Head of Market Development

NCBA Bank Kenya Plc operates LOOP DFS, a mobile-based payment and financial services platform connecting consumers and merchants across Africa, with plans for expansion into six new countries by 2026.

NCBA Bank Kenya Plc's LOOP DFS platform aims to become a leading pan-African mobile-based payment and financial services provider, targeting expansion into six new countries by 2026. The platform offers a comprehensive suite of services including credit, marketplace functionalities, mobile money transfers, bill payments, P2P lending, and digital wallets for merchants. The Head of Market Development will lead this strategic growth by identifying, planning, and executing new market and product expansion initiatives. This role involves conducting thorough market assessments, ensuring regulatory compliance, developing localized strategies, and forging strong public and private sector partnerships. The successful candidate will orchestrate market readiness across various functions like product, legal, compliance, distribution, and customer support, developing business cases and implementing expansion initiatives to ensure sustainable growth, competitive positioning, and maximum market penetration, customer acquisition, and partner engagement.

1. Drive LOOP’s strategic growth and market expansion across Africa.
2. Identify, plan, and execute new market and product expansion initiatives.
3. Lead a dedicated Market Launch Team and collaborate cross-functionally to introduce fintech offerings to new geographies.
4. Conduct comprehensive market assessments and ensure regulatory readiness for new markets.
5. Shape and implement localization strategies tailored to specific market needs.
6. Develop and nurture strong public and private sector partnerships.
7. Orchestrate market readiness across product development, legal, compliance, distribution, and customer support functions.
8. Develop robust business cases and implement expansion initiatives aligned with the company’s long-term vision.
9. Ensure sustainable growth, competitive positioning, and maximize market penetration, customer acquisition, and partner engagement.

1. Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a business-related field.
2. MBA or a Master’s degree in a business field is desirable.
3. Over 10 years of experience in fintech, digital financial services, or digital platforms.
4. At least 5 years in an expansion, business development, or Go-To-Market (GTM) leadership role across multiple African markets.
5. Proven track record of successfully launching B2C, B2B, or Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) financial services platforms in emerging markets.
6. Experience with payments acquiring, mobile money, credit, or savings platforms is an advantage.
7. Exposure to API-driven product ecosystems or PaaS business models.
8. Strong cross-functional leadership skills and the ability to mobilize teams without direct authority.
9. Excellent commercial acumen and partnership negotiation skills.
10. Deep understanding of African regulatory environments, particularly in payments, lending, and platform business models.
11. Strong capabilities in market analysis, opportunity sizing, and go-to-market execution.
12. Ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership, regulators, and external partners.
13. Possess an entrepreneurial mindset, high adaptability, and a bias for action.
14. A relentless pursuit of growth and a desire to disrupt the FinTech industry.