Hubtel announces Patience Akyianu as next board chair

…following Hans Nilsson’s decade of service

Ghana’s leading payment service provider, Hubtel, has announced the appointment of Patience Akyianu as its new Board Chair. She succeeds Hans Nilsson, who steps down after a decade of guiding the company through major governance reforms and growth milestones.

Hans has chaired Hubtel’s Board since 2015, leading the company through a decade of transformation. Under his tenure, committee systems were formalised, governance was aligned with Bank of Ghana guidelines, and supervision strengthened.

He also oversaw the achievement of a long-term revenue target set in 2015 and guided independent reviews that prepared Hubtel for potential public-market scrutiny. Known for his mentoring style, Hans championed evidence-based debate in the boardroom and helped build confidence in Hubtel’s systems and people.

Patience Akyianu brings extensive leadership experience from the banking and insurance sectors. She has previously served as Managing Director of Barclays Bank Ghana (now Absa) and Chief Financial Officer for Standard Chartered’s Africa regional operations in Johannesburg. She has also served as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Ecobank Ghana.

Since joining Hubtel’s Board in 2021, Patience has contributed to strengthening governance and guidance. Her background in finance, risk, and regulation makes her well-suited to lead the board as Hubtel deepens its role in Ghana’s payments and commerce sector and prepares for selective regional expansion.

“It has been a privilege to serve as Chair of Hubtel,” said Hans Nilsson, outgoing Chair. “The board is strong, the leadership team is ready, and the company is well-positioned for its next chapter. This is the right time for a planned handover. I wish Patience and the board every success.”

“Serving on this board since 2021 has shown me the strength of the team and the scale of the opportunity,” said Patience Akyianu, incoming Board Chair. “The priority is clear: maintain trust, make everyday payments simpler for customers and merchants, and raise the bar on governance as Hubtel grows in Ghana and across Africa.”

“Hubtel benefits from leaders who build both systems and people,” said Alex Bram, Chief Executive Officer. “We are grateful to Hans for a decade of steady guidance and proud to welcome Patience as Chair to steer governance, strategy, and disciplined growth.”

The board began succession planning well in advance to ensure a smooth change in leadership. This planned handover supports continuity in strategy and governance, while giving stakeholders confidence that Hubtel’s focus on payment reliability, merchant value, and compliance will remain unchanged.

Patience’s career spans leadership roles with direct responsibility for finance, risk, and operations. Her boardroom experience includes engagement with regulators and exposure to listed-company standards, aligning well with Hubtel’s strategic priorities. The board’s decision to appoint Patience shows its focus on safeguarding trust, upholding strong guidance, and driving growth with accountability to regulators, merchants, and customers.

Under her leadership, Hubtel will maintain its focus on reliable products, merchant growth, disciplined governance, open communication with regulators and partners, and continued investment in risk systems and data. Over the next 12–24 months, the board will prioritize strengthening payment reliability, merchant acquisition and retention, and exploring selective regional opportunities.

About Hubtel

Hubtel is a leading technology company licensed by the Bank of Ghana as an Enhanced Payment Service Provider. The company makes it easy for people to find and pay for everyday essentials from local businesses of all sizes.

Founded in 2005, Hubtel operates 23 offices across Ghana with about 700 employees. Its mission is to drive Africa forward by enabling everyone to find and pay for everyday essentials, with the vision of becoming Africa’s most useful company.

Hubtel’s growth and innovation have been recognized by the Financial Times, which named it Ghana’s fastest-growing company for 2022. Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Forbes Magazine have also featured Hubtel for its role in Africa’s digital economy.

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