Leatherback Rebrands as Foren After Zedcrest Acquisition

Cross-border payments company Leatherback has rebranded as Foren, three months after Nigerian financial services group Zedcrest Group completed its acquisition of the fintech.

Foren announced the new identity on October 5, 2026, describing the rebrand as the final step in a two-year transformation of the business. The company says it has rebuilt its technology infrastructure, strengthened its compliance and regulatory systems, changed its approach to operations and governance, and placed greater focus on customer experience.

The company says the name change was deliberately left until the operational changes were in place.

According to Foren, the business it operates today is substantially different from the company that operated under the Leatherback name.

Expanding Into B2B Financial Services

Leatherback initially built its platform around helping individuals and businesses send, receive and manage money across borders and currencies.

Under the Foren brand, the company is placing greater emphasis on businesses operating across multiple markets.

Its platform brings together global accounts, international collections, cross-border payouts, foreign exchange and treasury management. The aim is to give businesses a single platform for managing financial operations across countries rather than relying on multiple providers.

Foren says its customers can use the platform to receive payments from international customers, pay suppliers in other markets and manage different currencies.

The company says it is also continuing to develop its technology and financial infrastructure as it expands into additional markets.

Zedcrest acquisition provided new backing

The rebrand follows Zedcrest Group's acquisition of Leatherback in July 2026.

The transaction was not publicly assigned a value. Zedcrest had already been an investor in Leatherback, having led the fintech's $10 million pre-seed funding round in 2022.

When the acquisition was completed, Leatherback said the deal would give it additional capital, institutional backing and stronger governance while allowing it to expand its payment infrastructure and reach more customers.

Since the acquisition, Foren says it has increased investment in compliance, legal, finance and product capabilities.

The company has also been rebuilding parts of its technology stack and regulatory infrastructure to support its focus on international financial services.

A new operating model

Foren's transformation has also involved changes in leadership and strategy. The company introduced a new management team in 2025, with Ochebhoya Ekpetcft-e, a former Cellulant executive, becoming CEO.

The business has since moved further toward enterprise financial services, targeting companies that need to collect, move and manage money across borders.

Foren says its technology is designed to reduce the complexity businesses face when operating internationally, particularly when they need to manage several currencies and payment providers.

The company is also planning additional products and payment corridors as it expands its platform.

What happens to existing Leatherback customers?

For existing customers, Foren says the transition will include new web and mobile applications, faster onboarding and additional payment corridors. Existing Leatherback customers will retain their accounts while moving to the new Foren applications.

The company says customers should see the changes through improved reliability, a clearer user experience and additional tools for managing international financial operations.

Foren's rebrand therefore marks more than a change of name. The company is using the new identity to signal a move toward B2B cross-border financial infrastructure, backed by Zedcrest's capital and financial-services experience.

The company says more products and markets are still in development as it builds Foren around businesses participating in the global economy.