Sylvia Wairimu Mulinge is the CEO of MTN Uganda.
She previously held several key positions at Safaricom, including Chief Consumer Business Officer and Chief Customer Officer, where she significantly boosted brand equity and revenue growth.
Mulinge graduated from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Technology and has over 20 years of experience in telecommunications and consumer goods.
She is also recognized for her contributions to women’s empowerment and serves on multiple boards, including the Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association.
Education
Mulinge attended St. Xavier’s Primary School and Mary Mount Secondary School in Nakuru, Kenya.
She then joined the University of Nairobi where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science and Technology with honors in 2000.
Career
Mulinge began her career August 2004 at Unilever, where she took on the role of Assistant Regional Brand Manager in Durban, South Africa.
In this position, she was responsible for brand management and marketing strategies for Unilever products.
After nine months, Mulinge was transferred to Kenya to serve as the Brand Manager for Sunlight, focusing on enhancing brand visibility and market share.
In February 2006, she made a significant career shift by joining Safaricom, Kenya’s leading telecommunications company.
She initially took on the role of Pre-Pay Product Manager, where she managed the pre-pay product line, a critical segment for Safaricom’s customer base.
Mulinge’s work involved developing strategies to attract new customers and retain existing ones through innovative pricing and service offerings.
As her career progressed at Safaricom, she became the Head of Retail, overseeing retail operations and enhancing customer experience across various touchpoints.
Later, Mulinge was appointed General Manager of Enterprise Business, where she managed Safaricom’s enterprise solutions and focused on developing products tailored for corporate clients.
In 2018, Mulinge was promoted to Chief Consumer Business Officer, emphasizing digital transformation and expanding service offerings to enhance customer engagement.
In October 2022, she moved to MTN Uganda where she serves as the CEO.
Her appointment marked a significant step in her career, as she took over from Wim Vanhelleputte, who moved to a new role within the MTN Group.
