Safaricom Plc, East Africa’s largest telecom operator, has appointed two senior Vodacom Group executives to its board as non-executive directors, strengthening the company’s leadership team as it continues to expand its telecommunications and financial services businesses.

Mariam Cassim, Vodacom Group’s chief executive officer for fintech, and Matimba Mbungela, the group’s chief officer for human resources, joined the Safaricom board on Aug. 13, 2026, subject to regulatory approvals. Their appointments come as James Ludlow and Dr. (Eng.) John Kipngetich Mosonik stepped down as non-executive directors, also effective Aug. 13.

The changes bring two executives with long experience at Vodacom and Vodafone into the boardroom of Kenya’s largest telecommunications company.

Cassim brings fintech experience

Cassim joins the board with experience spanning corporate finance, deal structuring, mergers and acquisitions, debt structuring, commercial management and executive leadership.

She has held senior positions within Vodacom Group since 2017 and currently leads its fintech business. Safaricom said her work has included developing new businesses and commercially sustainable solutions designed to create value for companies and consumers.

Her background also includes work in innovation and new business development, areas closely linked to Safaricom’s financial services operations and the continued growth of M-Pesa.

Cassim is a chartered accountant and holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business, where she graduated cum laude.

Mbungela adds human resources expertise

Mbungela brings more than two decades of experience in human resources, including senior roles at Vodacom and Vodafone Group.

He has served as Vodacom Group’s chief officer for human resources since 2014. Before taking the role, he was managing executive for human resources at Vodacom/Vodafone Group from 2003 and later worked on secondment to Vodafone as regional head of organizational effectiveness and change and regional head of talent for Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.

Safaricom said Mbungela also spent six years overseeing talent management at Vodacom, where he helped align the company’s talent strategy with Vodafone’s global framework.

His earlier career included senior human resources positions at BMW South Africa and Unilever.

Mbungela represents the Vodacom Employees Trust, known as Siyanda, on the YeboYethu Board. He is also a non-executive director of Vodacom Tanzania, Vodacom Mozambique and Vodacom Lesotho.

He has served on the Unisa Graduate School of Business Leadership Advisory Board since June 2020.

Mbungela holds a Bachelor of Administration degree from the University of Venda, an MBA in Strategy and Human Resources from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a postgraduate diploma in human resources from the University of Cape Town.

Safaricom’s growing business

Safaricom, founded in 1997 and headquartered in Nairobi, is Kenya’s largest telecommunications company and one of East Africa’s biggest technology businesses. Its operations cover mobile voice and data, fixed connectivity, fiber internet, cloud services and financial technology, with M-Pesa remaining its largest business.

The company reported a 67.3% increase in net income to 99.7 billion Kenyan shillings ($770.7 million) for fiscal 2026, while group revenue rose to 414.1 billion shillings ($3.2 billion). Growth in M-Pesa and narrowing losses in Ethiopia helped lift the results.

Safaricom ended the period with 71.6 million customers across its markets. Vodacom Group also increased its stake in Safaricom to 55%, strengthening its position as the company’s largest shareholder.

The Safaricom board thanked Ludlow and Mosonik for their contributions during their time as directors and wished them well in their future roles.