Safaricom's director of consumer business unit Sylvia Mulinge has been appointed the managing director of Vodacom Tanzania.

A statement by Safaricom chief executive Bob Collymore announced Monday that Ms Mulinge will be taking over from Mr Ian Ferrao on June 1.

"Throughout her 17-year career [Ms Mulinge] has built a reputation as one of Kenya’s outstanding business leader, a mentor and go-getter, qualities that we at Safaricom have benefitted greatly from and will deeply miss. She will leave behind a very strong team," Mr Collymore said.

She will be replaced at Kenya's largest telco by Charles Kare Wanjohi in an interim capacity, and who will be reporting directly to the CEO, the statement added.

Vodacom Tanzania's parent firm, Vodacom South Africa, also holds a 35 per cent stake in Safaricom.