NjiaPay, a fast-growing fintech startup simplifying payments in Africa, has appointed Mike McLaren as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO). The company views his arrival as a turning point in its growth strategy, strengthening leadership as it scales its payment management platform and expands into new African markets. With South Africa entering its busiest shopping season, including Black Friday and Christmas, NjiaPay is positioning itself to execute with greater speed and operational strength.
Strengthening Leadership for Growth
McLaren joins NjiaPay with over 20 years of experience in fintech and payments, having most recently served as General Counsel at Stitch, one of South Africa’s leading payment service providers. At Stitch, he built out the company’s legal, compliance, and regulatory functions and was instrumental in securing its $55 million Series B funding round. NjiaPay’s CEO and co-founder, Jonatan Allback, called McLaren’s appointment a milestone, highlighting his mix of legal and operational expertise as critical to scaling the business.
A Startup on the Rise
Founded in early 2025 after a $1.3 million pre-seed raise, NjiaPay has focused its initial efforts on South Africa’s online business market. The company has been onboarding clients in hospitality, e-commerce, telecommunications, and among exporters serving international customers, establishing itself in a key African economy. With early traction secured, NjiaPay is preparing for broader continental expansion, and McLaren’s arrival is designed to accelerate that push.
McLaren’s Perspective
Reflecting on his appointment, McLaren noted the rapid evolution of the African payments landscape and the persistent inefficiencies businesses face in managing transactions. He said NjiaPay’s platform offers an opportunity to address these gaps, giving companies real control over their payments in ways not widely available before. McLaren emphasized that his goal is to help NjiaPay simplify complexity in online payments and create lasting value for African businesses.
Innovative Payment Management Platform
NjiaPay’s Payment Management Platform (PMP) provides businesses with enterprise-grade tools that were previously out of reach for many small and mid-sized companies. The PCI-compliant platform securely stores and routes card details while minimizing transaction failures when payment providers experience downtime. With a streamlined checkout system and built-in fraud protection, NjiaPay combines reliability with security to help businesses reduce losses and improve customer trust.
The addition of Mike McLaren as COO signals NjiaPay’s readiness to scale into a new phase of growth, combining strong leadership with innovative technology. His experience in guiding fintech companies through legal, regulatory, and operational challenges will be central to NjiaPay’s ambitions across Africa. As the company strengthens its platform ahead of the holiday shopping surge, NjiaPay is positioning itself to compete with established players and offer businesses a simpler, more secure way to manage payments.