AlbertoTorres
Latest
HP creates Mobility division to focus on consumer tablets, taps ex-MeeGo maven Alberto Torres to run it
Despite the culling of Palm's offerings from its product portfolio, HP isn't exiting the tablet space. Far from it. Evidence of a new tablet has been floating around since April, and we've even caught a couple glimpses of the so-called Slate 8. Now, The Verge reports that the company has created a Mobility unit within the Personal Systems Group dedicated to making such consumer hardware. According to a leaked internal memo, it looks like Alberto Torres, formerly chief of MeeGo ops at Nokia, will be the man in charge of the new division. The Mobility group will first focus on tablets, with a "soon-to-be-launched" initial offering, but it plans to expand into other product segments moving forward. The full leaked memo can be found at the source below.
Nokia execs reshuffled in Microsoft-centered Elopcalypse
Pardon us while we catch our breath... Nokia's bombshell of an announcement's going to require some serious internal tinkering to execute upon the new strategy. As such, there's a big-time reorganization effort being kicked off today in order to accelerate the company towards its new goals. Here are some of the highlights: Nokia's "applications and content store" (Ovi) will be integrated into Microsoft Marketplace Nokia Maps will be at the heart of Microsoft's Bing and AdCenter Microsoft will provide developer tools to Nokia (So no Qt?) Symbian is now described as a "franchise platform" with Nokia planning to sell 150 million Symbian devices into the future MeeGo emphasis will be on longer-term exploration with plans to ship "a MeeGo-related product" later this year (not products) The new leadership team that will drive the effort consists of Stephen Elop, Esko Aho, Juha Akras, Jerri DeVard, Colin Giles, Rich Green, Jo Harlow, Timo Ihamuotila, Mary McDowell, Kai Oistamo, Tero Ojanpera, Louise Pentland and Niklas Savander. Unsurprisingly, Alberto Torres, former head of MeeGo, has quit. Here are some of the key execs: Jo Harlow becomes the gal at the center of the Nokia's Elopcalypse with Smart Devices responsibility for Symbian smartphones, "MeeGo Computers," and Strategic Business Operations. Mary McDowell will drive the Mobile Phones division focusing on growth markets. Marko Ahtisaari will lead up design efforts Tero Ojanpera will lead Services and Developer Experience Niklas Savendar owns Markets Rich Green will head the CTO Office responsible for Nokia's technology strategy and related forward-looking activities So really, Nokia is maintaining most of its executive staff, unlike the rumors coming into today.
Nokia reshuffles management looking for gold
We're not alone in grumbling about Nokia. Investors are miffed -- to put it gently -- over Nokia's inability to ignite the industry (and profits) with innovative, high-margin handset sales since the launch of Apple's iPhone some three years ago. And let's not forget about that feisty upstart Google, Microsoft's revamped Windows Phone OS, or HP's new-found love for mobile devices. Investor unrest was made clear last week as Nokia shareholders gave CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo an earful. But as slow moving as Nokia can be, it's not immune to the situation by any stretch. Following up on its announcement to combine services and devices, we now have details about Nokia's planned re-org, the second in seven months. The goal, as described by OPK, is as follows: "Nokia's new organizational structure is designed to speed up execution and accelerate innovation, both short-term and longer-term." The heat will be on Anssi Vanjoki (pictured) to deliver as he'll be assuming responsibility for the Mobile Solutions group on July 1st. That gives him direct control of Nokia's MeeGo Computers (led by Alberto Torres), Symbian Smartphones (headed by Jo Harlow), and Ovi Services (led by Tero Ojanpera) -- the holy trifecta that interests us the most. Mary McDowell will head the Mobile Phones unit while Niklas Savander will head up the Markets unit. The loser in all of this appears to be Richard Simonson, the former CFO currently leading the Mobile Phones unit, but soon to be retired. Full press release after the break.
