- Federico Guillén to step down mid‑year
- David Heard and Victoria Hanrahan to join senior team
What happened: Nokia appoints new leaders during infrastructure transition
Nokia has announced that Federico Guillén will leave his role as President of Network Infrastructure. He will retire on 31 December 2025. He will exit the Group Leadership Team on 30 June 2025. David Heard, currently Chief Strategic Growth Officer for Network Infrastructure, will replace him. Heard will join the Group Leadership Team in July. He will report to President and CEO Justin Hotard. Heard joined Nokia through its acquisition of Infinera in early 2025. He previously served as CEO and COO at that company. His experience also includes roles at AT&T, Lucent, JDSU, BigBand Networks and Somera Communications.
Victoria Hanrahan will also join the Group Leadership Team as Chief of Staff to the President and CEO. She will lead strategic projects focused on operations and alignment. She will be based in Espoo and will report directly to Justin Hotard. These changes come as Nokia expands its focus on network and optical infrastructure following the Infinera acquisition.
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Why it’s important
Nokia’s leadership update marks a shift in its infrastructure strategy. The company recently acquired Infinera to boost its optical portfolio. David Heard’s appointment reflects that move. His experience may guide Nokia’s expansion in AI-driven network tools. Victoria Hanrahan will help the new CEO, Justin Hotard, manage transitions and improve internal coordination.
These changes mirror wider telecom trends. Many companies shift leadership to support AI, data centre growth, and cloud infrastructure. Nokia’s recent restructuring could affect its market presence in both network innovation and telecom competition. Clear internal roles may help the firm respond faster to industry shifts.
