Appointment signals a move toward AI-powered operational transparency, real-time compliance, and data-led growth for customers
NAIROBI, Kenya, 15 April 2026 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/ – Cellulant, Africa’s leading payment technology company, has appointed Anthony Hernandez as Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead end-to-end customer experience, from onboarding and transactions to customer growth, alongside advancing operational automation across the business.
Cellulant serves the payment needs of enterprises and global businesses across Africa through a single API that connects to multiple markets and hundreds of payment methods. As the company continues to scale, its focus is on strengthening the operational backbone required to enable payments with consistency, reliability, and visibility for customers across every market while enabling them to grow.
Commenting on the appointment, Peter O’Toole, Chief Executive Officer of Cellulant, said, “In payments today, trust is the real currency, and operational excellence is what earns it. As we continue to grow our volumes and support market-leading businesses across Africa and beyond, we are deliberately strengthening our operational foundations. Anthony’s role is to ensure we embed that operational discipline with intention, delivering consistent, high-quality experiences as we deepen our presence across markets and support our customers’ growth.”
Anthony brings over 25 years of global leadership experience across financial services, fintech, and industrial sectors, with a strong track record in building and scaling high-performing operating models in complex, regulated, and fast-growing environments.
Throughout his career, Anthony has held senior leadership roles at GE Capital, Xapo Bank, and Demica (now part of FIS), where he led large-scale digital transformations, regulatory approvals, and built global operating teams managing assets totalling tens of billions of dollars.
Under Hernandez’s leadership, Cellulant will advance an automated, data-driven operational framework to meet growing customer expectations around real-time visibility into fund status and settlements, alongside robust transaction monitoring to support compliance across its markets. Leveraging platform data, the company will deliver deeper insights to help customers optimise performance, manage risk, and grow. He will also strengthen compliance and risk frameworks to ensure the highest standards of governance across regulated markets.
“Payment flexibility starts with access to the right options and is grown by how reliably those options work in practice,” said Anthony, COO at Cellulant. “Cellulant has built a powerful payment infrastructure for businesses operating across Africa, and I’m excited to join a team that is at the very heart of Africa’s digital economy. Our focus is now building the operational discipline and systems that ensure customers experience simple, reliable and frictionless payment experiences every time, while giving them the visibility and insight to grow their businesses.”
Cellulant is Africa’s leading payments company, providing seamless, secure, and innovative solutions that empower businesses, banks, and global brands to thrive in a fast-changing global economy.
With a presence in over 24 countries and support for more than 200 payment methods, including cards, bank transfers, and mobile money, our single API payment platform, Tingg, streamlines collections, disbursements, and reconciliations. Tingg processes over 4.5 million transactions daily for market leaders across various sectors, including Travel & Hospitality, Telecoms, E-commerce, Ride-Hailing, Trade, and Remittances.
By simplifying how people pay and get paid, we drive trust, commerce, and scale, connecting companies and people to their ambitions.
Washington, USA, 07 April 2026 -/African Media Agency (AMA)/- Nigeria has made meaningful progress in restoring macroeconomic stability, but inclusive growth must accelerate substantially to improve livelihoods—this partly depends on how effectively it invests in its people, create jobs, and starting in early life, according to the April 2026 Nigeria Development Update (NDU).
Titled Nigeria’s Tomorrow Must Start Today: The Case for Early Childhood Development, the report notes that while recent bold reforms have strengthened macroeconomic fundamentals, enhancing Nigerians’ productive capabilities will be critical to translating these gains into better living standards and jobs.
Nigeria’s economy grew by 4.0% in 2025, similar to 2024, driven mainly by services such as ICT, financial services, and real estate, with mild expansion in other sectors. Inflation has eased notably, falling to 15.1% year‑on‑year in February 2026, down from 26.3% a year earlier, supported by tight monetary policy, reduced exchange rate volatility, and improved food supply. Despite these gains, household incomes have yet to recover fully and poverty remains high, highlighting the need to lower inflation further and complement stabilization with investments that expand economic opportunity and jobs.
Nigeria’s external position remained positive in 2025, supported by stronger non‑oil exports, resilient remittances, and renewed portfolio inflows. The current account surplus reached 4.8% of GDP, while gross external reserves rose to $45.5 billion, equivalent to 8.7 months of imports. On the fiscal side, stronger non‑oil revenues lifted Federation Account receipts to 8.5% of GDP, although spending pressures widened the consolidated fiscal deficit modestly to 3.1% of GDP.
The Middle East conflict is expected to have mixed but manageable effects on Nigeria. Higher oil prices will boost revenues and exports, but higher energy, fertilizer, and shipping costs, alongside second-round effects, will add to inflation. Global risk aversion could tighten financial conditions and pressure the exchange rate, which should remain flexible to cushion shocks. Fiscal policy should leverage the windfall to rebuild buffers and provide targeted support to vulnerable households, avoiding blanket subsidies. Monetary policy should remain tight, supported by lower import barriers on inputs and food. Clear, consistent policy communication will help anchor expectations. Deepening macro and structural reforms will increase resilience going forward.
However, macroeconomic stability alone is not sufficient. The NDU underscores that human capital development is a key channel through which macroeconomic gains can translate into improved living standards and jobs—and that channel begins early. Investments during pregnancy and early childhood shape long-term productivity and shared prosperity. Yet outcomes in Nigeria remain weak and unequal: about 110 out of every 1,000 children die before age five, 40% are stunted, and more than half are not developmentally on track before entering school.
