Wave, the Franco-African fintech unicorn, has named Joël Bertrand Ndjodo as its new Country Manager for Cameroon, cementing its official entry into this pivotal market. Ndjodo, a seasoned digital finance executive, previously led mobile money operations at MTN Cameroon, bringing over 20 years of industry experience to the role.
Wave’s expansion into Cameroon coincides with its recent €117 million (over $137 million) debt facility, which aims to propel growth across its existing and new markets. The company obtained regulatory approval through a partnership with Commercial Bank Cameroon (CBC), enabling Wave to offer services such as peer-to-peer transfers, cash deposits and withdrawals, bill payments, and airtime top-ups under CBC’s licence.
In doing so, Wave is entering a competitive arena dominated by MTN and Orange mobile money services. Reports note that Orange has already adjusted its withdrawal fees down to 1% to stay competitive.
Ndjodo’s deep familiarity with Cameroon’s mobile money ecosystem makes him a strategic asset for Wave’s disruption strategy. His leadership is poised to shape how the fintech stack competes for both urban and underbanked rural users, particularly as transaction volumes in Cameroon leap ahead of regional averages.
