SULEIMAN MOHAMED

Strategic Business Leader | Financial Inclusion & Fintech Executive
Dar es Salaam, TZ.

About

Highly accomplished and results-driven Strategic Business Leader with over 17 years of extensive experience across the telecom, OEM, FMCG, fintech, and startup sectors. Proven expertise in driving exponential growth through innovative product management, strategic commercial planning, and distribution excellence. A passionate advocate for financial inclusion, I have successfully designed, launched, and scaled device financing models and embedded fintech solutions, empowering over 150,000 underserved users across East and Central Africa and securing over $40M in funding from leading financial institutions and telecom groups. My leadership spans P&L ownership, credit scoring innovations, alternative data utilization, and complex system integrations across diverse partner ecosystems. Adept at building and leading high-performing regional teams, translating strategic vision into impactful execution, unlocking new revenue streams, and establishing scalable go-to-market frameworks in high-growth frontier markets.

Work

Intelligra
|

Regional Director

Summary

Regional P&L owner responsible for driving growth, partnerships, and product execution across Tanzania, Rwanda, and DRC. Led regional country teams, shaped Go-To-Market strategy, and managed commercial, operational, and integration efforts for fintech.

Highlights

Successfully launched operations in three new markets, establishing strategic partnerships with leading telcos and financial institutions.

Secured over $40M in financing from top-tier banks (CRDB, Bank of Kigali) and Vodacom Group to scale inclusive device financing models.

Pioneered and scaled embedded financing solutions across diverse segments, including B2B, AMCOs, telco-based, and civil servant sectors.

Expanded smartphone access for over 150,000 users by implementing scalable digital onboarding and innovative credit scoring systems.

Forged a strategic partnership with Facebook to secure financial guarantees, significantly mitigating Non-Performing Loan (NPL) risk.

Samsung Electronics
|

Country Manager, Mobile Business

Summary

Full-country leadership across mobile business, owning operations, strategy, sales, and marketing. Managed cross-functional teams, developed distribution networks, and drove commercial growth while aligning with HQ goals.

Highlights

Achieved 15% Year-over-Year revenue growth and increased mobile market share from 10% to 17%.

Expanded active dealer network by 87%, growing from 320 to 599 dealers within two years, significantly boosting market reach.

Generated over 35% value growth by strategically balancing premium and mass-market product offerings to maximize market penetration.

Orchestrated successful co-branded Go-to-Market (G2M) sales campaigns with top-tier telcos including Vodacom, tiGO, and Airtel.

Significantly enhanced Brand Top-of-Mind Awareness (TOMA) through targeted social media and digital engagement campaigns.

Yas (tiGO)
|

Head of Device & Internet Sales

Summary

National leadership role to turn around data and device business by growing distribution, direct sales, and product penetration. Oversaw team performance, pricing, and promotions strategy.

Highlights

Established and led a dedicated 3G/data sales unit, driving a remarkable 137% growth in internet revenue.

Developed and optimized nationwide direct and indirect sales channels, enhancing product availability and retail efficiency.

Expanded market coverage and activation by establishing new territories for smartphone access.

Implemented performance-driven incentive schemes that boosted team productivity and reduced customer churn.

Zantel (Zanzibar Telecom Ltd.)
|

National MCommerce Distribution Manager

Summary

Led nationwide rollout of Z-Pesa products and agent network.

Highlights

Increased mobile money distribution by 80% through the implementation of an aggregate model.

Expanded the agent base by 70% by introducing a commissioned freelance model.

Boosted customer acquisition by 50% through targeted promotional campaigns.

Zantel (Zanzibar Telecom Ltd.)
|

Zonal Sales Manager – Northern Zone

Summary

Managed commercial operations across Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Manyara, and Tanga.

Highlights

Achieved 45% revenue growth and enhanced product availability by 30% in the Northern Zone.

Onboarded over 64,000 new subscribers, significantly exceeding regional targets.

Zantel (Zanzibar Telecom Ltd.)
|

Trade & Field Marketing Supervisor

Summary

Coordinated BTL campaigns and regional activations.

Highlights

Led Zantel's Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) activation and launched successful student-focused promotions.

Initiated the "Green Storm Project" to significantly boost internal sales engagement.

Zantel (Zanzibar Telecom Ltd.)
|

Area Sales Representative

Summary

Supervised direct sales and freelance teams in Dar es Salaam.

Highlights

Expanded the field agent network by 60% and increased Point-of-Sale (POS) reach by 25%.

Achieved rapid promotion due to consistent outperformance in acquisition and retail growth Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Education

Qualifi Ltd (UK)

Higher Diploma

Business Administration & Management

ESAMI

Senior Leadership Management Program

Leadership & Management

Zanzibar University

Advanced Diploma

Business Administration

Languages

English

Fluent

Swahili

Fluent

Arabic

Basic

Skills

Fintech Operations & Growth

Fintech, Operations Management, Growth Strategy, Digital Finance.

Startup Setup & Management

Startup Launch, Business Scaling, Venture Capital, Operational Leadership.

Business Development & Partnership

Strategic Partnerships, Alliance Management, Market Entry, Relationship Building.

Regional Sales & Distribution Strategy

Sales Leadership, Distribution Networks, Channel Development, Market Expansion.

Product Lifecycle Management & Device Financing Models

Product Management, Product Development, Device Financing, Financial Products, Credit Systems.

Leadership & Team Building

Team Leadership, Talent Development, Cross-functional Team Management, Mentorship.

P&L Management

Profit & Loss Ownership, Financial Management, Budgeting, Revenue Optimization.

Go-to-Market Strategy (GTM)

GTM Strategy, Market Launch, Commercialization, Market Penetration.

Commercial Strategy

Commercial Planning, Business Strategy, Revenue Generation, Pricing Strategy.

Distribution Excellence

Supply Chain, Logistics, Channel Optimization, Retail Management.

Credit Scoring & Alternative Data

Credit Risk Assessment, Data Analytics, Loan Underwriting, Financial Modeling, Big Data.

System Integrations

API Integration, IT Systems, Software Implementation, Ecosystem Development.

Digital Onboarding

Customer Experience, Digital Transformation, User Acquisition, KYC Compliance.

NPL Risk Mitigation

Non-Performing Loans, Risk Management, Financial Guarantees, Credit Risk.

Cross-functional Product Development

Agile Methodologies, Product Roadmapping, Stakeholder Management, User Experience (UX).

Market Share Growth

Competitive Analysis, Market Research, Growth Hacking, Business Intelligence.

Brand Management

Brand Awareness, Marketing Campaigns, Digital Marketing, Social Media Engagement.

Sales Channel Development

Direct Sales, Indirect Sales, Retail Sales, Channel Partner Management.

Performance Management

KPI Management, Incentive Programs, Team Performance, Productivity Improvement.

Mobile Money

M-Pesa, Digital Payments, Financial Services, Agent Network Management.