Visa, the global payments company, has appointed Anne Kinuthia Otieno, the former managing director of Airtel Money Kenya, as the Vice President and Head of East Africa, less than a week after announcing her departure from the mobile money operator.
She will assume the role on August 4, overseeing Visa’s business across seven East African markets. According to Visa, Kinuthia-Otieno will be based in Nairobi, where she will lead the company’s efforts to grow digital payments, deepen partnerships with financial institutions and partners, and expand financial inclusion across the region.
The appointment answers the question industry watchers had after Kinuthia-Otieno stepped down as Airtel Money Kenya chief months before Airtel Africa’s planned initial public offering (IPO) of its mobile money business on the London Stock Exchange.
“East Africa is one of the most dynamic and innovative payments markets in the world, with tremendous opportunities to advance financial inclusion and digital commerce,” she said in a statement. “I look forward to working with Visa’s clients, partners and talented teams across the region to help drive the next phase of growth and innovation.”
Originally published by TechCabal.