Who is New Nokia CEO Stephen Elop?
Stephen Elop is the man chosen to take over from Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo as President and Chief Executive Officer of Nokia. He joined Nokia from Microsoft – read on to find everything we know about the new guy in charge…
46 year old Stephen Elop hails from Canada, where he earned a bachelors degree in computer engineering and management from McMaster University in Ontario.
Elop comes to Nokia following a stint at Microsoft, where he has been head of Microsoft Business Division – responsible for group strategy and overseeing the Microsoft Office line of products.
Elop has a background in change management and these skills will likely be at the forefront of his work at Nokia. When he takes over from his predecessor Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo later this month, Elop be helping to usher in a whole new generation of Nokia smartphones – Symbian^3 phones like the N8 and C7 and cutting-edge Meego handsets like the N9.
Nokia CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo stands down
It is no secret that Nokia has found it hard to keep up with the likes of the iPhone and some Android handsets and Elop will be making sure that the company gets back on top of the smartphone heap where it belongs.
Commenting on his appointment, Elop said, “I am extremely excited to become part of a team dedicated to strengthening Nokia’s position as the undisputed leader of the mobile communications industry, with a relentless focus on meeting the needs and expectations of customers. The company has deeply talented and dedicated people, and I am confident that together we can continue to deliver innovative products that meet the needs of consumers.”
Shares in Nokia are reported to have jumped by 5.8% following the announcement of Elop’s hiring, so it’s all good.