Vodacom-TZ gets an ‘acting’ managing director

What you need to know:

A notice published in Mwananchi said that Mr Hendi’s appointment was effective from September 1 this year. It also stated that he would hold the position until completion of recruitment processes for a new, substantive managing director.

Dar es Salaam. Yesterday, Mr Hishim Hendi was formally appointed as the acting managing director of the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange-listed Vodacom-Tanzania Ltd.

A notice published in Mwananchi said that Mr Hendi’s appointment was effective from September 1 this year. It also stated that he would hold the position until completion of recruitment processes for a new, substantive managing director.

“Mr Hendi joined Vodacom in 2016 as a director of the company’s Consumer Business Unit. He has over 15 years of working experience in business – especially in the area of communications, including holding senior positions in the Vodafone and Vodacom Groups,” reads the notice in part.

In 2016, Mr Hendi – who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the Cairo University – was recruited to lead marketing and sales functions.

Commenting on the matter, the immediate-past Vodacom-Tanzania’s managing director, Mr Ian Ferrao, stated as follows:

“We brought him (Mr Hendi) from aboard due to his expertise and experience. Having worked in various capacities in other Vodacom operations in Africa and beyond, he understands the ins and outs of our commercial operations.

“With his leadership in the commercial area, our customers can expect more valuable products and services that will address all their communications needs.”

Mr Hendi’s working record shows that he worked with Vodacom-Tanzania in supporting Vodacom’s international business as the executive responsible for commercial activities prior to his latest appointment.

He spent 11 years working in various roles across Vodafone’s consumer business in Egypt, including digital services in marketing and prepaid sales in 2003, and in consumer services in 2005.

“He went on to work in consumer affairs in partner networks in London, the United Kingdom, in 2007 before returning to Egypt in 2009 to manage the prepaid segment – and, later, became head of consumer marketing,” Mr Ferrao revealed.

Mr Hendi’s appointment comes after the Kenyan, Ms Sylvia Mulinge, who was appointed in April to succeed Mr Ferrao effectively from June 1 this year – failed to secure a working permit from the Tanzanian authorities.

Mr Ferrao’s contract had expired at the time, and he opted not to renew same.

Before her later aborted appointment, Ms Mulinge, 41, worked with Safaricom as the director of its consumer business unit, where throughout her 17-year career, she built her reputation as one of Kenya’s outstanding business leaders: generally acknowledged as “a mentor and go-getter.”

The Kenyan national holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science and Technology from the University of Nairobi.

She began her career in August 2004, at Unilever, the European consumer products conglomerate, where she worked as the assistant regional brand manager in the laundry division, based in Durban, South Africa.

Thereafter, she was transferred to Kenya as the brand manager for Sunlight, which is the company’s leading brand where she worked until January 2006 before joining Safaricom as the pre-pay product manager, until November 2007.

During his visit of the Mwananchi Communications Limited (MCL) headquarters in Dar es Salaam on August 29 this year, Mr Anthony Mavunde – the deputy minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliamentary Affairs, Labour, Employment, Youth and the Disabled) – said the government was still working on Ms Mulinge’s work permit application, doing so in collaboration with Vodacom-Tanzania.