API Product Lead · Digital Transformation Leader · Head of Digital
Roland? -- known for more than just a name
15+ years building Open API ecosystems, mobile money platforms, and AI-powered digital products across Africa. From monolith to SuperApp — I own the full API product lifecycle from strategy to monetisation
Latest update
Imagine investing millions into digital transformation, only to watch results fall short. The reality is sobering: 70% of major initiatives fail. Over the years, industry leaders have learned what separates those who stumble from those who lead their organizations to lasting transformation success(...)
The digital revolution is accelerating, and 2026 is set to be a watershed year for organizations hungry for growth, resilience, and competitive advantage. Businesses are rapidly reimagining what it means to operate, collaborate, and innovate in our technology-rich world. Based on industry insights, emerging data, and real-life examples, here are the five digital transformation trends that will shape the landscape in 2026—and what they mean for IT leaders, CIOs, and digital strategists.
Key initiatives
Transformed complex challenges into simple, actionable solutions.
Evolved Telco solutions from basic self-care apps into a fully API-led SuperApp, driven by a shift from static content management to a dynamic, scalable architecture enabling truly unified omni-channel experiences. At the heart of this transformation: the Digital Experience Solution (DXS) — an in-house API management platform governing authentication, token lifecycle, RBAC, and service catalogue for all internal and external consumers. This platform enabled the conception, launch, and commercial monetisation of the first Speech-to-Text / Text-to-Speech API in the Malagasy language — live in production and scaling across Madagascar
Pioneered digital initiatives by building an innovation lab and enabling real-time banking services via a Facebook Messenger chatbot — the first of its kind in Madagascar — powered by Open API integrations that connected customers to live banking services instantly. Onboarded 1,500+ users daily, proving that meeting customers on their terms drives adoption faster than any branch ever could.
Led modernization across six African operations (Tanzania, Rwanda, Senegal, Ghana, DRC, Chad), elevating mobile money platforms through API-led integration, 100+ partner onboardings, and standardised Open API capabilities across all markets — driving accelerated growth and operational performance at scale.
Spearheaded the launch of the first mobile money solution in Morocco — making history as the first operator to bring Mobile Financial Services to the Moroccan market. Led end-to-end from RFP through vendor selection, platform architecture, integration, and soft launch — delivered within 12 months. Full accountability from day one to go-live.
Professional Journey
From Ideas to Impact
Digital Transformation leader with 15+ years of experience across telecom, financial services, and fintech. Proven track record in managing operations, leading complex digital initiatives, and integrating partner ecosystems.
Skilled in ensuring system reliability, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction through data-driven approaches, strong governance, and continuous innovation.
Experience
Head of Digital
Axian|Yas Madagascar
Jan 2022 - present
Own the end to end digital product lifecycle (introduction, growth, maturity and decline)
Drive the digital application modernization
Senior Consultant Digital : DFS
Millicom Group| UK
Jul 2011 - Dec 2015
Mai 2016 - present
Value Chain Farmer2.0 (Ada|Luxembourg)
MFS RFP/Deployment (Orange|Jordan)
Greenfield MoMO (INWI|Morocco)
MFS Mobile App for Youth (UNCDF MM4P|Senegal)
Digital Payment solution ( Finance ministry|DRC)
Africa Program Manager
Conduct the digital solution modernization for TigoPesa Africa
Led 7R strategies (Replace, Rehost, Replatform, Refactor, Rearchitect, Rebuild, Replace, Retire)
IN/VAS Manager
Telecom company| MG, EG
Jul 2003 - Jun 2011
Jan 2023 - Oct 2009 |Madacom| Prepaid team leader
Oct 2009 - Jun 2010|Life telecom| IN/Vas Manager
Jun 2010 - Jun 2011|Muni EG| IN/VAS Manager
Ways We Can Work Together
Discover tailored services to accelerate your digital transformation
Solution Development
I create responsive and engaging digital solutions tailored to your needs, leveraging no-code and low-code approaches to accelerate delivery. With my commitment, you will have a fully functional MVP within just one month—helping you validate ideas faster, reduce costs, and move confidently toward growth
Automation
I provide automation solutions designed to optimize processes, boost productivity, and minimize human errors. By implementing intelligent workflows and systems, your operations can run seamlessly 24/7, ensuring consistent performance, faster turnaround, and more time for your team to focus on strategic initiatives
Consulting Services
Your transformation deserves more than technology—it needs strategy, expertise, and measurable results. I help you modernize operations, unlock growth, and create seamless customer experiences with tailored solutions that drive sustainable success
I had the chance to work with Roland on the TIGO CASH rollout project. He inspired me a lot as a project manager, focussed on the delivery, with quality and on time, with outstanding negociation skills especially with vendors. He impells motivation to the team. I strongly recommend him and I'm sure he's also kin to grow to higher responsibilities
Louis James Augustin
CTO|ODS
★★★★
★★★★★
Roland has been instrumental in the success of several complex projects that had helped phase out the MFS legacy platforms and migrate them securely to next generation platforms; in addition to also acting as lead PM in a greenfield MFS implementation. Roland brings a wealth of experience and best practice managing Telco projects to the MFS world. . He is fantastic member of the team and has contributed to the overall success of MFS in Africa.
★★★★★
In a personal capacity, I can highly recommend Roland. As Programme Manager for MFS, has managed a complex portfolio of projects, established a strong Programme Management framework. He has a highly pro-active approach to managing programmes and excels in communication with in-country Project Managers. He is a great asset in managing projects across Africa.
★★★★★
I had the pleasure of working alongside Roland as part of a major billing transformation (migration to convergent billing) program for a large telecom service provider. Roland was managing the transformation. Such programs carry high risks and are generally severely over budget, behind schedule and deliver less value than what was in the forecast. I was really surprised at the ease with which Roland delivered the program with very good KPI. Roland is the go-to-person for delivering large and complex programs successfully.
Khuen How Ng
Global PMO Director|Millicom
Gareth Pateman
Founder |MFX Partner
Arun Vasudeva Rao
Senior Director Engineering |BetSol
Connect
Get in touch for collaboration opportunities.
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