Batra joins Nokia from automotive technology company Veoneer in Sweden, where he was Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer.

Prior to Veoneer, Batra held several positions at Ericsson over twelve years in Sweden, India and the US, most recently as Head of Product Area Networks.

Nokia says has extensive experience with complex systems based on cutting-edge silicon technology and both embedded as well as cloud-based software.

“I am delighted to welcome Nishant to Nokia at a pivotal time for our company," said Pekka Lundmark, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nokia.

"He is a proven leader bringing with him a wealth of experience from technology to telecoms, as well as deep knowledge of our core CSP customers, the enterprise sector, and the emerging trends in the global market.

“His track record of developing innovative new products and successfully taking them to market make him a fantastic addition to our team.”

"I’m honored to be part of Nokia. This isn’t just about joining a company that has a fantastic portfolio, it’s also about the pride of being associated with such an iconic brand,” says Batra.

“The telecommunications industry is an exciting place to be at the moment with 5G now really taking off, and Nokia is right at the heart of it. The company has the true potential to work with diverse customer groups in the market and I see that we can make a significant impact over the long term.

“My personal ambition will be to ensure that Nokia is strategically positioned to win and that Nokia Bell Labs continues to be seen as the pinnacle of innovation.”

Batra will be based initially in Espoo, Finland, after which he will move to the US, and will report to Lundmark.