Ozow has appointed Tendi Nyathi as Chief Risk and Governance Officer (CRGO), effective 1 April 2026, in a move that underscores the growing strategic importance of governance, risk, and regulatory alignment in the evolving payments landscape.
The newly created role reflects a broader industry shift as fintechs face increasing regulatory complexity, heightened fraud risks, and the introduction of new payment frameworks aimed at integrating non-bank players more formally into the financial system.
Nyathi, previously Chief Legal Officer, will now lead Ozow’s enterprise-wide risk strategy, governance frameworks, and regulatory engagement while continuing to oversee the legal function. Her expanded mandate includes embedding risk-aware delivery across products, strengthening compliance structures, and supporting licensing as the company expands into new markets.
With over a decade of experience across law, regulation, and financial services, Nyathi has been a key figure in Ozow’s growth and its engagement with regulators and industry bodies.
Her appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the sector. Industry consultations, including the South African Reserve Bank’s Vision 2030 discussions, are placing increased emphasis on payment modernization, fraud controls, and the responsible inclusion of non-bank participants.
“Regulation is evolving to focus less on what an institution is and more on the activities it performs,” Nyathi explains. “That shift requires a much more integrated and strategic approach to risk and governance.”
She highlights three key trends shaping the fintech landscape in 2026: the implementation of activity-based regulatory frameworks, increasing focus on fraud prevention, and continued emphasis on financial inclusion.
“Financial inclusion remains critical, but it must be balanced with responsible innovation. Governance and risk play a central role in enabling that balance,” she says.
Nyathi is also a strong advocate for repositioning risk and governance as drivers of innovation, rather than constraints.
“If you don’t understand your boundaries, you can’t innovate effectively. Risk provides clarity—it allows teams to move faster because they understand the implications of their decisions upfront.”
Nyathi believes that trust will ultimately be the defining factor in fintech success.
“Efficiency is important, but trust is what drives adoption. The fintechs that succeed will be those that can demonstrate they understand and manage risk effectively and can communicate that to both consumers and merchants.”
As the payments ecosystem continues to evolve, Ozow’s investment in strategic risk capability signals its intent to compete not only on innovation, but on resilience, trust, and long-term sustainability.
