Nokia announces new team post Alcatel-Lucent merger

New Delhi/Helsinki:Finnish telecom gear maker Nokia on Wednesday announced appointment of executives who will head various units after completion of Alcatel-Lucent's merger, with officials from Nokia dominating the merged entity.

The company in April had announced acquisition of French firm Alcatel-Lucent in an all-stock deal valued at 15.6 billion euros (USD 16.6 billion).

The company in a statement said that after closing of the deal, the networks business would be conducted through four business groups -- Mobile Networks, Fixed Networks, Applications & Analytics and IP/Optical Networks. Alongside these, Nokia Technologies would continue to operate as a separate business group.

The designated President of Mobile Networks would be Samih Elhage, who currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial and Operating Officer, Nokia Networks while Federico Guillen, who currently serves as President of Fixed Networks, Alcatel-Lucent will head the Fixed Networks unit of the merged entity.

Applications & Analytics (A&A) unit will be run by Bhaskar Gorti, who currently serves as President of IP Platforms, Alcatel-Lucent and President of IP/Optical Networks would be Basil Alwan, who currently serves as President of IP Routing and Transport, Alcatel-Lucent.

Ramzi Haidamus would continue in his current role as President of Nokia Technologies.

Nokia expects to align its financial reporting under two key areas - Nokia Technologies and the Networks Business.

"Our goal is to position each business group for clear leadership in its particular market and to create a combined portfolio that provides the scope and scale our customers expect, underpinned by a strong focus on innovation, quality and superb execution," Nokia President and Chief Executive Officer Rajeev Suri said.

The combined company is expected to have a common sales organisation across the business groups, except for Nokia Technologies.

In addition, effective after the closing of the exchange offer, there would be six additional unit leaders within the combined company, who would report directly to the President and CEO.

Timo Ihamuotila, currently Executive Vice President and Group Chief Financial Officer, Nokia, would serve as Chief Financial Officer, while Ashish Chowdhary, currently Chief Business Officer, Nokia Networks, would serve as Chief Customer Operations Officer.