“Nigeria has made efforts to stabilize its economy, but welfare gains are still modest. Moreover, the conflict in the Middle East adds pressures. Sustaining and deepening macroeconomic stabilization, as well as addressing structural constraints, will be critical to translating reform dividends into faster, more inclusive growth, jobs and improved living standards,” said Mathew Verghis, World Bank Country Director for Nigeria. “Investing early in nutrition, health, caregiving, safety and early learning is one of the most powerful ways Nigeria can convert today’s reform gains into higher productivity, better jobs, and lasting poverty reduction.”
Improving early childhood outcomes requires a more integrated approach—bringing together nutrition, health, responsive caregiving, early learning, and children’s living environments, including access to water and sanitation, into a coherent and continuous package of support. This includes defining a basic package of services from pregnancy to age five, improving targeting and delivery, engaging private sector and community providers, and aligning financing and coordination with measurable outcomes.
“The outlook for Nigeria’s economy remains cautiously optimistic. Growth is projected at 4.2% over 2026-2028, supported by continued macroeconomic stabilization, ongoing structural reforms, and increased investment. Inflation, which is still high, is expected to fall gradually, albeit more slowly than previously expected due to pressures from the Middle East conflict”, said Fiseha Haile, World Bank’s Lead Economist for Nigeria.
Washington, USA, 07 April 2026 -/African Media Agency (AMA)/- Nigeria has made meaningful progress in restoring macroeconomic stability, but inclusive growth must accelerate substantially to improve livelihoods—this partly depends on how effectively it invests in its people, create jobs, and starting in early life, according to the April 2026 Nigeria Development Update (NDU).
Titled Nigeria’s Tomorrow Must Start Today: The Case for Early Childhood Development, the report notes that while recent bold reforms have strengthened macroeconomic fundamentals, enhancing Nigerians’ productive capabilities will be critical to translating these gains into better living standards and jobs.
Nigeria’s economy grew by 4.0% in 2025, similar to 2024, driven mainly by services such as ICT, financial services, and real estate, with mild expansion in other sectors. Inflation has eased notably, falling to 15.1% year‑on‑year in February 2026, down from 26.3% a year earlier, supported by tight monetary policy, reduced exchange rate volatility, and improved food supply. Despite these gains, household incomes have yet to recover fully and poverty remains high, highlighting the need to lower inflation further and complement stabilization with investments that expand economic opportunity and jobs.
Nigeria’s external position remained positive in 2025, supported by stronger non‑oil exports, resilient remittances, and renewed portfolio inflows. The current account surplus reached 4.8% of GDP, while gross external reserves rose to $45.5 billion, equivalent to 8.7 months of imports. On the fiscal side, stronger non‑oil revenues lifted Federation Account receipts to 8.5% of GDP, although spending pressures widened the consolidated fiscal deficit modestly to 3.1% of GDP.
The Middle East conflict is expected to have mixed but manageable effects on Nigeria. Higher oil prices will boost revenues and exports, but higher energy, fertilizer, and shipping costs, alongside second-round effects, will add to inflation. Global risk aversion could tighten financial conditions and pressure the exchange rate, which should remain flexible to cushion shocks. Fiscal policy should leverage the windfall to rebuild buffers and provide targeted support to vulnerable households, avoiding blanket subsidies. Monetary policy should remain tight, supported by lower import barriers on inputs and food. Clear, consistent policy communication will help anchor expectations. Deepening macro and structural reforms will increase resilience going forward.
However, macroeconomic stability alone is not sufficient. The NDU underscores that human capital development is a key channel through which macroeconomic gains can translate into improved living standards and jobs—and that channel begins early. Investments during pregnancy and early childhood shape long-term productivity and shared prosperity. Yet outcomes in Nigeria remain weak and unequal: about 110 out of every 1,000 children die before age five, 40% are stunted, and more than half are not developmentally on track before entering school.
“Nigeria has made efforts to stabilize its economy, but welfare gains are still modest. Moreover, the conflict in the Middle East adds pressures. Sustaining and deepening macroeconomic stabilization, as well as addressing structural constraints, will be critical to translating reform dividends into faster, more inclusive growth, jobs and improved living standards,” said Mathew Verghis, World Bank Country Director for Nigeria. “Investing early in nutrition, health, caregiving, safety and early learning is one of the most powerful ways Nigeria can convert today’s reform gains into higher productivity, better jobs, and lasting poverty reduction.”
Improving early childhood outcomes requires a more integrated approach—bringing together nutrition, health, responsive caregiving, early learning, and children’s living environments, including access to water and sanitation, into a coherent and continuous package of support. This includes defining a basic package of services from pregnancy to age five, improving targeting and delivery, engaging private sector and community providers, and aligning financing and coordination with measurable outcomes.
“The outlook for Nigeria’s economy remains cautiously optimistic. Growth is projected at 4.2% over 2026-2028, supported by continued macroeconomic stabilization, ongoing structural reforms, and increased investment. Inflation, which is still high, is expected to fall gradually, albeit more slowly than previously expected due to pressures from the Middle East conflict”, said Fiseha Haile, World Bank’s Lead Economist for Nigeria.
