Pan-African fintech firm PalmPay has appointed Femi Hanson as the new head of marketing and public relations for its Nigerian subsidiary.

With a wealth of experience in the fintech sector, Hanson previously led the marketing teams at Nigerian fintechs OPay and Moni, bringing five years of industry expertise to his new role.

Hanson will spearhead PalmPay’s efforts to expand its business in Nigeria, which the company considers its largest market. PalmPay claims a user base of 35 million and has onboarded 1.2 million businesses across the country.

PalmPay’s global chief marketing officer, Sofia Zab, expressed confidence in Hanson’s ability to drive the company’s growth. “His deep understanding of the local market and proven track record of delivering impactful campaigns will help us strengthen our connection to customers and accelerate our mission of advancing financial inclusion,” she said.

PalmPay entered the Nigerian market in 2019, supported by a $40 million seed investment from Tecno, which also established a partnership with Transsion Holdings—the parent company of Tecno, Infinix, and Itel.

This partnership allowed PalmPay’s app to be pre-installed on millions of smartphones sold by Africa’s leading mobile phone manufacturer. Additionally, PalmPay offered discounted bank transfers and free transfers to its wallets, making it an attractive option for users.

The fintech has also gained popularity in Nigeria through its digital lending business, offering interest rates between 15-30%, which has contributed to its rapid growth.

PalmPay capitalized on Nigeria’s 2023 currency redesign policy, which saw many Nigerians turning to fintech services after traditional banks struggled with the surge in online transactions.

PalmPay was recently listed as one of the seven African fintech companies in CNBC’s Top 250 Fintech Companies, surpassing competitors like OPay and Moniepoint.

The unranked list was based on research from Statista and input from the companies themselves, including data on 2023 revenues, sales growth, and headcount.

Hanson expressed his enthusiasm about joining PalmPay, stating, “Joining PalmPay at this stage of its incredible journey is a tremendous honor. I am excited to build on the company’s strong foundation and contribute to its mission of delivering seamless financial solutions to millions of Nigerian consumers and businesses.”