In a surprising move to many, Nokia has made a change at the top by replacing CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo with “outsider” Stephen Elop. What’s surprising to many is that Elop, a Canadian, comes from Microsoft and takes over a company that’s synonymous with Finland and everything that’s Finnish! Some details from Nokia… Before joining Microsoft, Elop held senior executive positions in a number of US-based public companies, including Juniper Networks, Adobe Systems Inc. and Macromedia Inc. He holds a degree in computer engineering and management from McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, which is his home country. Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo will leave his current position as President and CEO of Nokia on September 20, 2010 and his position on the Nokia Board of Directors with immediate effect. He will continue to chair the Board of Nokia Siemens Networks in a non-executive capacity.
The mobile blogosphere/twittersphere/geekosphere was buzzing last night, many tweeters being startled by the news manily because of the following:
- Nokia to be run by a non-Fin
- Head honcho coming from the Microsoft camp
- Announcement has been made just days prior to the annual Nokia lovefest aka. Nokia World
- Rumor has it OPK has been scratched as a speaker at Nokia World
See more details in this official PR
See also Jay’s notes on the move… quite interesting
More about Elop…
As president of the Microsoft Business Division, Stephen Elop oversaw the Information Worker, Microsoft Business Solutions and Unified Communications Groups. This division was responsible for the Microsoft Office system of programs, servers and software-based services, Microsoft Dynamics, business applications for small and midsize businesses, large organizations and divisions of global enterprises and Microsoft’s Unified Communications, products that provide complete software-based communications tools to business.