SULEIMAN MOHAMED

Strategic Business Leader | Financial Inclusion & Fintech Executive

LinkedIn

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 Experience

Regional Director

Intelligra

May 2022 - Jul 2024

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.

  • 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.

Country Manager, Mobile Business

Samsung Electronics

Feb 2015 - Apr 2022

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.

  • 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.

Head of Device & Internet Sales

Yas (tiGO)

Feb 2012 - Jan 2015

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.

  • 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.

National MCommerce Distribution Manager

Zantel (Zanzibar Telecom Ltd.)

Jul 2011 - Jan 2012

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

  • 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.

Zonal Sales Manager – Northern Zone

Zantel (Zanzibar Telecom Ltd.)

Jan 2010 - Jun 2011

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

  • Achieved 45% revenue growth and enhanced product availability by 30% in the Northern Zone.
  • Onboarded over 64,000 new subscribers, significantly exceeding regional targets.

Trade & Field Marketing Supervisor

Zantel (Zanzibar Telecom Ltd.)

Aug 2009 - Oct 2009

Coordinated BTL campaigns and regional activations.

  • 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.

Area Sales Representative

Zantel (Zanzibar Telecom Ltd.)

Apr 2007 - Jul 2009

Supervised direct sales and freelance teams in Dar es Salaam.

  • 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

Business Administration & Management

Qualifi Ltd (UK)

Jan 2023 - Dec 2024

Leadership & Management

ESAMI

Jan 2010 - Dec 2010

Business Administration

Zanzibar University

Jan 2008 - Dec 2008

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