Nokia Siemens Networks strengthens leadership team

Nokia Siemens Networks today announced that Luca Maestri is to join the Company as Chief Financial Officer and Michael Matthews is to join as Head of Strategy and Business Development as the Company prepares to move beyond its integration phase. In addition to their functional roles, both will be members of the Nokia Siemens Networks Executive Board.
 
Maestri joins from General Motors, where he most recently held the position of Chief Financial Officer, General Motors Europe, Europe’s fastest-growing automotive group in 2007. Prior to this role, Maestri served as CFO of GM’s Mercosur operations, where he helped execute a successful turnaround of the business, leading to strong revenue and profit growth, improvement in cash flow, and a strengthened balance sheet. Maestri has also held senior positions in GM operations in the United States, Brazil, Thailand, Italy and Singapore. 
 
Maestri will join Nokia Siemens Networks on 1 October 2008, and will formally assume the Chief Financial Officer role on 1 November 2008. Eric Simonsen, the outgoing CFO, will start his retirement in December 2008, following the two-month transition and hand-over period. 
 
“Eric came on board as an integration and restructuring specialist following our merger in April 2007 and his expertise and wisdom have been instrumental in the execution of a successful merger process in very tough circumstances. Nokia Siemens Networks is a stronger company as a result of his contributions,” said Simon Beresford-Wylie, Chief Executive Officer of Nokia Siemens Networks. “He has paved the way for Luca to play a key role in our continued transformation into a world-class company.” 
 
Matthews joins with a strong background in telecommunications, software, technology and innovation. He was Chief Marketing Officer at Amdocs Inc, the leading provider of software and services for many of the world’s largest communications service providers. During his 5 years at Amdocs, Matthews played a key role in leading the transformation of the company; addressing new markets, expanding the product line, and evolving the channel to address the rapidly changing needs of the telecom industry. Matthews also brings broad experience across the technology industry, having held senior positions at hardware and software companies and in both start-up and multinational companies. 
 
“Luca and Michael bring the rights skills, experience and values to help complete our integration work at Nokia Siemens Networks and take the Company to the next level,” said Beresford-Wylie. Maestri and Matthews will report to Beresford-Wylie. 
 
Pekka Soini, the current Head of Strategy and Business Development, will assume a new role heading the Corporate Development Office, with responsibility for quality, process development and information technology. All of these areas are essential to a successful conclusion of the Nokia Siemens Networks integration work and to building the Company’s competitive advantage as a globally integrated enterprise. Soini will remain a member of the Nokia Siemens Networks Executive Board and will also serve as the Executive Sponsor for the North American region, working closely with region head Susan Spradley and her leadership team.