Women, Financial Services, Telco and Southern African CMOs dominate the list of Africa’s 100 Most Influential Brand Builders
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 30 march 2026 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/ – Brand Africa, in partnership with African Business magazine, MIPAD (Most Influential People of African Descent) and the African Media Agency, today launched the inaugural Africa CMO 100 (ACMO100) — recognising the 100 most impactful marketing, brand and reputation leaders shaping Africa’s story, identity and prosperity.
The full list and in-depth analysis will be featured in the April 2026 issue of African Business, available first week of April, and across partner platforms at brandafrica.net, africabusiness.com, mipad.org and africanmediaagency.com.
Brand Africa’s independent research over 15 years has consistently found that while 68% of Africans believe in Africa, only 18% of the brands they most admire are African. ACMO100 exists to recognise and connect the leaders best placed to change that. “CMOs and senior brand leaders are among the most powerful architects of Africa’s future. Through strategy, stewardship and influence, they shape narratives, build trust, and guide the preferences of hundreds of millions of people. ACMO100 exists to recognise, celebrate and connect these leaders.” — Thebe Ikalafeng — Founder and Chairman, Brand Africa
The inaugural ACMO100 honourees will be celebrated at Brand Africa Week, Addis Ababa, 22–26 May 2026.
ACMO100: AFRICA’S 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL MARKETING LEADERS
One hundred leaders across six African economic regions — including the diaspora — spanning twenty countries and more than 50 distinct role titles. The list is ordered alphabetically by country of origin. All 100 honourees hold equal standing. The list carries no internal ranking.
THREE FINDINGS FROM THE INAUGURAL LIST
01 — A Female-Majority Profession. 62% of honourees are women — a majority across every region. The diaspora cohort is 75% female; East Africa reaches 72%; North Africa, 71%. In Africa, women are not emerging talent waiting for their moment: they are running marketing for the continent’s most consequential brands.
02 — Finance and Telecoms Dominate. Financial services — banking, insurance and fintech — leads with 31 honourees, reflecting the scale of Africa’s financial inclusion wave and the premium brand trust commands in markets where millions are transacting formally for the first time. Telecoms and technology account for a further 20. Together, these two sectors represent more than half the list — and the deepest pools of marketing talent on the continent.
03 — Three Hubs, and a Rising Fourth. Southern Africa leads with 39 honourees, anchored by Johannesburg — the marketing capital of the continent. West Africa contributes 20, with Nigeria’s 17 entries anchoring a market of extraordinary commercial depth. East Africa’s 17 are shaped by Kenya’s Safaricom ecosystem and Nairobi’s competitive consumer market. The most instructive story is North Africa: 14 entries, with Morocco alone accounting for seven — more than Egypt and Algeria combined — signalling Casablanca’s emergence as a new continental marketing hub.
Southern Africa — 39 Honourees Anchored by South Africa, which accounts for 31% of leaders by country of origin. Cohort: Abey Mokgwatsane, Alison Hastings Badenhorst, Andisa Ntsubane, Andrea Quaye, Beyers Van De Merwe, Bronwyn Pretorius, Bunmi Adeniba, Chantal Sombonos-Van Tonder, Doug Place, Dries Van der Sandt, Dudu Mokholo, Faye Mfikwe, Firoze Bhorat, Francois Viviers, Gugu Mthembu, Happy Ngidi, Ilze Bylos, Ivan Serra (Mozambique), Jessica Motaung, Khensani Nobanda, Levie Nkunika (Malawi), Lorraine De Graaf, Lucia Maseko, Matilda Nyathi (Zimbabwe), Mmaphuti Rankapole, Mosala Phillips, Mphothe Elizabeth Mokwena, Mzamo Masito, Nontokozo Madonsela, Raquel Capitão (Angola), Sithembile Ndaba, Sobhuza Ngwenya (Malawi), Suneeta Motala (Mauritius), Sydney Nhlanhla Mbhele, Thabang Ramogase, Tim Ekandjo (Namibia), Vaughan Croeser, Vilosha Soni and Vuyokazi Henda.
West Africa — 20 Honourees Nigeria’s 17 entries anchor a market of extraordinary commercial depth. Cohort: Adewunmi Desalu, Amaechi Michael Okobi, Anthony Chiejina, Bamise Oyegbami, Bolanle Kehinde-Lawal, Cherry Eromosele, Chinedu Zephaniah, Diran Olojo, Emeka Oparah, Idemudia Dima-Okojie, Ifeoma Agu, Ilyas Kazeem, Julien Zayro (Côte d’Ivoire), Maureen Ifada, Noel Kojo-Ganson (Ghana), Oluyomi Moses, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Sandra Handou Koné (Côte d’Ivoire), Sarah Agha and Tolu Alero Ladipo.
East Africa — 17 Honourees Anchored by Kenya at nine, shaped by the Safaricom ecosystem and Nairobi’s competitive consumer market. Cohort: Abdulkadir Mamma Hussein (Ethiopia), Anne Joy Michira, Catherine Ndungu, Fatema Dewji (Tanzania), Isabelle Kariuki-Rostom, Kitenda Robert Gobii (Uganda), Lemma Yadecha Gudeta (Ethiopia), Martine Gatabazi (Tanzania), Neemarose Singo (Tanzania), Nelly Wangui Wainaina, Ope Lawal, Rosalind Gichuru, Sylvia ElSheikh (Uganda), Vivian Achieng Oyugi, Wangechi Gitahi, Warau Kahoro and Zizwe Awuor Vundla.
