Overview:
Sylvia Elsheikh, former Airtel Zambia CMO, joins MTN Uganda as marketing head. Her extensive experience is set to drive digital adoption and customer engagement for the telecom giant.
KAMPALA, Uganda — MTN Uganda has appointed Sylvia Elsheikh as its new chief marketing officer, effective July 14. She takes over from Somdev Sen, who is moving to new responsibilities within the MTN Group.
Elsheikh brings more than 18 years of experience in the telecommunications and commercial sectors. Her expertise spans marketing strategy, customer acquisition, product innovation and digital transformation.
Before her appointment at MTN Uganda, Elsheikh served as chief marketing officer at Airtel Zambia from 2022 to 2025. During her tenure, she helped consolidate market leadership, achieved a value share exceeding 60% and led the rollout of Zambia’s largest 5G and LTE TDD networks. She also oversaw the successful launch of Voice over LTE (VoLTE) services, positioning Airtel as a technology leader in that market.
Prior to her work at Airtel, Elsheikh held several key positions within MTN Sudan. These included chief marketing officer from 2016 to 2022, senior manager for Segment Pricing & Acquisition from 2015 to 2016, and Value-Added Services (VAS) manager from 2011 to 2014. Her early career also involved roles in VAS and Core Network Planning at Sudani Telecom and Canar Telecom, both in Sudan.
“I am thrilled to return to the MTN family and excited to join MTN Uganda, a brand that stands tall for innovation, inclusion, and impact,” Elsheikh said. “I look forward to working with the talented team to continue delivering bold, relevant, and customer-focused marketing strategies that resonate with Uganda’s dynamic market.”
Sylvia Mulinge, MTN Uganda chief executive officer, welcomed the appointment. Mulinge said Elsheikh’s “extensive regional experience, proven leadership, and passion for customer-centric marketing make her a valuable addition to our executive team.” Mulinge added that the company is confident Elsheikh will play a key role in maintaining market leadership and shaping the next phase of growth for MTN Uganda.
Elsheikh holds a Master of Science degree in Business Administration, specializing in Marketing Management, and a Bachelor of Science (Honors) degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. Her combined technical and commercial background is expected to drive MTN Uganda’s growth agenda, accelerate digital adoption and deepen customer engagement across all segments.