Speaker Bio
Jean Claude Gaga is a seasoned fintech leader with over 15 years of experience shaping the digital payments landscape in Africa. Since January 2022, he has served as Managing Director of Airtel Mobile Commerce Rwanda, where he has driven consistent growth by restructuring distribution channels, strengthening compliance, and rolling out customer-focused innovations that deepen financial inclusion.
Prior to Airtel, Jean Claude was Commercial Director at Equity Bank Rwanda, where he spearheaded the launch of Fast Fasta, a groundbreaking merchant payment solution that disrupted an MNO-dominated market and significantly boosted the bank’s non-funded income. Earlier, as CEO of RSwitch, Rwanda’s national electronic payment processor, he led the organization through its first EMV certification and secured PCI DSS compliance, raising industry benchmarks for security and interoperability across the financial services ecosystem.
A pioneer of mobile money in Rwanda, Jean Claude played a key role in launching the country’s first mobile financial service with MTN Rwanda in 2010. Today, he continues to shape the regional payments industry as a board member of fintech entities in Rwanda and Tchad, and through his past contributions to the EAC, COMESA, and SADC tripartite retail payments initiative.
A passionate digital payments advocate, Jean Claude is also a sought-after speaker at fintech and financial services conferences across Africa and beyond.