Sylvia Mulinge leaves Safaricom after 16 years, set to join rival MTN

Safaricom’s Chief Customer Business Officer Sylvia Mulinge is set to depart the telco this September to join MTN as its new CEO for Uganda.

MTN Group, an indirect rival of Safaricom (which has its parent company - Vodacom - domiciled in South Africa), announced changes to its continental operations which also sees new CEO appointments in Cameroon and Rwanda.

Ms. Mulinge is set to replace Wim Vanhelleputte who steps up to the Group’s senior management as the Operations Executive, Markets.

Safaricom's CEO Peter Ndegwa has credited her with leading the digital transformation of the company into its current path where it seeks to become a technology company.

"Sylvia is a purpose led and impact driven business leader. She lived the Safaricom purpose of transforming lives of our customers using technology as an enabler of positive change," he said in a statement.

Ms. Mulinge is currently the Chief Customer Business Officer responsible for mobile data, mobile voice, fixed data and digital services.

She is also in charge of Consumer Value Management Brand Marketing & Communications and Brand Experience.

Previously, Ms. Mulinge served as the Chief Customer Officer and was in charge of customer experience.

Ms. Mulinge joined Safaricom from Unilever in 2006 as a Prepay Product Manager.

She has risen through the ranks, serving various roles including Head of Retail and Director of Enterprise Business.

She holds a Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Nairobi.

Ms. Mulinga sits on various local boards and is also the Vice Chair of the UN Women Unstereotype Alliance.