MTN Uganda has named Sylvia Wairimu Mulinge as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) replacing Wim Vanhelleputte, who has served in the position for six years.
KAMPALA | LIFESTYLE UGANDA — Sylvia Wairimu Mulinge has been named the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTN Uganda, replacing the departing Wim Vanhelleputte after six years in the position.
MTN said in a statement that Wim Vanhelleputte will resign as Chief Executive Officer of the company, effective July 31, 2022. Mulinge will take up the role effective October 1, 2022.
“The Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Sylvia Wairimu Mulinge as Chief Executive Officer effective October 1, 2022. Mr. Wim Vanhelleputte will cease to be the Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective July 31, 2022, following the end of his tenure.”
“Mulinge joins MTN from Safaricom Plc where she currently is Chief Consumer Business Officer. In this role, she is responsible for driving the consumer telecoms business, managing the overall brand, and leading the transformation of Safaricom to become a digital lifestyle enabler of consumers’ lives,” they added.
During his tenure, Vanhelleputte was also successful in renewing MTN’s NTO license, separating the mobile financial services business from the telco business, and listing the company on the Uganda Securities Exchange.
With effect from August 1, 2022, Mr. Vanhelleputte has been promoted to a regional position as Operating Executive for WECA markets in Liberia, Guinea-Conakry, Guinea-Bissau, and Congo Brazzaville within the MTN Group.
Charles Mbire, Chairman of the Board of Directors, said, “The Board is grateful to Mr. Vanhelleputte for his outstanding service over the years and contributed to the Company’s growth during that period. We wish him the best in his new role.”
Sylvia Wairimu: Who is she?
The appointment of Sylvia Wairimu Mulinge as Chief Executive Officer will take effect on October 1, 2022. She joins MTN from Safaricom Plc, where she currently works as Chief Consumer Business Officer.
Having joined Safaricom in 2007, Sylvia Wairimu has held various senior positions, including Head of Retail, Head of Sales, and Director of Consumer Business over the years.
She is a graduate of the University of Nairobi, Kenya, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree (first-class honors).
