Fintech company Ozow has announced the appointment of Catherine Korsten as Chief Growth Officer (CGO), effective January 2026.
Korsten joins Ozow’s executive team with close to 20 years’ experience spanning traditional finance, portfolio management, and payments.

In her new role, she will lead the company’s growth and expansion strategy, with a focus on strengthening Ozow’s position in South Africa and advancing its merchant-focused offerings. She began her career in stockbroking and hedge fund management before moving into payments at Flash, a Pepkor subsidiary, where she spent more than 11 years working across high-volume, low-value transactions and large-scale payment infrastructure. She later served as Chief Commercial Officer at EFT Corporation, overseeing technology operations across several African markets, including Rwanda and Ethiopia.

Speaking on her appointment, Korsten said she was motivated by the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in South Africa’s payments ecosystem. She highlighted small and micro-businesses as a key focus area, describing the sector as “the engine of our economy” that remains significantly underserved.
At Ozow, her mandate includes deepening merchant partnerships, refining the company’s merchant-first and consumer-first approach, and driving practical solutions that improve access and financial inclusion.

She also emphasised the importance of leadership development and building stronger, more diverse talent pipelines within the payments and technology sectors.

Ozow interim CEO Rachel Cowan welcomed the appointment, noting that Korsten’s deep payments expertise and understanding of the local merchant landscape will play a critical role in supporting the company’s next phase of growth