The success of the iPhone is thought to have claimed the scalp of Nokia CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo four years after he took the top job..
According to the Wall Street Journal, Nokia has started a search for a replacement for its CEO. The WSJ said at least two possibles have been to Finland for talks with Nokia Chairman, former CEO, Jorma Ollila.
With the iPhone now three years old, the Finnish company is seen as having failed to make an adequate response.
Nokia had a 39.3% market share in smartphones in Q1 and Apple had only 16.1% market share.
However Apple makes more profit on its phone sales than Nokia.
Overall, Nokia’s profits on mobile phones have been slipping while Apple’s higher profits come from the sale of far fewer units.
Nokia out-sells Apple 15 to 1 in units for all phones and by more than 2 to 1 in smartphones.
Nokia has been seen uncertain in its OS strategy, apparently cold-shouldering Android while dithering being between MeeGo and Symbian.
Nokia, of course, isn’t commenting on the rumoured change of CEO, but it is believed it could happen quite soon – possibly within the next six weeks.