About

A career that follows the money families send home.

Cross-border payments executive and storyteller, carrying value and culture between Africa and its diaspora.

Head-and-shoulders portrait of Richard Meseko smiling, in glasses and a suit.
Lomé, 2020
Biography

In brief

Richard Meseko is a payments executive whose career has followed the money that families send home. He has held operational and leadership roles at Ecobank in Côte d’Ivoire and Congo Brazzaville, led Travelex Money Transfer’s Africa region from Ghana, and served WorldRemit as Country Director for Canada, North America, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean. He has led global sales for Rapidtransfer International, Ecobank’s service for the African diaspora in Europe. Born in Nigeria and based between Montréal and Paris, he holds an MBA from the Université du Québec à Montréal. He believes financial inclusion is the first step to cultural inclusion, and tells Africa’s stories through music.

Career

Four regions, one corridor

  1. c. 2022–2023ParisRapidtransfer International, EcobankHead of Global SalesSource: GFRID speaker page; RocketReach
  2. to 2020MontréalWorldRemit (now Zepz)Country Director roles: Canada, North America, Africa, Latin America and the CaribbeanSource: 2020 profile; Manyatta Network (2015)
  3. 2015MontréalWorldRemitCountry Director, CanadaSource: Manyatta Network interview, 26 Nov 2015
  4. earlierAccra, GhanaTravelex Money TransferRegional Manager, AfricaSource: 2020 profile; Crunchbase
  5. earlierBrazzaville, CongoEcobankCountry Operations Director and Head of TechnologySource: 2020 profile; Crunchbase
  6. earlierAbidjan, Côte d’IvoireEcobankHead of Money Transfer and International TradeSource: 2020 profile; Crunchbase

Every role carries a year and a source. Dates marked “earlier” precede 2015.

Education

Study

  • 2001–2004Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)MBASource: RocketReach; Crunchbase
Languages and places

Two languages, seven cities

English and French.

  • 01Lagos
  • 02Niamey
  • 03Abidjan
  • 04Accra
  • 05Brazzaville
  • 06Montréal
  • 07Paris

Based in Montréal and Paris.

Beyond the title

Work, culture, life

  • Portrait of Richard Meseko in a suit and purple tie against a white wall.

    At work

    Payments, financial inclusion and the diaspora corridor: conferences, boards and the press.

  • Richard Meseko playing the pan flute in a suit.

    In culture

    Music, the pan flute and the heritage of the royal household of Alasorin.

  • Richard Meseko cycling on a city street.

    At home

    Family, cycling, swimming and travel: the person behind the title.

Heritage

Where he comes from

Born in Nigeria, a prince of the royal household of Alasorin.

He believes financial inclusion is the first step to cultural inclusion, and carries Africa’s music and stories to its next generation.

Culture

Sound business principles come from the broader principles of life.
His working principle, from a 2015 interview (paraphrased)