Nokia has appointed a consumer marketing specialist, Jerri DeVard, to the new post of chief marketing officer (CMO).
DeVard, who currently runs her own marketing company, has 25 years of marketing experience with consumer brands such as Verizon, Citigroup and Revlon, Nokia said.
“Her expertise encompasses brand management and multi-cultural marketing, with a strong foundation on direct marketing and e-commerce,” the company said. DeVard also helped raise funds for Obama presidential campaign in 2008.
It is the first major appointment by new CEO Stephen Elop, who said DeVard’s background in consumer businesses “will be a great boost to increasing consumer focus and will bring fresh thinking as we strive for a clearer value proposition.”
DeVard, who will also be an executive vice president, will report to Niklas Savander, executive vice president and head of Nokia's markets unit.
She will head the newly-formed marketing and communications organization, combining all of Nokia's marketing, brand management and communications.
DeVard’s new role starts on January 1, 2011.
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