When Sitoyo Lopokoiyit left M-PESA Africa, the big question was simple: where next? Now we have the answer.
Absa Group has appointed Lopokoiyit as Chief Executive: Personal and Private Banking, effective 1 April 2026. Lopokoiyit most recently served as Managing Director of M-PESA Africa and Chief Financial Services Officer at Safaricom.
Over more than 12 years in fintech, he helped shape M-PESA into Africa’s most dominant mobile money platform, serving over 56 million customers and more than 5 million businesses.
He was instrumental in scaling the M-PESA Super App, driving Fuliza’s expansion, expanding partnerships with global platforms like PayPal and Alipay and supporting continental growth under the Safaricom–Vodacom joint venture structure.
Before leading M-PESA Africa, Lopokoiyit held roles including Head of M-PESA Strategy and Business Development and oversaw operations in Tanzania.
His induction into the 11:FS Hall of Fame further cemented his reputation as one of the continent’s most influential fintech leaders.
Absa’s Personal and Private Banking division is where retail customers, SMEs, and affluent clients sit.
Bringing in someone who scaled Africa’s largest fintech suggests Absa is not just tweaking digital strategy — it’s accelerating it.
While Lopokoiyit’s appointment headlines the changes, Absa also announced governance-focused leadership shifts:
- Prabashni Naidoo moves into a newly expanded role as Group Chief Governance Officer.
- Rushdi Solomons becomes Group Chief Internal Audit Officer.
- Fatima Newman is appointed Chief Compliance Officer.
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Also Read: M-PESA at 18: Sitoyo Lopokoiyit on the Innovation That Redefined Money
