We have heard from inside Nokia that the ex-CEO of Dopplr, Marko Ahtisaari has been appointed to head Nokia’s Design department. This comes just after Nokia acquired Dopplr for undisclosed sum and a long silence that preceded the official announcement yesterday (see our story here).
At the same time Nokia has announced that it has appointed John Martin, a former Apple Vice President, to head a unit that focuses on Linux based devices running Maemo operating system like the latest N900. (via Finnish Taloussanomat)
It will be interesting to see how Ahtisaari will shape Nokia this time and how long he will stay there. Last time he stayed almost two years with the Finnish mobile phone giant pulling the Design unit from individual separate pieces into a well functioning shop before leaving in August 2006 to Blyk as a Head of Brand & Design. What goes around comes around.
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That was fast, really fast and i’m wondering how meaningful it is. Dopplr has an almost amazing design, simple yet powerful but that’s something you expect from a startup not a 1000 pound gorilla like Nokia.
Titanas,
I’m up beat about the announcement regardless of the size of the company, although this time it really is a 1000 pound gorilla and challenges are of equal size.
Still, whatever the size of the impact, I believe it will be positive. Also, Marko might just make a dent given the responsibility he will be given.
I hope so. Nokia needs it
Hmm…You might want to first double check what is the relationship of Nokia Design and the design and user experience team of the new Solutions unit where Marko was actually hired. Two different things.
Mika,
I am aware of the relationship. I will update the post as the story lives on and we get more information on the appointments.