Mastercard today announced that Donald Chesnut will join the company as its first chief experience officer, effective January 14, 2019.

In this newly created role, he will lead a team that supports the organization’s delivery of the best consumer payment experience, while providing merchants, issuers and other partners a more holistic way to work with Mastercard’s products and services.

“Providing customers with clear, consistent and rewarding experience is what differentiates leaders from the rest of the pack. Donald’s background and extensive work with leading brands across cultures and countries will build on a strong foundation and strengthen our ongoing activities,” said Michael Miebach, chief product officer.

Chesnut joins Mastercard from SapientRazorfish, where he most recently served as its global chief experience officer.  In this role, he helped Fortune 500 clients transform their businesses by integrating consumer-centric thinking into innovative brand experiences.

Over the past two-plus decades, he served in several roles at Sapient. Before becoming global chief experience officer in 2017, Chesnut had also supported clients as chief creative officer and lead for the agency’s experience design practice. He also held digital and interactive experience roles with American Express and Siegel & Gale.

Chesnut received a master’s degree in Interactive Telecommunications and bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Dramatic Literature, all from New York University.