Telecom Industry Veteran Wim Vanhelleputte to Lead Safaricom Ethiopia as New CEO











Safaricom PLC has announced the selection of Wim Vanhelleputte as the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia PLC, effective from September 1, 2023. According to the company’s social media posts, Wim brings a wealth of leadership experience and extensive industry knowledge, having dedicated over 25 years to the telecommunications sector across various sub-Saharan African markets.

Joining Safaricom Ethiopia from MTN Group, where he served as the Operations Executive – Markets since August 2022, Wim was responsible for overseeing the performance and governance of four operating companies in West and Central Africa. Prior to this role, he held the esteemed position of Chief Executive Officer at MTN Uganda, demonstrating his capabilities in leading telecommunications enterprises since 2016.

Throughout his distinguished career, Wim has held significant positions in several other telecommunications companies. Notable among them include his tenure as Chief Executive Officer at Sentel GSM in Senegal, Managing Director of TchadMobile in Chad, and General Manager at Telcel Gabon.

Wim’s professional journey commenced as an Associate Engineer at Westinghouse Energy Systems Europe in the Czech Republic. He then pursued opportunities at Siemens Atea, where he excelled as a Project Engineer in Zimbabwe before becoming a Residential Project Manager in Gabon.

Safaricom’s appointment of Wim Vanhelleputte as CEO comes as Anwar Soussa, the current CEO of Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia PLC, is set to depart next month after his two-year tenure, signifying the company’s dedication to a smooth transition.