African B2B e-commerce platform, OmniRetail, has announced the appointment of Steve Dakayi as the Country Lead for Ivory Coast, signaling the company’s strategic expansion into the Francophone region of Africa. Dakayi transitions to OmniRetail following the closure of BetaStore, a B2B e-commerce venture he launched in 2020.
With a decade of experience in the e-commerce sector, including a stint as the commercial and fulfillment lead at Jumia, Dakayi is well-equipped to spearhead OmniRetail’s growth in this new region. His expertise will be instrumental as OmniRetail targets key Francophone markets for expansion.
Amber Yadav, Head of the Retail Division at OmniRetail, emphasized the company’s expansion strategy: “Once you’ve established a solid foundation, the next logical step is to explore new territories. We’re eyeing Francophone African countries like Cameroon, Senegal, and Cote d’Ivoire that present promising opportunities for our growth.”
OmniRetail’s move into Francophone Africa comes at a time when the region is experiencing robust economic growth and stability, partly due to a currency that is pegged to the Euro, shielding it from the foreign exchange volatility seen in other West African economies. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has identified six of the seven fastest-growing economies in sub-Saharan Africa as Francophone countries.
Dakayi himself is bullish about the region’s prospects, citing the burgeoning middle class, increased purchasing power, and evolving consumption patterns as key drivers of growth. He is confident that OmniRetail’s focus on fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) will resonate well with the Francophone market.
In pursuit of growth, OmniRetail plans to cultivate strong local partnerships and maintain an asset-light approach to ensure profitability. Dakayi, who will be reporting directly to Deepankar Rustagi, the CEO of OmniRetail, is tasked with leading the expansion efforts, starting with Ivory Coast.
Dakayi’s appointment is a significant step for OmniRetail as the company sharpens its focus on profitability, having been recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies of 2024. Under Dakayi’s leadership, OmniRetail aspires to become the premier e-commerce platform across Africa.
