Fawzia Ali Kimanthi: Illustrious Career Of Sylvia Mulinge’s Replacement At Safaricom

Fawzia Ali Kimanthi has been appointed as Safaricom’s chief consumer business officer effective March 15 to replace Sylvia Mulinge.

Mulinge left the telecommunication company in June 2022 having worked for over 16 years to join MTN Uganda as the CEO.

Kimanthi has been serving in the position in an acting capacity since July 2022.

In this article, WoK looks at the profile of the new Safaricom chief consumer business officer, her work experience and stint at the telco.

Kimanthi holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Nairobi and an MBA from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

She has also attended multiple leadership programs and is a Certified Coach.

Kimanthi kicked off her career at Uniliver where she worked in the finance department for 8 years; from January 1999 to April 2007.

She joined Safaricom in 2007 as a Senior Manager Reporting, Accounts Receivable and M-PESA.

She then served as the Head of Regional Sales & Operations – Coast, Head of Consumer Planning and Pricing.

Kimanthi has also served as the Head of Consumer Segments and Head of Digital Products and Services at Safaricom.

In October 2021, she was appointed the Mobile Data Tribe Lead.

Sylvia Mulinge

Mulinge was named by MTN Uganda as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2022.

She took over from Wim Vanhelleputte who was 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. 

Mulinge kicked off her career in August 2004 when she joined Unilever as an assistant regional brand manager in the laundry division in Durban, South Africa.

Six months later, she got a transfer to Nairobi, Kenya and was appointed the brand manager for Sunlight soap. She worked in this capacity from May 2005 to January 2006. 

In February 2006, she joined Safaricom where she would go on to work for more than a decade. She was employed as the manager in charge of Safaricom’s pre-pay product.

In November 2007, she became head of retail until August 2009 when she was then appointed head of Safaricom Business, in charge of sales.

In May 2011, she became the General Manager for Enterprise Business, and in May 2015, the telco giant appointed her as Director of Consumer Business. 

In April 2018, she was declared the Chief Executive Officer designate of Vodacom Tanzania but she was denied a work permit by Tanzania authorities and position went to another person. 

In 2018, Safaricom appointed her the Chief Customer Officer. In July 2021, she became the Chief Consumer Business Officer at Safaricom PLC.