Yellow Card, Africa’s largest licensed stablecoin-based infrastructure provider, has appointed Gillian Darko as Vice President of Strategy.
A seasoned executive with a track record at JP Morgan Asset Management, PwC, and JUMO, Darko steps into the role after serving as Chief of Staff and Director of Strategy at the fintech firm.
Reporting directly to the CEO, she joins the executive leadership team to spearhead Yellow Card’s long-term growth strategy, innovation roadmap, and market expansion efforts across Africa and other emerging regions.
“Stepping into this role is about seizing the momentum we’ve built and accelerating it,” said Darko. “My focus is on driving revenue through a powerful growth engine—built on innovative commercial strategies that expand our market presence, unlock new opportunities, and create sustainable value.”
Strategic Vision & Regional Expertise
Darko brings deep expertise in board governance and regulatory navigation, having served on executive boards across Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Uganda, and Tanzania. Her appointment signals Yellow Card’s commitment to embedding world-class financial discipline and strategic foresight into its operations.
She is also an ambassador for Women in Payments Africa and a former nominee for Outstanding Woman in Tech, underscoring her leadership in advancing gender diversity in fintech.
Yellow Card’s Mission & Impact
Operating in 20 African countries, Yellow Card provides stablecoin-powered infrastructure that enables businesses to:
- Make international payments
- Protect financial assets
- Manage treasury functions
- Access hard currency liquidity
Leveraging stablecoins pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar—including USDC, USDT, and PYUSD—Yellow Card delivers solutions through:
- Commercial trading operations
- B2B products like its payments API and widget
- Retail and small business platforms
Since launching in Nigeria in 2019, the company has processed nearly US$6 billion in transaction volume, with 99% attributed to stablecoins. It employs over 200 people across 24 countries and has raised US$85 million in equity financing.
“We’re building the financial rails of the future,” said a Yellow Card spokesperson. “Gillian’s appointment strengthens our ability to scale responsibly and deliver stablecoin solutions that meet the needs of businesses across emerging markets.”
African Startup Funding Soars in H1 2025: Gender Gap Widens Despite Record Growth


