NjiaPay has announced the appointment of fintech expert Mike McLaren as its new Chief Operating Officer, marking a major milestone in its mission to accelerate payment management solutions for online businesses across Africa. The appointment comes as part of NjiaPay’s strategic plans to expand its footprint on the continent and strengthen its offerings for South African businesses and beyond.
Launched earlier this year following a $1.3 million pre-seed round in January, NjiaPay has quickly positioned itself as a key player in Africa’s fast-evolving payments ecosystem. With a focus on addressing diaspora payment challenges and simplifying transactions for online businesses of all sizes, the company is building momentum in key industries such as hospitality, e-commerce, telecommunications, and international trade.
McLaren brings a wealth of experience from his previous role at Stitch, where he was instrumental in scaling legal, compliance, and regulatory operations, while also playing a pivotal role in Stitch’s $55 million Series B fundraising round. His combined expertise in business operations, legal frameworks, and fintech growth will be critical in shaping NjiaPay’s expansion strategy as it enters new markets.
According to Jonatan Allback, CEO and co-founder of NjiaPay, McLaren’s deep understanding of the African payments landscape will add immense value as the company continues its growth journey. Allback noted that McLaren’s proven ability to navigate the complexities of payments in Africa aligns perfectly with NjiaPay’s vision to streamline and simplify payment management for businesses of all scales.
McLaren expressed his enthusiasm for the role, highlighting NjiaPay’s unique position in tackling fragmentation and inefficiencies within Africa’s payments sector. He emphasized that NjiaPay’s platform gives businesses real control over their payments—an offering previously limited to large corporations—and expressed his excitement about helping drive the company’s mission to unlock real value for African enterprises.
