Newkia, a breakaway company of ex-Nokia employees looking to make Android devices, has appointed Urpo Karjalainen as its first CEO. Karjalainen was also former a Nokia and BlackBerry employee with long experience in Asia, whom Thomas Zilliacus — chairman and co-founder of Newkia — described as the “most accomplished mobile executive in Asia over the last 15 years.” According to Zilliacus, under his leadership, Asia became Nokia’s largest and most profitable market. “No other mobile executive in Asia has the contacts, reach, and credibility among Asia’s mobile operators, distributors, and dealers than he has,” he added.
The Newkia CEO has also served at BlackBerry, heading up the company’s operations in India, Greater China, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Based in Singapore, Newkia plans to target the Asia-Pacific market first. As I’m writing this, it’s not clear when their first devices will be launched, but the chances are they won’t carry the “Newkia” moniker. Can’t wait to see what these guy come up with…
[Via: MobileWorldLive, image from Gazeta.pl]