(10 March 2026 – Global) Mastercard is developing an AI-powered “virtual C-suite” designed to provide small businesses with strategic insights typically available only to larger enterprises.
The concept centres on a network of digital executive agents that assist with functions such as finance, security and marketing, offering business owners deeper visibility into operations and performance. The system integrates with the accounting platforms, banking applications and business software commonly used by SMEs, embedding agentic AI within existing workflows.
Once connected, the agents continuously assess financial and operational data, flagging potential risks and opportunities, forecasting outcomes and recommending both immediate actions and longer-term strategic steps.
The first capability to launch will be a virtual chief financial officer, expected to roll out this year through financial institutions, accounting platforms and software providers.
Mark Barnett, Global Head of SMEs at Mastercard, says: “With Virtual C-Suite, we are bringing the innovative technology, quality data at scale, and strategic expertise usually available to large enterprises to small business owners. Our goal is to turn operational complexity into clarity — helping entrepreneurs regain time, make smarter decisions, and translate their ambition into measurable growth.”