Jean Claude Gaga

Managing Director, Airtel Money, Rwanda

Jean Claude Gaga

Speaker Bio

Prior to joining Airtel he was the Commercial Director at Equity Bank Rwanda where he delivered innovation in retail digital payments launching Fast Fasta – a merchant payment solution - disrupting a previously MNO (Mobile Network Operators) space.


He served as CEO (Chief Executive Officer) at RSwitch, Rwanda’s national electronic payment processor, delivering payment interoperability and transaction processing services to banks and other financial institutions.


 He steered the company through its first EMV certification as a third-party processor for key international card schemes such as Visa and China Union Pay among others. He led RSwitch through several certifications for PCIDSS compliance ensuring the highest security standards for partners in the financial services sector.


 A digital payments enthusiast with over 13yrs experience, he pioneered Mobile Financial Services in Rwanda with the launch of the very first mobile money service with MTN Rwanda.


Jean Claude is also a frequent conference speaker and has participated in major events around payments, mobile finance and fintech in Rwanda, Kenya, Sudan and UAE.


Jean Claude Gaga holds a Master’s degree in Financial Services Management from the University of Salford, UK. He is a board member of fintech entities in Rwanda and Tchad. He is a member of the EAC, COMESA, SADC committee on the establishment of the tripartite cross border retail payments scheme.