14 DAY TRIAL // Come September 1st 2009, Bert Nordberg will take on his new role with Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications. In this regard the phone maker announced that the current Executive Vice President of the Ericsson Group and Head of Ericsson Silicon Valley transitioned to Sony Ericsson where he would occupy a Co-President position. The shuffle at the top of Sony Ericsson is designed to have Nordberg and Sony Ericsson President Hideki “Dick” Komiyama temporarily work together to lead the company. This because Komiyama plans to leave by the end of 2009. There will of course be a management transition, and Nordberg will only take on the role of President on October 15th.
“The Sony Ericsson transformation program I began over a year ago is more than half way completed, and I am pleased with what we have achieved so far,” Komiyama stated. “I believe it is the right time for me to begin transferring the leadership of the company to a person who is able to complete the transformation program and lead Sony Ericsson through its next phase of development. I will continue to be involved with Sony Ericsson’s business until the end of the year and look forward to working closely with Bert to ensure a smooth handover.”
Nordberg indicated that he welcomed the transition to Sony Ericsson. “With the growing importance of open source platforms, applications and content in the mobile handset industry, I believe the experiences I have gained in Silicon Valley will be very relevant to Sony Ericsson’s business going forward. I look forward to working with Dick Komiyama in the transition phase and getting to know the rest of the Sony Ericsson management team,” he stated.
But the executive shuffling at Sonny Ericsson is not over with Nordberg and Komiyama. The company revealed that Sir Howard Stringer, currently Chairman, CEO and President, Sony Corporation, and Board member of Sony Ericsson, would also take on the role of Chairman of the Board of Sony Ericsson. On October 15th Stringer is set to replace Carl-Henric Svanberg, President & CEO of Ericsson.
“We want to thank Dick Komiyama for his leadership in spearheading critical changes at Sony Ericsson over the past two years,” Stringer said. “The company is now well-positioned to capitalise on growth opportunities and return to profitability. Dick has made an enormous contribution to Sony Ericsson in a short time, as well as to Sony Corporation in the years before that. We wish him all the best in his retirement. We are delighted that Bert Nordberg is joining the company as a strong and worthy successor to Dick. Bert brings tremendous experience and enthusiasm to his new role, and with his strong telecommunications background he will lead Sony Ericsson into a very bright future.”