North Africa — 14 Honourees Morocco alone accounts for seven entries — more than Egypt and Algeria combined — reflecting its position as a francophone-Arabic-European commercial crossroads. Cohort: Anne Ezeh (Egypt), El Hadi Mohamed Hamma (Algeria), Fadwa Bisbis, Ghada Hammouda (Egypt), Isabelle Hajri (Algeria), Mahmoud Taha (Egypt), Mehdi Yaroub, Mounir Jazouli, Nadia Rahim Guérin, Sakina El Fares, Salma Bencherif, Salma Hamdouch, Samia Dziri (Algeria) and Shams Adly (Egypt).
Central Africa — 2 Honourees Bienvenu Mayamonuswa (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Yves Kom (Cameroon).
Diaspora — 8 Honourees Based in the USA and UAE, running marketing at Visa, Unilever, Doordash and BET Media Group — underscoring the mobility of African-origin talent at the top of the world’s most competitive brand portfolios. Cohort: Dara Treseder, Esi Eggleston Bracey, Frank Cooper III, Kimberly Evans Paige, Kofi Amoo-Gottfried, Linda Kouam, Najoh Tita-Reid and Tarek Abdalla.
THE BAOBAB | ACMO HALL OF FAME
Brand Africa has also announced the inaugural Baobab | ACMO Hall of Fame — honouring a select number of African and diaspora brand leaders whose benchmark careers have made an enduring contribution to Africa’s brand narrative. Named for Africa’s most iconic and enduring tree, the Baobab honours legacy, not a moment. Inaugural recipients: Bozoma Saint John (former Uber and Netflix CMO); Bernice Samuels (retiring MTN Group Executive for Brand and Marketing); Sylvia Mulinge (CEO, MTN Uganda; former Chief Customer Officer, Safaricom); and Souheil Badaa (former CMO, Novartis Group; founder, Tanakoo) — icons whose work has defined, elevated and expanded the possibilities of African-led brand leadership.
BRAND AFRICA WEEK — ADDIS ABABA, 22–26 MAY 2026
The inaugural ACMO100 honourees will be celebrated at Brand Africa Week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — the historical capital of the continent — in the week of Africa Day. Brand Africa Week 2026 will bring together the ACMO100 Celebration, the unveiling of the Brand Africa 100 | Africa’s Best Brands® and the Brand Africa Dialogue — planned to be the most impactful convening of continental CMOs in Africa’s history.
“MIPAD exists to celebrate and elevate the most influential people of African descent — and ACMO100 does exactly that for the world of marketing and brand leadership. For the first time, the architects of Africa’s most powerful brands are being recognised on their own terms. That is long overdue, and it matters deeply to the diaspora.” — Kamil Olufowobi, Founder & Chairman, MIPAD (USA/Nigeria)
THE ACMO METHODOLOGY AND REVIEW COMMITTEE
The ACMO100 selection is governed by a rigorous, three-step process designed to reflect the realities of marketing leadership across a continent where function often outpaces title.
Collation draws on three independent sources: nominations by the ACMO Review Committee; review of the marketing leadership behind brands featured in the Brand Africa 100 | Africa’s Best Brands® and comparable rankings over the preceding three years; and research into CMOs behind award-winning and/or impactful work.
Evaluation applies a consistent set of criteria to every nominee: active leadership in Africa or the diaspora; a minimum of five years in senior marketing decision-making; and standing as the highest-ranking functional marketing, brand or communications leader in their organisation.
Verification and vetting ensures that every name on the list has earned its place through demonstrable impact, influence and integrity — not title or visibility alone.
The list carries no internal ranking. All 100 honourees hold equal standing.
The integrity of ACMO100 is anchored in the independence and calibre of its governance. The ACMO Review Committee is an independent, Africa-wide body of distinguished practitioners with a deep understanding of the marketing and brand industry and its most influential individuals — drawn from every major region of the continent and the diaspora. The Committee is intentionally diverse in discipline, geography and background. It brings together former CMOs now in general management and board roles; founders and chief executives of leading African agencies; editors and publishers of the continent’s foremost business media; heads of national marketing associations; academics and researchers from leading African institutions; and respected independent voices from strategy, creative, media and digital.
Committee members are ineligible for inclusion during their tenure; current CMOs do not participate in nomination or adjudication, ensuring complete independence. The panel spans more than 20 countries across all African regions and the diaspora — its diversity in discipline, geography and seniority is central to the credibility of the process.
Southern Africa: Thulani Sibeko, CEO – COID and Social Insurance, Rand Mutual (RMA) (South Africa); Trevor Ncube, Chairman & Director, Alpha Media Holdings (Zimbabwe); Laz Jacobs, Founder & Executive Director, Paragon TBWA (Namibia); Dr Pepe Marais, Group Chief Creative Officer, Joe Public (South Africa); Sechaba Motsieloa, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Kansy Group (South Africa); George Damson, President, Institute of Marketing in Malawi; Dr Tumelo Chaka, Managing Executive, The Strategists (South Africa); Christine Ramela (Mozambique); Mwewa Besa, President, Institute of Marketing in Zambia; Brian Yuyi, CEO, Marketing Association of South Africa; Professor Alistair Mokoena, Executive Dean, Johannesburg Business School (South Africa); Dr Tendai Mhiza, CEO, Integra Africa (Zimbabwe); Gillian Rusike, Founder & CEO, Marketers Association of Zimbabwe; Adv Phelane Phomane, Founder & Managing Director, Tangerine Connect (Lesotho); Dale Hefer, CEO, Integrated Marketing Council (South Africa).
