Cross Switch has appointed Gillian Koinange as Head of Business Development for East Africa, bringing two decades of commercial experience across the continent to a company deepening its presence in the region.
Gillian joins from PayU in Nairobi, where she led new sales across Africa and managed strategic global client relationships. Before that, she built a track record across IT, telecommunications, fintech, and SaaS — scaling pan-African portfolios, negotiating high-value contracts, and growing teams that consistently delivered results in competitive markets.
At Cross Switch, she takes responsibility for expanding the company’s footprint in East Africa, strengthening partner relationships, and driving adoption of its payment solutions across the region.
Her own account of what she brings to the role is direct: “A potent mix of strategic planning, partnership development, and an uncanny ability to see opportunities where others see obstacles.”
That clarity comes from experience earned over a long arc. Gillian started her career in the early 2000s, moving through roles from HR management to commercial leadership before focusing full-time on sales and business development. At Infobip, she achieved 83 percent of target on existing accounts and 73 percent on new logos within a single quarter. At PayU, she managed key client relationships across the continent while building new revenue streams in financial technology and payments.
She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Kellogg-certified sales qualification.
Cross Switch CEO noted that her appointment reflects the company’s focus on strengthening leadership to raise standards in service delivery and commercial growth across the region.
For Gillian, the move represents the next chapter in work she describes as fundamentally about connection. “In business as in life,” she has said, “the best opportunities are found through meaningful connections.” In East Africa, where Cross Switch is building toward a larger regional presence, that orientation carries real commercial weight.
