Mariam Abdullahi is the new Microsoft mobile device sales general manager for East Africa, taking over from Bruce Howe who moved on to another post within Microsoft based in Malaysia.

Prior to her new post, Ms. Abdullahi was the head of operator channel for SubSaharan Africa at Microsoft.

Ms. Abdullahi assumes overall responsibility for Microsoft’s Mobile Device sales in East Africa, guiding the team in areas such as marketing, salesand retail execution in key markets like Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia.

“The East African mobile device market is dynamic, and we are seeing a real shift from traditional mobile phones to smartphones. Microsoft are aggressively targeting this opportunity with Lumia, and we recently introduced fantastic devices like the Lumia 530 and 630, as well as the flagship 930. With the combination of great Lumia features, along with the power of Windows and key Microsoft services, we are very well placed to be a major player in the market,” said Abdullahi.

Ms. Abdullahi holds a Bachelor of Science with a special focus in Computer Science and Businessfrom Brunel University – United Kingdom and has more than 15 years’ experience in the information, communication and technology sector. She has worked in Europe, US, Asia and Africa.