West Africa: Seyi Ademola-Adeoye, Senior Research Fellow, Pierrine (Nigeria); Kwame Senou, Executive Director, THOP (Côte d’Ivoire); Steve Babaeko, CEO & Chief Creative Officer, X3M Ideas (Nigeria); Ade Adefeko, Vice President, Corporate & Government Affairs, Olam International (Nigeria); Sharon Mills, Lead Consultant, SMC Consulting (Ghana); Daniel Kojo Soboh, Executive Director, EMY Africa (Ghana).
East Africa: Malik Shaffy Lizinde, Founder & CEO, 63 INC (Rwanda); William Kalombo, Marketing Africa Magazine (Kenya); Melvin Mwakugu, Independent (Kenya); Jacquie Muhati, Deputy Marketing Director, NCBA (Kenya); Barian Shah, Managing Director, Evolution Events (Tanzania); Aron Simeneh, Creative Director, Kin Creatives (Ethiopia); Joseph Kanyamunyu, Chief Executive Director, Publicis Africa Communications (Uganda); Frakline Kibuacha, Marketing Director, GeoPoll (Kenya).
Diaspora: Omar Ben Yedder, Publisher, African Business (UK/Tunisia); Denver Phiri (UK/Zimbabwe); Kamil Olufowobi, Founder & Chairman, MIPAD (USA/Nigeria); Moky Makura, Executive Director, Africa No Filter (UK/Nigeria); Terhas Asefaw Berhe, Managing Director, Brand Comms (UK/Eritrea); James Woods, Globiq International (UK/Malawi); Akin Naphtal, Founder & CEO, InstinctiveWave Group (UK/Nigeria); Cyrille Djami, Founder & Manager, Comms of Africa (France/Cameroon), and Ndeye Diagne, Chief Client Officer, Kantar (France/Senegal).
“The ACMO Review Committee brings together some of the sharpest and most experienced minds on the continent. Their role is to ensure that every name on the ACMO100 list has truly earned their place through impact, influence and integrity.” — Omar Ben Yedder — Publisher, African Business
Brand Africa is the continent’s leading brand-led platform to inspire an African renaissance founded on the conviction that brands drive the growth, reputation and competitiveness of nations. Since 2011, its flagship initiative, the Brand Africa 100 | Africa’s Best Brands®, has tracked brand performance, consumer perception and brand equity across the continent – providing the most authoritative pan-African brand intelligence. Brand Africa convenes leaders, shapes narratives and advances the case for branding as a driver of Africa’s prosperity. www.brand.africa
ABOUT AFRICAN BUSINESS
African Business is Africa’s foremost pan-continental business magazine, providing authoritative journalism, analysis and intelligence on business, finance, trade and policy across Africa and the global African diaspora. Published by IC Publications, it reaches a senior readership of business, government and civil society leaders across Africa and internationally. www.africabusiness.com
ABOUT MIPAD
MIPAD (Most Influential People of African Descent) is a global civil society organisation that recognises, celebrates and networks the most influential people of African descent across the world. Its annual recognition spans business, politics, culture, science and civil society, with a mission to advance the social, economic and political empowerment of people of African descent globally. www.mipad.org
ABOUT AFRICAN MEDIA AGENCY
African Media Agency (AMA) is the trusted pan-African communications agency helping organisations connect with African audiences. Founded by Eloïne Barry, AMA integrates public relations with digital and creative communications to establish clients as market leaders across the continent. AMA’s services span press release distribution, PR strategy, digital creative and media training through its not-for-profit AMA Academy. A member of IPREX and the PRCA. www.africanmediaagency.com
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 27 March 2026 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/ – Behind Africa’s most powerful brands are the strategists shaping their trajectory. Today, that reality takes center stage with the launch of the ACMO 100, the first benchmark ranking dedicated to Africa’s leading marketing professionals.
Initiated by Brand Africa, in partnership with African Business, MiPAD and AMA, this inaugural edition highlights 100 decision-makers from over 20 countries, operating across key sectors including financial services, telecommunications, consumer goods, fintech and aviation.
Built on more than 15 years of research into Africa’s most admired brands, the ACMO 100 addresses a long-standing paradox: while non-African brands continue to dominate perceptions across the continent, African marketing talent has never been more powerful, structured and influential.
Far more than a ranking, the ACMO 100 celebrates a generation of leaders capable of understanding, capturing and transforming Africa’s consumer dynamics. Unlike traditional classifications, selection is not based on job titles, but on tangible impact, strategic brand leadership, business growth, market influence and deep consumer insight.
Another striking insight: women represent 62% of the leaders recognized, underscoring the central role of female leadership in shaping Africa’s marketing landscape.
