MTN’s CEO Wim Vanhelleputte Exits, Replaced by Sylvia Wairimu Mulinge

By Evans Najuna

KAMPALA

The Uganda’s leading telecommunications company MTN has announced the exit of it’s long serving Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Wim Vanhelleputte replacing him with Ms. Sylvia Wairimu Mulinge.

In a press release today Thursday, MTN Uganda Limited ‘the Company’ informed its shareholders and the public that Mr. Wim Vanhelleputte will cease to be the Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective July 31, 2022, following the end of his tenure.

According to MTN, during his six (6) years of service, Vanhelleputte successfully delivered the renewal of MTN’s NTO License, the separation of the mobile financial services business from the telcom business and the initial public offer and listing of the Company on the Uganda Securities Exchange.

They added that Vanhelleputte has been promoted to a regional role as Operating Executive for the WECA Markets of Liberia, Guinea-Conakry, Guinea-Bissau, and Congo-Brazzaville within the MTN Group effective August 1, 2022. Chairman of the Board of Directors Charles Mbire in a statement said “The Board is grateful to Vanhelleputte for his outstanding service over the years and contribution to the Company’s growth during that period. We wish him the best in his new role.”

The Board therefore announce the appointment of Ms. Sylvia Wairimu Mulinge as a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will commence effective October 1, 2022. Ms. 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.

Ms. Mulinge joined Safaricom in 2006 and has occupied various senior roles over the years, including Head of Retail, Head of Sales, and Director of Consumer Business. She is a graduate of the University of Nairobi, Kenya, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree (first-class honours).

“I would like to welcome Sylvia Mulinge to MTN Uganda. I believe that her experience will be beneficial to MTN, particularly given her alignment to our strategic intent of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress. The Board is confident that Ms. Mulinge will continue the work of growing the Company as a leading provider of telecommunications and digital solutions.” Mbire concluded

In the interim, the current Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Andrew Bugembe, has been appointed as Acting Chief Executive Officer effective August 1, 2022, until September 30, 2022.