Press Release: Nokia announces executive changes; renews Leadership Team

Espoo, Finland – Nokia today announced that it has appointed Juha Putkiranta as executive vice president of operations; Timo Toikkanen as executive vice president of Mobile Phones, Chris Weber as executive vice president of sales and marketing; Tuula Rytila as senior vice president and chief marketing officer; and Susan Sheehan as senior vice president of communications. Putkiranta, Toikkanen and Weber also will join the Nokia Leadership Team effective July 1, 2012.

Formerly, Putkiranta was senior vice president, supply chain; Weber was senior vice president Markets, Americas, and Toikkanen was vice president, business development, programs and special projects.

Rytila, who will report to Weber, was formerly senior vice president of portfolio and business management, and Sheehan, who reports to Elop, was vice president of communications.

Nokia also announced the following executives are stepping down from the Nokia Leadership Team effective June 30, 2012 to pursue other opportunities outside of Nokia: Jerri DeVard, executive vice president and chief marketing officer; Mary McDowell, executive vice president of Mobile Phones; and Niklas Savander, executive vice president of Markets.

DeVard, who joined the company in January 2011, led Nokia’s marketing and brand management and served as a member of the Nokia Leadership Team.

McDowell has held a number of senior management positions at Nokia, including serving on the NAVTEQ board of directors, and most recently led Nokia’s global mobile phones business unit. She has served as a member of the Nokia Leadership Team since joining the company in 2004.

Since 1997, Savander has held a number of senior management positions at Nokia and Nokia Networks, including serving on the NAVTEQ Board of Directors and the Nokia Siemens Networks Board of Directors. Most recently, Savander led Nokia’s sales, marketing, supply chain, manufacturing operations and information technology teams and has served as a member of the Nokia Leadership team since 2006.  Savander also will step down from the Nokia Siemens Network Board of Directors, effective June 30, 2012.

DeVard, McDowell and Savander will serve as senior advisors to Nokia through the transition of their roles.

Quotes

“Juha has demonstrated exceptionally strong leadership in leading our supply chain operations,” said Stephen Elop. “His breadth of experience at Nokia will help with our focus.”

“Timo is well known as an engaging leader with valuable business acumen and keen insights into delivering customer satisfaction,” said Stephen Elop. “These attributes will be key as we progress through our transformation.”

“Chris has made tremendous strides in kick starting our re-entry into the US and his track record of driving results will serve Nokia well,” said Stephen Elop.

“Tuula is widely known at Nokia for her versatility, creativity and focus on results,” said Stephen Elop. “She has played an instrumental role in Lumia product marketing and strategy, which will be valuable moving forward.”

“Susan brings a breadth of experience in the technology industry to her new role,” said Stephen Elop. “Her experience in consumer, employee and financial communications will serve us well through this transition.”

“Jerri has made a positive impact on Nokia’s advertising, marketing and brand efforts. Our marketing has made great strides under her leadership,” said Stephen Elop. “I will particularly miss the fresh insight and new energy that Jerri injected into the Nokia brand.”

“Mary’s leadership has been instrumental in our efforts to connect the next billion people to the Internet through innovation in new devices and services,” said Stephen Elop. “Under her direction, Nokia has brought new opportunities to consumers throughout growth markets and contributed strongly to Nokia’s business. I will miss the value she has brought to Nokia.”

“During his 16-year Nokia career, Niklas has successfully supported our growth and transformation through leadership roles in groups ranging from services to, most recently, sales, marketing, supply chain and IT,” said Stephen Elop. “Niklas has been a valued partner to me during my tenure at Nokia and his many ongoing contributions will be missed.”