MasterCard Adds Consumer Advocate to D.C. Staff

to its staff in Washington. Ms. Newton, who remains vice chairwoman of the National Consumers League, reports to Charlotte Rush, MasterCard's vice president of public affairs. "We are looking to Charlotte's experience as a consumer advocate to help MasterCard expand its leadership role in consumer work," said Ms. Rush in a prepared statement. Ms. Newton, who was executive director of the National Association of Consumer Agency Administration from 1980 to 1983, is developing consumer education programs and following state legislation for MasterCard. Ms. Rush and William P. Binzel, director of government relations, who also reports to Ms. Rush, have spearheaded MasterCard's lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill, handling federal and state legislation and privacy issues, as well as reaching out to consumer groups and developing consumer education programs. Ms. Newton's appointment apparently will allow Ms. Rush to focus on developing consumer education programs for MasterCard's other regions abroad. MasterCard's work in consumer education includes a national campaign to inform consumers about telemarketing fraud and a series of brochures on responsible use of bank cards. Ms. Newton said that the rise in personal bankruptcies is another issue that MasterCard may focus on. Ms. Newton joined MasterCard from Powell Tate Public Affairs in Washington, where she was a senior communications counselor for several large corporations.