Tightening the grip: Nokia Tech CEO appointed as board member at HMD Global
As NokiaMob finds out, Gregory Lee, the newly appointed CEO of Nokia Technologies, that previously worked at Samsung, has replaced Brad Rodrigues as Nokia’s member of HMD’s board. Brad was the interim CEO before Lee was appointed back in June 2017. Rodrigues is responsible for Digital Media, Digital Health and Brand Licensing business units inside Nokia Technologies, and will probably keep working on the units.
It’s a big deal, or as it says in the title “Tightening the grip”, because Nokia Technologies CEO, that previously worked for Samsung (Mobile) as CEO in North America, will directly oversee HMD’s business, with a right to veto every decision. Considering Lee worked as the Head of Samsung’s Mobile division for North America, we can be sure that he will spot and correct mistakes HMD plans to do or does in early stages.
Talking about HMD, they still didn’t appoint a new CEO, after the company parted ways with former CEO Arto Nummela. We don’t know why Arto left, but at this point it is not important. We saw with Nokia 8 that HMD is logistically functioning and communicating better than with previous devices.
Other members of HMD’s board are:
- Wai Leung Chin, President of the board – former CEO of Foxconn (HMD’s manufacturing partner)
- Jean-Francois Baril, full member – former Nokia director that manages SmartConnect Lp, the private equity fund that owns HMD Global
- Pei-Chu Yeh, full member – (former) director at Proview International Holdings, an electronics manufacturing company
It’s interesting that HMD’s owner is very secretive, and apart from their manager and postal address, we don’t know anything about SmartConnect LP. For an average user it isn’t that interesting, but as the old saying goes: “Follow the Money”, and who knows where it could lead us. All in all, HMD has a new board member that is also the CEO of Nokia Technologies and a highly competent person that worked for Samsung Mobile prior joining Nokia.
