Jeremy Hodara is a French entrepreneur and business executive, best known as the Co-founder and former Co-CEO of Jumia, one of Africa’s largest e-commerce platforms. He is widely recognized for his role in building and scaling digital marketplaces across emerging markets, particularly in Africa.
Born in France, Jeremy Hodara pursued higher education at HEC Paris, where he developed a strong background in business strategy, finance, and management. He began his career in investment banking, working with global financial institutions where he gained experience in corporate finance and international markets.
Hodara later joined Rocket Internet, a German-based venture builder known for launching and scaling internet businesses worldwide. It was during his time at Rocket Internet that he co-founded Jumia in 2012 alongside Sacha Poignonnec, with the vision of creating a comprehensive online marketplace tailored to African consumers.
As Co-CEO of Jumia, Jeremy Hodara played a key role in expanding the company across multiple African countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and Côte d’Ivoire. He helped oversee the development of Jumia’s logistics network, vendor ecosystem, and digital payment infrastructure, enabling the company to overcome the unique challenges of operating in diverse and emerging markets.
A defining moment in his career came in 2019 when Jumia became the first African tech company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). This milestone highlighted the growing global relevance of Africa’s tech ecosystem and marked a major achievement for Hodara and his team.
Throughout his leadership, Hodara focused on building scalable systems, fostering partnerships, and driving innovation in e-commerce and digital services. Despite operational challenges such as logistics and market dynamics, his strategic direction helped establish Jumia as a pioneer in African digital commerce.
After stepping down from his role as Co-CEO, Jeremy Hodara remains an influential figure in global entrepreneurship, particularly in the development of technology-driven businesses in emerging markets.