A marketing landscape in transformation
The geographic distribution of the ranking reflects Africa’s economic realities: a strong concentration of talent in Southern Africa, a rising West African ecosystem led by Nigeria, and the strategic emergence of North Africa, particularly Morocco, as a regional marketing hub.
At the same time, the African diaspora is asserting itself as a global force, with leaders holding key roles within international organizations such as Visa, Netflix and Unilever.
African Media Agency: amplifying the voices shaping the continent
As a partner in the initiative, AMA is fully aligned with this momentum to elevate African leadership on the global stage. “Marketing is no longer a support function. It has become a strategic driver of economic, cultural and societal transformation. Through the ACMO 100, we are helping bring visibility to those redefining the role of African brands globally,” said Eloïne Barry.
Through this initiative, AMA aims not only to support the recognition of these leaders, but also to build bridges between Africa’s top marketing minds and global ecosystems.
At a time when African brands still struggle to capture a significant share of their own market, the ACMO 100 sends a clear message: Africa has the talent to reverse this trend and build powerful brands rooted in cultural relevance and capable of competing on the global stage.
AMA is an award-winning, women-owned and led, pan-African communications agency and strategic market entry partner, helping organizations navigate and succeed across African markets and beyond.
AMA combines on-the-ground intelligence with strategic communications to support market entry, shape policy conversations, and drive outcomes across awareness, reputation, and growth. Through an integrated approach spanning public relations, reputation management, crisis preparedness, digital communications, and content, AMA delivers campaigns that influence perception and unlock opportunities with key stakeholders.
With expertise across sectors including finance, health, science, technology, and agriculture, AMA translates complex topics into clear strategies, ensuring clients are not only visible but also well positioned to lead.
Headquartered in Abidjan, with offices in Johannesburg, Durban, Accra, and New York, and a presence in over 30 African markets, AMA combines continental reach with strong local insight.
NAIROBI, Kenya, 26 March 2026 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/ – BFA Global and FSD Africa today announced $273,000 in follow-on funding and venture-building support for four early-stage alumni of previous Triggering Exponential Climate Action (TECA) venture-building program cohorts. The four early-stage small and growing businesses (SGBs) had previously participated in the TECA program, which seeks to grow climate solutions from concept to investment, fostering resilience and protecting the most vulnerable communities in East Africa. The small and growing businesses have demonstrated early traction in advancing solutions in clean energy, cold storage, carbon market access, and food systems.
The new financial support will provide these businesses with operational capital to scale, as well as technical support, including operational guidance, model refinement, and investment-readiness preparation. The businesses are already making waves in improving the lives of East Africans, especially in the energy and agriculture sectors.
The four are:
Africa Renewables Katalyst (ARK) connects East African renewable energy developers to global renewable energy certificate markets through data systems, verification services, and market access tools.
Plas-tech Energies converts plastic waste into clean cooking gas and distributes it through refillable cylinders, offering a safer, more affordable alternative to charcoal and kerosene.
Samaking operates a solar-powered cold chain infrastructure and a decentralised fish distribution network that reduces post-harvest losses and strengthens market stability for small traders, particularly women.
Sunwave provides solar-powered ice production and cold storage solutions designed to reduce post-harvest losses and increase incomes for small-scale fishers and fish traders.
Such financial support is especially critical for early-stage businesses that have proven their viability but need more capital to reach commercial readiness and scale, a stage typically associated with constrained capital. A report by Sightline Climate shows, for instance, that in 2025, early-stage deal counts fell by roughly 20 per cent to a five-year low, as investors concentrated capital into fewer companies. This shift has made follow-on capital harder to secure, particularly in emerging markets.
“Early-stage climate ventures face a critical funding cliff just as they are ready to grow,” said Tyler Ferdinand, Director of the TECA program at BFA Global. “Our follow-on support gives them the capital, time, tools, and evidence base they need to build credible, investable businesses that improve resilience in vulnerable communities.”
Mary Kashangaki, Early-Stage Finance Manager at FSD Africa, added: “At FSD Africa, we have for years supported novel financing structures for small and growing businesses, especially those building resilience against climate change in Africa. We are proud to partner with BFA Global to provide additional support to these deserving businesses doing such important work. Access to capital, especially for this category of businesses, remains challenging, yet they are the majority and provide most employment on the continent. As an organisation that works to make finance work for Africa, enhancing flows to small and growing businesses and tackling climate change remain key priorities for us.”
BFA Global is an impact innovation firm that combines research, advisory, venture building, and investment expertise to build a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient future for underserved people and the planet. We partner with leading public, private and philanthropic organisations, global and local, to catalyse innovation ecosystems for impact across emerging markets. Since 2006, we have completed 646 projects completed in over 104 countries, supported 118+ ventures in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, who have collectively raised $815M+ in follow-on funding, and have a survival rate above 80% (global average is ~20%), and built a network of 100+ global and African investors, innovators, and funders focused on climate resilience. Learn more at https://bfaglobal.com/. TECA (Triggering Exponential Climate Change Action) is an initiative by BFA Global that supports climate-focused startups in emerging markets.
