Nokia overhauls team and appoints marketing chief
Nokia has appointed Jerri DeVard as its first CMO and VP of marketing and communications as the company attempts to revive its fortunes in the high-end smartphone market.
DeVard will serve on the company’s board and will take up his role in January, heading Nokia’s newly formed marketing and communications department.
This will bring together all of Nokia’s marketing, brand management, communications and industry collaboration activities.
Niklas Savander, head of Nokia’s markets units, says: “We expect the integrated marketing and communications activities to increase the impact of our communications and engagement.”
DeVard joins Nokia from New York-based DeVard Marketing Group where she worked with brands including Microsoft and Allstate Insurance.
Five weeks into the tenure of CEO Stephen Elop, Nokia axed 1,800 jobs from its global workforce despite posting an annual revenue rise of 5% for the third quarter.
Speaking about the appointment and creation of the new unit, Elop says: “This will be a great boost to increasing consumer focus and will bring fresh thinking as we strive for a clearer value proposition for our consumers.”
This story first appeared on newmediaage.co.uk
