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Nokia’s Anssi Vanjoki quits suddenly

Well, it’s all change at Nokia. Mr Fix It, Anssi Vanjoki is exiting the building as soon as he can (given his 6 months notice period). Now then, this is very interesting news. What does it mean? Well, it’s either brilliant news for the company, or absolutely shocking news.

Strange not to see any “sorry to see you go” quotes from colleagues in the press release.

Strange given the chap is widely regarded to be Mr Fix-it. And one of the company’s top board directors.

Strange given the market was looking to him to fix Nokia’s mobile device unit.

Strange he is departing the company and not taking up a non-job “thanks for coming” position before leaving to “spend more time with his motorbikes.”

Strange time for the announcement.

I like the chap. He’s always been passionate about mobile and Nokia whenever I’ve met him. Here’s the announcement:

Nokia announced today that Anssi Vanjoki, Executive Vice President and a member of Nokia Group Executive Board has given notice of resignation from Nokia. Vanjoki, who currently heads Nokia’s Mobile Solutions unit, has six months notice period and he will continue in his current tasks for the time being.
“I felt the time has come to seek new opportunities in my life,” Anssi Vanjoki says. “At the same time, I am one hundred per cent committed to doing my best for Nokia until my very last working day. I am also really looking forward to this year’s Nokia World and sharing news about exciting new devices and solutions.”

Posted via email from MIR Live

Update: Today’s news is a gift to Apple-focused Western media: Now they’ve got a brilliant peg to hang any Nokia World news. Who was handling the news agenda on this one?

5 COMMENTS

  1. Oh no…

    So is he going after being passed over for the top job? Was he even considered? Personally, I'm really not happy to hear this. Especially given the appointment last week. I really hope this isn't the new boss cleaning shop and making room for some of his North American friends. Maybe there is more to this story (http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/09/political_leadership_confident_nokia_not_leaving_finland_1971763.html) than I originally thought.

    And on the opening day of NW2010 as well, can't feeling this is all one step forward, three back.

  2. So what happened between “Nokia’s Top Man: “The Fightback Starts Now” [MIR 7th July] and now. That's quite a big change. He can't have been going for the top job in the short-term as he had just started a new job with a turn-it-around task.

    Maybe he felt that Elop was the wrong choice for CEO?

  3. Passionate or not, with the competition of today Nokia needs a whole set of new blood injections allover its organisation. The question is if it will be enough or if its a lame attempt to avoid the inevitable.

    People are talking about how this change will help Nokia on (the always so-wanted) the North American Sale side but is that really Nokias largest problem today? I think not.

    We're talking about massive changes needed. I dont doubt the new CEO & etc is up for it but is Nokia as an organisation up for it?

  4. think it's a real shame, he always seemed on the money and certainly passionate. Whilst the timing is obviously far from ideal i actuallt think that a statement today is the lesser of two evils. if they had waited until after Nokia World (and surely they couldn't have waited too long given in seniority) it would have killed the momentum of all the good announcements we're (hopefully) going to hear. At least this way there is a chance that a strong, positive news cycle during and post Nokia World can consign Anssi's departure to a footnote….wishful thinking possibly but its time to be bold!

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