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An old hand, Rajeev Suri, 46, joined Nokia in 1995. He revived Nokia's networks business - Nokia Solutions & Networks or NSN (formerly known as Nokia Siemens Networks), which contributes close to 90 per cent of Nokia sales now. So, although he does not have a degree from a top-notch business school, it was not a tough job for the 149-year old firm to choose Suri for the top post.
The appointment clearly indicates that Nokia would now focus on wireless-network equipment as it faces a new start without the phones that made it famous.
"Rajeev is the right person to lead the company forward," Nokia Chairman Risto Siilasmaa said in a statement, adding: "He has a proven ability to create strategic clarity, drive innovation and growth, ensure disciplined execution, and deliver results."
Suri has an electronics and telecommunications engineering degree from Mangalore University. He was part of the 1989 batch at the Manipal Institute of Technology, an institute which Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has also attended.
Suri started his professional career at Calcom Electronics, then moved to ICL India and Churchgate Group of Nigeria. He joined NSN India as system marketing manager in 1995 and became its head in October 2009. Between 2007 and 2009, he ran NSN's India business to boost revenues. One of the toughest decisions Suri had taken to revive NSN was to lay off 23 per cent of the workforce (about 17,000 employees) in 2011. In the past two years, Suri has cut down the workforce by more than 25,000 to bring NSN back to profitability.
Now Suri will have to look after the two other business segments - HERE, a map service, and Advanced Technologies, a division that plans to build on Nokia's patents for developing technology and licensing it, besides exploring new opportunities through research and development.
"Nokia's strategy is to develop its three businesses in order to realise its vision of being a technology leader in a connected world and, in turn, create long-term shareholder value," Suri said in Finland on Tuesday. "Our goal is to optimise the company so that each business is best enabled to meet its goals. Where it makes sense to do so, we will pursue shared opportunities between the businesses, but not at the expense of focus and discipline in each."
| MEET NOKIA’S NEW CEO |
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With more than 24 years of international experience, Rajeev Suri is a leader who cherishes the opportunity of transformational and turnaround assignments. Suri has spent almost 20 years in Nokia’s networks business, dealing with strategy, M&As, sales and marketing before becoming its head in 2009. He has lived in West Asia, Africa and Europe. Suri cut more than 25,000 jobs over the past two years to bring the network unit back to profit DESIGNATION: President and CEO of Nokia
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Telecommunications, Manipal Institute of Technology, Mangalore University, Karnataka, India
Source: Nokia Solutions and Networks, Bloomberg |
Suri was born in India to Yashpal and Asha Suri, and was raised in Kuwait. He has also lived in the UK, Nigeria, Germany, Singapore and Finland. Suri now lives in Finland, which he calls his second home, with wife Nina and two sons. He drives a Maserati to work, loves watches, including his IWC Schaffhausen.
People close to Suri say he has a photographic memory, is a hardcore salesman, a go-getter, a fast thinker and quick in taking actions. His industry peers point to the fact that Suri's acceptability in his organisation, dominated by Europeans, is notable. "He has a charismatic personality," said one of his former colleagues.
Suri could not be reached for comments.
With Suri, Nokia's top management will comprise Chief Financial Officer Timo Ihamuotila, maps chief Michael Halbherr, acting technology chief Henry Tirri and Samih Elhage, the finance and operating chief of networks.
Juha Akras, head of human resources, Chief Legal Officer Louise Pentland, and Kai Oistamo (head of development), will be leaving Nokia.