About FSD Africa
FSD Africa is a specialist development agency funded by the UK’s Department for International Development, operating in more than 30 countries and working to help make finance work for Africa’s future. Based in Nairobi, FSD Africa’s team of financial sector experts works alongside governments, business leaders, regulators, and policymakers to achieve policy and regulatory reform, capacity strengthening, and improving financial infrastructure to address systemic challenges in Africa’s financial markets. In its new strategy (2025-2030), the organisation targets mobilising GBP 10 billion, with GBP 2 billion channelled towards adaptation initiatives, thereby improving access to basic financial services for 80 million people and creating 200,000 jobs. FSD Africa – previously known as Financial Sector Deepening Africa – was founded in 2012 and is based in Nairobi, Kenya. For more information, please visit : https://www.fsdafrica.org
KIGALI, Rwanda, 18 March 2026 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/ – XTransfer, the world’s leading B2B cross-border financial platform, was honoured to have its Chief Strategy Officer, Neil Ni, speak at the Inclusive FinTech Forum 2026 in Rwanda, underscoring the company’s growing expansion across Africa to deliver more inclusive financial services for SMEs engaged in international trade across the continent.
XTransfer’s CSO, Neil Ni (Left), speaks at the Inclusive FinTech Forum 2026 in Rwanda.
Neil joined the panel discussion, “Securing the Global Payments Highway: Cybersecurity for Real-Time Cross-Border Transactions” during the forum to share perspectives on how the industry can strengthen cybersecurity, anti-money laundering (AML) controls, and operational resilience as cross-border payments scale in speed and volume.
Drawing on XTransfer’s experience supporting SMEs in international trade, Neil noted that traditional B2B cross-border payments often pass through multiple correspondent banks, creating complex procedures, settlement delays and high costs that can strain SME cash flow. He shared that transfers can take several days to settle, and fees can materially impact businesses operating on tight margins, sometimes pushing SMEs toward unlicensed channels that raise compliance and transparency risks.
“As the industry scales, the challenge isn’t only transaction volume, it’s speed and trust,” Neil said. “To keep legitimate trade moving safely, risk and compliance must become more intelligent, consistent, and scalable.”
Neil shared that AI is now foundational to XTransfer’s risk and compliance capability. He highlighted TradePilot, XTransfer’s self-developed large language model (LLM) tailored for the global foreign trade financial sector, which helps identify suspicious patterns earlier, prioritise alerts, reduce false positives, and support more consistent decisions across markets, strengthening AML and compliance at speed.
Neil also discussed XTransfer’s accelerating expansion in Africa, noting more than 300% growth in the region in 2025 as SMEs seek faster and lower-cost ways to manage cross-border trade payments. He added that XTransfer is focused on working with ecosystem partners and regulators to support safer, more standardised cross-border information flows, one reason XTransfer is building X-Net, the industry’s first Unified Global B2B Trade Settlement Network and Risk Control Platform, to enhance interoperability and shared security standards across payment rails.
“Building resilience requires collective effort,” Neil added.
HARARE, Zimbabwe, 03 March 2026 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/ – Flocash, a leading global digital payment solutions provider, today proudly announces a strategic partnership with Quest Financial Services to launch a new, accessible prepaid Visa card in Zimbabwe. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in enhancing financial inclusion and providing secure, convenient digital payment solutions for consumers nationwide through an innovative Visa Card for travellers, professionals, students, freelancers, and SMEs who require seamless domestic and cross-border payment capabilities.
Under this partnership, Flocash leverages its robust and secure payments technology platform to manage card transactions, ensuring reliability and global acceptance. Quest Financial Services, a trusted name in Zimbabwe’s financial and remittances space, will directly sell the card and manage customer-facing services.
The new prepaid Visa card will empower Zimbabweans with a safe and efficient tool for everyday financial transactions. Key features and benefits include:
Nationwide Accessibility: Customers can easily purchase and reload the card with cash at any Quest Financial Services’ branch across Zimbabwe. They also have other in-app top-up options from local wallets and bank accounts.
Global Visa Acceptance: It can be used for purchases online and in-store at millions of merchants worldwide where Visa is accepted, including for secure online services and subscriptions.
Enhanced Security: As a prepaid solution, it helps users manage their budgets effectively and minimizes the risks associated with carrying cash. The card is protected by Visa’s advanced security features.
Financial Inclusion: It provides a viable electronic payment option for a broad spectrum of the population, including those who may not have ready access to traditional banking products.
High Transaction Limits: It supports payments for travel, tuition, business needs, and online transactions.
Real-Time Card Control via Mobile App – Clients can block/unblock the card, track activity, and receive instant alerts. Every transaction is clearly visible in the app, helping users track spending effortlessly.
Virtual Card Issuance: Clients can generate secure, single-use virtual Visa card numbers for safe online payments.
“We are thrilled to partner with Quest Financial Services to bring this innovative prepaid solution to Zimbabwe,” said Sirak Mussie, a managing director at Flocash. “Our mission is to enable digital commerce and financial access in growth markets.
By combining Flocash’s advanced payments technology with Quest’s local network and trust, we are delivering a powerful tool that meets the digital payment needs of Zimbabwean consumers.”
“With this card, Zimbabweans can now enjoy higher limits, full control via mobile app, multiple top-up channels, and added security through virtual cards, empowering them to transact with confidence both locally and internationally,” he added.
