Rajeev Suri, Nokia's new incoming CEO
Rajeev Suri has been appointed Nokia’s new CEO now that Microsoft has closed its acquisition of the Finnish mobile phone company’s devices and services business. Suri will begin his new role on 1 May.
Suri will be replacing Risto Siilasmaa, who has been the company’s interim CEO following the announcement last September that Microsoft would be purchasing Nokia’s devices and services unit for €5.6bn.
Prior to Siilasmaa, Nokia’s CEO had been Stephen Elop, who had stepped down from the role to take up a position with its new parent company as the head of its devices division.
Upon his appointment, Suri said the world of technology is on the verge of a change that Nokia believes will be as profound as the creation of the internet.
“With our three strong businesses – Networks, HERE and Technologies – and position as one of the world’s largest software companies, we are well placed to meet our goal to be a leader in the technologies for a world where everybody and everything is connected,” Suri said.
Suri joined Nokia in 1995 and has held number of leadership roles within the company. He oversaw Nokia’s establishment as the leading mobile phone manufacturer in the world until the growth of the smartphone market saw it lagging behind competitors such as Apple and Samsung.
Since October of 2009, Suri served as head of Nokia’s networks and services division, the former joint venture between Nokia and Siemens that is now fully owned by Nokia.
Nokia also confirmed that aside from Elop, five members of its management team would be transferred to Microsoft’s mobile division while three others will be pursuing other ventures.
In related news, Nokia’s final quarterly report as a separate company appeared to indicate slightly better financial news for its new owners as Nokia posted an operating profit of €216m, or 9.3pc of net sales, compared to €196m, or 7.0pc, in Q1 2013.
