizations that implement them, as well as the vendors that provide those solutions. Using an integrated communications approach including online, events, research, and a continued investment in an independent Test Center, InfoWorld analysts and editors provide hands-on analysis and evaluation, as well as expert commentary on issues surrounding emerging technologies and products. Visit InfoWorld at www.infoworld.com.

About International Data Group

International Data Group (IDG) is the world's leading technology media, events, and research company. IDG's online network includes more than 450 Web sites spanning business technology, consumer technology, digital entertainment and video games worldwide. IDG also publishes more than 300 magazines and newspapers in 85 countries. IDG's media brands include CIO, CSO, Computerworld, GamePro, InfoWorld, Macworld, Network World, and PC World. IDG's lead-generation service, IDG Connect, matches technology companies with an audience of engaged, high-quality IT professionals, influencers, and decision makers.

IDG is a leading producer of more than 750 technology-related events including Macworld Conference & Expo, LinuxWorld Conference & Expo, Entertainment for All Expo (E for All), DEMO, Storage Networking World, and IDC Directions. IDC, a subsidiary of IDG, is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events. Over 900 IDC analysts in more than 90 countries provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends.

Additional information about IDG, a privately held company, is available at www.idg.com.

About MasterCard Worldwide

MasterCard Worldwide advances global commerce by providing a critical economic link between financial institutions, businesses, cardholders and merchants worldwide. As a franchisor, processor and advisor, MasterCard develops and markets payment solutions, processes approximately 18 billion payments each year, and provides industry-leading analysis and consulting services to financial institution customers and merchants. Through its family of brands, including MasterCard(R), Maestro(R) and Cirrus(R), MasterCard Worldwide serves consumers and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. For more information, go to www.mastercardworldwide.com.

SOURCE MasterCard Worldwide

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