Wim Vanhelleputte

Wim Vanhelleputte is a Belgian businessman and corporate executive in Africa.[1][2] He is the Chief Operations Executive of MTN Group, a newly created role, to oversee Liberia, Guinea-Conakry, Guinea-Bissau, and Congo-Brazzaville since 1 August 2022. MTN is the largest telecommunications company in Africa headquartered in South Africa.[3][4]

Wim Vanhelleputte
Wim Vanhelleputte, Chief Operations Executive at MTN Group
Born
Belgium
Alma mater
OccupationCorporate Execitive
Years active1998 — present
Known forManagement
TitleChief Operations Executive at MTN Group
SpouseBabra Adoso
Children2

He previously served as the Chief Executive Officer at MTN Uganda from August 1, 2016, to July 30, 2022.[5][6][7]

Before that, he served at Bharti Airtel as the Executive Director for Key Business Units in Africa comprising Gabon, Congo Brazzaville, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Madagascar and Seychelles.[1]

He is married to Babra Adoso a Ugandan businesswoman Since 2000 and together they have two children[8]

Background and education

He was born in Belgium and attended State University of Ghent, Belgium graduating with a Bachelor of Science in General Engineering. He furthered his studies at the same university and graduated with a Master’s Degree in Nuclear and Solid State Physics.[9]

He later joined the Free University of Brussels still in Belgium and graduated with a Special Degree in Power Plant Management.[9][8]

Career

Wim started his professional journey in early 90s as a youth volunteer with the Red Cross organisation, he travelled from Belgium to Uganda and executed the organization’s voluntary work for three months before he relocated to Zimbabwe and became the Project Engineer for Siemens Atea, Zimbabwe supporting Telecel Zimbabwe in 1998. He was afterwards elevated to MD, Tchad Mobile, a position he held between  June 2003 and August 2004.[8]

In 2004, he went back to Uganda and became the Managing Director of Imagine Partners Uganda between September 2004 and February 2006.[8]

In 2006, Wim went to Senegal and became CEO for Sentel GSM, from March 2006 to July 2008.[8]

In September 2008, Wim joined MTN as the Chief Project Officer for the MTN/CCT acquisition project in DRC between September 2008 and March 2009.He was then promoted and became the CEO of MTN Cote d’Ivoire from April 2009 to June 2015[2]

In July 2015, Wim transferred and joined Bharti Airtel as the Executive Director for Key Business Units in Africa comprising Gabon, Congo Brazzaville, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Madagascar and Seychelles.[1]

In July 2016, Vanhelleputte returned to MTN and was appointed the CEO for MTN Uganda from July 2016 to July 2022 before he was promoted and transferred to West Africa where he is currently in working as MTN Group’s Chief Operations Executive in Charge of Congo-Brazzaville, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea-Conakry and Liberia.[2]

Deportation From Uganda

On February 15, 2019, Wim was deported from Uganda allegedly over national security, according to Uganda Police.[10][11]

Suing Government

On March 3, 2019, Wim sued the Uganda’s attorney general challenging his deportation order by Jeje Odongo the then country’s Internal Affairs minister on grounds that it was arbitrary, irrational and illegal.[12][13] He wanted court to order for general damages for illegal detention and deportation and any other relief that court could deem fit.[14][15]

Wim's Deportation Order Recalled

On May 30, 2019, the government of Uganda reportedly having been misled over Mr. Vanhelleputte's issue revoked the deportation order, and welcomed Wim back to the country with VIP treatment [16][17][18]

See also

References
  1. "Airtel hires senior MTN executive Wim Vanhelleputte as its new executive director in Africa". The Economic Times. 2015-07-07. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  2. admin (2017-01-26). "Wim Vanhelleputte back at MTN, now heads Uganda operation". aptantech. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  3. Independent, The (2022-08-02). "Wim Vanhelleputte bows out after 6-year stint at MTN Uganda". The Independent Uganda. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  4. "Wim Vanhelleputte leaves MTN Uganda". New Vision. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  5. "MTN Uganda CEO Wim Vanhelleputte Deported". ChimpReports. 2019-02-14. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  6. "MTN Uganda names Wim Vanhelleputte as new CEO". Uganda Business News. 2016-07-31. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  7. Staff, Techjaja (2022-06-30). "Wim Vanhelleputte to bid farewell to MTN Uganda". Techjaja. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  8. "Adoso failed her dad's dream but excelled at hers". New Vision. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  9. Ivan, Mubiru (2019-02-15). "PROFILE: Who is Wim Vanhelleputte, the deported MTN boss?". Watchdog Uganda. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  10. "MTN Uganda CEO deported from country over national security - police". Reuters. 2019-02-15. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  11. "Uganda deports MTN CEO Wim Vanhelleputte". The East African. 2020-07-05. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  12. "Deported MTN Uganda CEO Sues President Museveni's Government Over 'Irrational and Illegal' Repatriation | How Africa News". 2019-03-05. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  13. URN. "Deported MTN CEO sues Uganda gov't". The Observer - Uganda. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  14. "Deported MTN-Uganda CEO sues government". Monitor. 2020-09-26. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  15. "MTN's Chief sues Government for illegal deportation". Capital Radio. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  16. "Deported MTN boss returns to Uganda after presidential pardon". The East African. 2020-07-05. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  17. Mangula, George (2019-05-30). "Museveni clears MTN boss Vanhelleputte, back into Uganda today". Eagle Online. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  18. 256Business, Editor (2019-05-30). "Uganda backtracks on MTN boss deportation order". 256 Business News. Retrieved 2023-03-16. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.