M-KOPA, a fintech company focused on emerging markets, has appointed Rajeev Suri as the new Chairperson of its Board, effective December 1, 2024.

Suri, who previously served as the CEO of Nokia and Inmarsat, takes over from Elizabeth Littlefield, who has been instrumental in guiding M-KOPA through its significant transformation over the past six years.

As the new board chair, Suri will leverage his extensive experience in technology and telecommunications to provide critical oversight and strategic direction for M-KOPA as it continues to expand its innovative offerings. He brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously led major companies and currently serving as chairperson of Digicel and a board director at Singtel.

M-KOPA has made a name for itself by providing financed smartphones and digital financial services to underbanked consumers. With over 5 million customers and more than $1.5 billion in credit deployed across five African markets—Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda.

“We are thrilled to welcome Rajeev to the board as we enter this next phase of growth for the business,” said Jesse Moore, CEO and Co-Founder of M-KOPA. “His proven leadership in steering international companies through periods of rapid expansion will be invaluable.”

Under Suri’s stewardship, M-KOPA will continue to refine its AI-powered credit analytics platform, which is crucial for offering digital loans, affordable data subscriptions, and insurance services through a pay-as-you-go model. This approach helps establish long-term financial relationships with its customers, particularly those in low-income brackets.

In his remarks, Suri expressed excitement about joining the fintech company, stating, “M-KOPA represents one of the most exciting fintech propositions, not only in Africa but globally. Their use of leading-edge technologies and AI to solve the critical challenge of digital and financial inclusion is compelling and has the potential to change the way we think about consumers in emerging markets. I am excited to join this team and look forward to driving impactful solutions together.”

Outgoing board chair Elizabeth Littlefield will continue to serve as an independent board director and chair of the ESG and Impact Committee. Moore acknowledged her contributions, stating, “We are deeply grateful to Elizabeth for her outstanding leadership over the past six years. She and the board have guided M-KOPA through significant transformation and remarkable growth.”