Monday, September 13, 2010, 03:55 pm

Nokia smartphone chief to depart as executive shakeup continues

By Slash Lane

The head of Nokia's smartphone business announced Monday that he will leave the company, a revelation that came just days after the company's chief executive announced he would resign, as the Finnish handset maker struggles to compete with Apple's iPhone.

Anssi Vanjoki, head of the mobile solutions unit at Nokia, announced Monday that he will resign from the company. Vanjoki will remain in his current position for the time being, and has a six-month notice period.

"I felt the time has come to seek new opportunities in my life," Vanjoki said in a press release. "At the same time, I am 100 percent committed to doing my best for Nokia until my very last working day. I am also really looking forward to this year's Nokia World and sharing news about exciting new devices and solutions."

The announcement comes just three days after Nokia's CEO, Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, announced that he will leave the company later this month. The new chief executive will be Stephen Elop, head of Microsoft's business division.

Nokia's executive-level shakeup comes as the company has failed to successfully compete with Apple's iPhone. Though Nokia remains the dominant handset maker worldwide, the company has lost share and profits as competitors like the iPhone and smartphones based on the Google Android operating system have taken off.

The company hopes its fortunes will turn this week at its Nokia World event in London, where it will present its latest smartphone lineup, including the Nokia N8. The company is also prepared to launch updated versions of its mobile operating systems, Symbian and MeeGo.