Ericsson picks UK marketing chief

Alex Rodrigues, Ericsson’s UK consumer products marketing chief, is leaving to take up a post with the telecoms company in Singapore. Rodrigues will run the Ericsson Accessories business in the Asia-Pacific region.

Rodrigues’ role will be filled by Steve Walker, Ericsson’s UK marketing director of future technology and business development, who will now lead the consumer marketing team as director of marketing and new business for consumer products.

Keith Westcott, managing director of Ericsson’s consumer products in the UK, says: “Walker’s understanding of operators’ requirements, from network infrastructure to terminals and applications, will prove invaluable in his new role.”

The marketing moves follow the appointment of Philip Vanhoutte as global vice-president of marketing and communications at Ericsson’s consumer products division. Vanhoutte replaced Jan Ahrenbring (MW February 22).

The changes come during a period of re-organisation across Ericsson’s consumer products division, which made a £1.1bn loss last year and is now outsourcing the manufacture of mobile phones.

Ericsson appointed Bartle Bogle Hegarty to handle its £100m global consumer advertising account in January (MW January 25).