Nokia appoints Ramzi Haidamus to head Nokia Technologies and as member of the Nokia Group Leadership Team

Nokia Corporation
Stock exchange release
July 24, 2014 at 12:35 (CET +1)

Espoo, Finland - Nokia today announced the appointment of Ramzi Haidamus, a technology-licensing expert with proven business leadership skills and a strong innovation background, as President of Nokia's technologies business and member of the Group Leadership team, with effect from September 3, 2014.

A trained engineer, Haidamus has spent most of his career with Dolby Laboratories, which he helped to grow from a USD 72 million private business into a nearly USD 1 billion thriving public company. During his 17 years with Dolby, he held a variety of roles, most recently with chief operating officer-level responsibility. He has led innovation efforts, including those related to Dolby's technological roadmaps and standards development for DVD and BluRay.  He has experience in nurturing new technologies in an incubator-like environment and in growing new businesses, including as President of Via Licensing Corporation, a Dolby subsidiary.

"Ramzi has the perfect blend of technology savvy, business leadership and innovation experience to head our cutting-edge technologies business," said Rajeev Suri, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nokia. "With Ramzi at the head of the world-class Nokia Technologies team and our continuing investment in advanced research and development, we are well-positioned to drive the innovation and licensing business needed to move us closer to our goal of technology leadership in a world where everyone and everything is connected."

"I am honored to take on this exciting role at Nokia," said Haidamus, incoming President of Nokia Technologies. "I relish the opportunity to head Nokia's ground-breaking technologies business with its track record of innovation and team of hundreds of world-class scientists and engineers. These experts have driven more than half of Nokia's recent patent filings and are leaders in fields that are essential for enabling the connected world."

Born in Lebanon, Haidamus moved at the age of 17 to the US, where he completed his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in electrical engineering at the University of the Pacific.

Henry Tirri, who has served as acting head of Nokia Technologies business since its formation on May 1, 2014, will continue in this role until Haidamus joins on September 3, 2014. From that date, Tirri will step down from the Group Leadership Team and will become an advisor to Suri on technology issues.

"We are grateful to Henry for all his work for Nokia over the years and for his willingness to lead the Nokia Technologies team during an important time of change and transition," said Suri. "Henry has graciously agreed to support Ramzi as he transitions into the company. Henry has unique insights into the world of technology, and I am pleased that we will continue to benefit from his expertise throughout this year and possibly beyond."