Nokia mobile leader Vanjoki resigns

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Major Nokia mobile leader Anssi Vanjoki has handed in his resignation notice, it emerged today.

The Finnish manufacturer, which appointed new chief executive (CEO) Steve Elop last week, revealed Vanjoki will carry out six months notice period before moving on.

The announcement comes just a day before the start of Nokia World, where the company will be showing off some of the devices Vanjoki has helped design.

“I felt the time has come to seek new opportunities in my life," he said.

"At the same time, I am 100 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."

Vanjoki, who was only made Nokia’s mobile solutions leader this July, did not reveal whether he was in line for another job.

Vice president and Gartner distinguished analyst Nick Jones has suggested Vanjoki may have been up for the CEO role and having failed to get it, decided to leave.

Nevertherless, Jones praised Vanjoki as “an excellent executive” who “will be a real asset to another mobile company.”

“Anssi is the first change in the executive team but I don’t think he will be the last,” Jones added in a blog post.

“In the webcast that announced Steve’s appointment Jorma Olilla [chairman of the Nokia board of directors] said that several internal and external candidates had been considered, so there may be more resignations to come.”

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