African payments company Cellulant has announced the appointment of several high-profile executives to its management team, taking a major step forward in its growth strategy.
These appointments focus on bolstering the technology expertise of Cellulant, compliance, finance, and audit. This move points to the company’s focus on operational excellence and expanding its service offerings for enterprise clients.
Leading the recruits is Andy O’Sullivan, the new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). O’Sullivan brings over 20 years of experience in technology leadership within the payments industry across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).
He has a good record of building and scaling high-performing technology teams, implementing agile delivery methods, and driving innovation.
Gbenga Haastrup joins Cellulant as Executive Consultant for Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC). Haastrup has over two decades of experience in GRC across fintech, technology, and financial services.
He will oversee all compliance, legal, regulatory, and governance standards, facilitating a strong risk management culture within Cellulant.
Irene Koki steps into the role of Group Head of Internal Audit. Koki brings over 15 years of experience in risk and audit functions across various sectors, including financial services, manufacturing, and government organizations.
She will report directly to Cellulant’s board and work closely with the leadership team to implement efficiency measures and strengthen corporate governance, supporting the company’s continued growth.
Ochebhoya Ekpete assumes the role of Vice President of Group Finance. Ekpete brings over a decade of experience in the payments industry across Africa and the UK. He will oversee all corporate finance functions, including financial control, reporting, tax, pricing, and financial planning and analysis.
Susan Fouche takes on the role of Group Chief People Officer. Fouche leverages her deep understanding of Cellulant’s vision and her extensive experience at organizations like Visa, Barclays, and 10x Investments.
She will be responsible for cultivating a highly engaged and successful workforce, building on her previous work in organizational design, reward structures, and talent acquisition.
Cellulant’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Peter O’Toole, highlighted the new appointee’s expertise in payments and financial services. He believes these appointments will be important in strengthening Cellulant’s product development, service delivery, operational efficiency, and risk management, ultimately allowing them to better serve their growing enterprise client base worldwide.
These appointments come at a key time for Cellulant, as the company refocuses its business model on achieving operational excellence, building stronger customer relationships, and adhering to the highest risk and regulatory compliance standards.
“Our ultimate goal is to establish Cellulant as a highly sustainable and profitable payments company, recognized for its operational excellence across all our core business units: Checkout, Payout, and Banking Solutions,” said O’Toole.
Cellulant is a frontrunner in the African payments industry, facilitating transactions for renowned global brands across various sectors like airlines, telecommunications, e-commerce, ride-hailing services, retail, banking, and remittances. With these appointments, Cellulant is set for continued growth and leadership in the African fintech space.