James Msipa, the managing director at Quest Financial Services, said, “This partnership with Flocash aligns perfectly with our commitment to providing practical and innovative financial services to Zimbabweans. The launch of this Quest Prepaid Visa Card offers our customers unprecedented convenience and security, allowing them to participate fully in both the local and global digital economy. It offers high transaction limits, seamless multi-channel loading, and advanced digital controls that simplify financial management for our customers. We are excited to roll this out through our branches nationwide.”
The new prepaid Visa cards will be available for purchase at all Quest Financial Services branches starting 4 March, 2026.
About Flocash: Flocash is a leading provider of payments technology and processing services across the Middle East & Africa, serving consumers, businesses, and financial institutions. With a presence in over 60 countries, Flocash enables digital businesses and consumers to connect to the global digital economy securely and reliably.
About Quest Financial Services: Quest Financial Services is a provider of financial solutions in Zimbabwe, offering a range of services designed to meet the evolving needs of individuals and businesses. With a branch network and a customer-centric approach, Quest is committed to driving financial empowerment and accessibility across Zimbabwe.
ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire, 14 January 2026-/African Media Agency(AMA)/-AMA founder Eloïne Barry has been named in Bizcommunity’s ranking of the “10 PR personalities to watch in 2026.” A recognition that validates more than a decade of transforming communication and public relations in Africa into a strategic lever for growth.
For Eloïne Barry, this distinction reflects above all an approach: that of an agency that has chosen not to simply relay messages, but to support organizations with their fundamental challenges. “Public relations is not a showcase, but the driving force behind lasting trust: it shapes reputation, that essential DNA that underpins credibility, loyalty, and growth”, she says. It is this vision that has enabled AMA to become a strategic ally for multinationals, development institutions, governments, and innovative African players.
Collaborations that illustrate AMA’s approach The agency supports major players across the continent. In Côte d’Ivoire in particular, AMA has been working with Yango Côte d’Ivoire, a global technology group, since February 2025 African Media Agency, andwith OMOA, a major player in digital financial services operating in 11 African countries African Media Agency. The agency’s clients also include Imperial College, Thales, MSD, IFC, and dozens of international organizations whose work spans from South Africa to Morocco and from Senegal to Kenya. These partnerships demonstrate AMA’s ability to combine a deep understanding of local realities with strategic deployment on a continental scale.
Strengthening strategic support in 2026 This appointment comes at a key moment when organizations operating in Africa are facing increased demands for transparency and authenticity. In this context, communication and public relations are becoming a fundamental pillar. AMA plans to strengthen its areas of expertise to support companies even more effectively in their sustainable growth ambitions on the continent.
About African Media Agency African Media Agency (AMA) is one of the leading and most trusted independent pan-African communications firms, helping global and African organizations enter, grow, and thrive across the continent. By combining narrative design, strategic communication, and a deep understanding of Africa’s on-the-ground nuances, AMA enables clients to build trust, shape perception, and unlock sustainable market opportunities.
AMA operates through three complementary pillars: AMA Wire, its flagship pan-African press release distribution platform; AMA PR, its communications and advisory arm; and AMA Academy, a training initiative that equips journalists and media professionals with modern storytelling and reporting skills.
Over the past decade, AMA has delivered hundreds of high-impact campaigns for more than 150 clients, including some of the world’s largest corporations, development institutions, and African innovators. With local teams in 30 African countries and operational hubs in Abidjan, Johannesburg, and Durban, AMA stands as a trusted partner for organizations looking to connect authentically and operate effectively across Africa’s diverse markets.
ACCRA, Ghana, 12 December 2025-/African Media Agency(AMA)/-Yango Group, a global tech company bringing advanced technology to local communities, has announced a strategic investment through Yango Ventures in Gigmile, a vehicle financing and financial services platform for gig workers in Africa. The investment marks Yango Ventures’ continued commitment to supporting high-potential startups across emerging markets and strengthening digital infrastructure across the continent.
Gigmile is building the infrastructure for last-mile delivery in Africa by equipping gig workers with access to vehicle financing, software tools, and operational support. This strategic partnership will support Gigmile’s regional expansion and help improve delivery efficiency and financial inclusion across the continent.
“Gigmile is working on a problem we understand deeply: how to build delivery systems that work for businesses and for the couriers who keep them running. Our experience in urban logistics gives us a strong foundation to help them scale responsibly and efficiently. We’re proud to support a team that shares our commitment to building practical, tech-enabled infrastructure across Africa.” said Daniil Shuleyko, CEO of Yango Group.
Gigmile is addressing one of the continent’s most dynamic and fast-growing sectors: last-mile delivery. By combining technology, flexible financing models, and data-driven workforce management, the company empowers gig couriers with the tools they need to operate efficiently and earn sustainably. Yango Ventures’ investment will fuel product development, strengthen operational capabilities, and accelerate Gigmile’s expansion across multiple African markets.
Yango Ventures focuses on early-stage startups from Seed to Series B in sectors such as O2O (Online-to-Offline), B2B SaaS, and FinTech. With an initial $20 million fund and plans for scalable growth, the corporate venture arm continues to expand its portfolio with companies building transformative, tech-driven solutions in high-growth regions across Africa, MENAP, LATAM, and beyond.
The investment in Gigmile reflects Yango Group’s broader strategy to support digital transformation and technological progress worldwide. Through Yango Ventures, the company continues to back promising entrepreneurs by offering access to capital, operational expertise, and a global network that accelerates scalable, community-driven growth.
