Inside information: Nokia announces a leadership transition – Justin Hotard appointed as successor to Pekka Lundmark

Leadership Transition - Nokia announced a leadership transition with Justin Hotard appointed as the new President and CEO, succeeding Pekka Lundmark, effective April 1, 2025 [1][5] - Pekka Lundmark has led Nokia since 2020 and will step down on March 31, 2025, continuing as an advisor to Hotard until the end of the year [5][8] Justin Hotard's Background - Justin Hotard brings over 25 years of experience in global technology companies, currently leading the Data Center & AI Group at Intel [2] - His previous roles include leadership positions at Hewlett Packard Enterprise and NCR Corporation, indicating a strong background in technology and innovation [2][13] Strategic Vision - Sari Baldauf, Chair of Nokia's Board, expressed confidence in Hotard's ability to drive growth in critical areas such as AI and data centers, which are essential for Nokia's future [3] - Hotard emphasized the importance of networks in powering society and businesses, and his commitment to continuing Nokia's transformation for growth and value creation [4] Contributions of Pekka Lundmark - Under Lundmark's leadership, Nokia re-established its technology leadership in 5G radio networks and improved profitability in Network Infrastructure [6][7] - Lundmark's tenure included building a strong position in cloud-native core networks and refreshing the company's brand and culture [7]