Hund-Mejean Receives Abbott Award for Contributions to UVA Darden

In a ceremony during Darden Reunion Weekend, Martina Hund-Mejean (MBA ’88), former CFO of Mastercard Worldwide, was honored with the Charles C. Abbott Award. The highest accolade bestowed by the Alumni Association Board of Directors recognizes a University of Virginia Darden School of Business graduate who has made and continues to make significant contributions to the School’s legacy.

From her influential roles at Mastercard, Tyco International and Lucent Technologies, Hund-Mejean has not only embodied the values of Darden but also left a significant global footprint. Her leadership on the Darden School Foundation Board of Trustees, particularly during the challenging  COVID-19 pandemic, has been and remains instrumental.

Alongside her husband, Bruno Mejean, Hund-Mejean continues to demonstrate extraordinary financial generosity as a member of the Principal Donors Society, Cornerstone Society, Darden Society and Hickory Club. The couple is notable for creating the Hund-Mejean Family Scholarship Fund, which enhances access for European students, and their contributions to the Robert F. Bruner Dean’s Fund for Faculty Excellence. Their gifts have also supported The Frank M. Sands Sr. (MBA ’63) and Marjorie R. Sands Hotel at Darden and Conference Center for Lifelong Learning, better known as The Forum Hotel.

During his annual State of the School address, Dean Scott Beardsley said of Hund-Mejean’s role in leading negotiations for the property, “There’s nothing like having the CFO of MasterCard in your court when you show up at a bank.” She was then chair of the Foundation Board of Trustees.

John Fowler (MBA/JD ’84), vice chair of the Darden School Foundation Board of Trustees, presented the award. Fowler praised Hund-Mejean for her exceptional leadership and said, “On a personal note, I am lucky to count this year’s recipient as a dear friend, mentor and confidant, and an inspiration to my own service and commitment to Darden.”

Hund-Mejean’s commitment to the Darden community is multifaceted and enduring. She has not only shared her insights as a classroom and leadership series speaker but also made significant contributions as a Career Center recruiter and an alumni and reunion volunteer, demonstrating her deep-rooted dedication to the school.

Reflecting on her achievements and support from Darden, Hund-Mejean said, “I wouldn’t be here without the great work Darden does with its students.” She credited the School’s faculty for their role in her education, recounted her experience as one of the few international students in her class, and praised the faculty for their impactful teaching and comprehensive curriculum that shaped her understanding of business.