Nokia smartphone chief quits

Nokia has lost its smartphone chief, Anssi Vanjoki, in the wake of its appointment of its first non-Finn to the CEO post.

 

The embattled handset firm announced Friday it had tapped Stephen Elop, the head of Microsoft’s business division, to replace Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo.

 

Vanjoki, executive vice president of the mobile solutions division, said it was time for a change but would remain with the company for another six months.

 

Vanjoki, who has been with the company for 19 years, was a candidate to replace Kallasvuo as CEO, FT.com reported.

 

“I felt the time has come to seek new opportunities in my life,” Vanjoki said in a statement.

 

He said he would share “news about exciting new devices and solutions,” at the Nokia World event in London this week, where he is due to present a keynote.

 

Vanjoki took over as mobile solutions chief just two months ago, posting a blog vowing to take the company back to no. 1.