African payments technology firm Cellulant has appointed Anthony Hernandez as Chief Operating Officer to lead its push toward AI-enabled operations, as the company scales its presence across the continent.
Hernandez will oversee end-to-end customer experience, including onboarding, transactions and growth, while advancing operational automation and data-driven execution, the company said on Tuesday.
The appointment comes as Cellulant strengthens its operational infrastructure to support growing transaction volumes and enterprise clients using its single API platform, which connects businesses to multiple African markets and payment methods.
“In payments today, trust is the real currency, and operational excellence is what earns it,” Chief Executive Officer Peter O’Toole said in a statement, adding that the company is focused on embedding discipline and consistency across its operations.
Hernandez brings experience spanning traditional finance and digital banking. At GE Capital, he worked within large-scale, highly regulated financial systems with a focus on risk management, compliance and operational execution, while his time at Xapo Bank exposed him to digital-first, real-time platforms combining fiat and cryptocurrency services. The combination positions him to oversee complex operations and support Cellulant’s push toward AI-driven, scalable and compliant payment systems across its markets.
He has also held senior roles at Demica (now part of FIS), where he led digital transformation programmes, regulatory approvals and global operating teams.
At Cellulant, he will lead the development of an automated, data-driven operational framework aimed at improving real-time visibility into transactions and settlements, while strengthening compliance and risk management systems across regulated markets.
“Payment flexibility starts with access to the right options and is grown by how reliably those options work in practice,” Hernandez said, adding that the company will focus on delivering seamless and reliable payment experiences while providing customers with insights to support growth.
Cellulant operates across multiple African markets, serving enterprises and global businesses seeking integrated payment solutions.