Chari, a Casablanca-based fintech founded in 2020, has announced that former Visa Global Head of Client Operations and Services Aurélien Pichon has joined its board as an independent director. Pichon brings over two decades of experience in technology, data, and payments, including senior roles at Thomson Reuters and Google. His appointment comes as Chari is shifting its focus towards banking-as-a-service across Francophone Africa.
Pichon, who oversaw a global team of nearly 5,000 staff at Visa, previously led operations for Visa's Central Europe, Middle East and Africa region, which includes Chari's core markets. He is based in the Middle East and will focus on scaling payments expertise, building institutional relationships across Africa and the Middle East, and instilling operating discipline as Chari industrialises its infrastructure for third-party clients.
Chari is moving beyond its original B2B commerce and retailer-distribution model to develop regulated financial-infrastructure offerings for banks, telcos, corporations, and fintechs across Francophone Africa. The company is rolling out agency-banking services that turn neighborhood shops into cash-in, cash-out, and broader financial-service points, with plans to expand the network from thousands to tens of thousands of locations.
Through its Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform, Chari aims to make its payment rails available to third-party financial institutions, shifting emphasis from direct retailer relationships to the underlying infrastructure that connects banks and merchants. This strategic shift is expected to drive growth and increase financial inclusion across the region.
Co-founder and CEO Ismael Belkhayat explained that the board sought a leader who has run payments operations at the scale Chari intends to achieve, rather than a high-profile name. Pichon's background spans issuers, acquirers, processors, and regulators in emerging markets, which Chari views as essential for delivering the "last-mile" financial layer that reaches small merchants.
Chari, a Y Combinator alumnus, plans to continue expanding its Super App, agency-banking network, and BaaS business across Francophone Africa while leveraging Pichon's experience to industrialise its services for external financial-services providers. The company is well-positioned to drive financial inclusion and growth in the region.
With Pichon's appointment, Chari is poised to strengthen its position in the African fintech market. The company's focus on banking-as-a-service and financial infrastructure is expected to have a significant impact on the region's financial landscape. Pichon's expertise and experience will be crucial in driving this growth and achieving Chari's goals.
Key points
- Chari appoints former Visa executive Aurélien Pichon as an independent director to steer its shift toward banking-as-a-service across Francophone Africa.
- Pichon brings over two decades of experience in technology, data, and payments, including senior roles at Thomson Reuters and Google.
- Chari plans to continue expanding its Super App, agency-banking network, and BaaS business across Francophone Africa while leveraging Pichon's experience.
