Nokia Pushes AI Growth with New Leaders and Partnerships
Nokia is doubling down on artificial intelligence and ecosystem partnerships with a major leadership reshuffle aimed at strengthening its long-term strategy. Starting October 1, 2025, the company will roll out two new divisions designed to accelerate AI innovation and corporate development: the Technology and AI Organization (TAO) and the Corporate Development Organization (CDO).
A New Era of Leadership
Pallavi Mahajan, a veteran with leadership experience at Intel, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Juniper Networks, has been appointed Chief Technology and AI Officer. She will lead TAO, which combines Nokia Bell Labs, technology leadership, AI strategy, and group security under one umbrella. Her role signals Nokia’s intent to integrate deep research with real-world AI applications across its portfolio.
On the business side, Konstanty Owczarek will take charge as Chief Corporate Development Officer. He will head the newly created CDO, overseeing corporate development, mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, and incubation activities. His mandate also includes guiding NGP Capital, Nokia’s venture arm, to expand the company’s footprint in emerging technologies and startups.
Shifts at the Top
This transition comes as Nishant Batra, the outgoing Chief Strategy and Technology Officer, prepares to step down on September 30, 2025. His exit clears the way for a leadership model that splits technological innovation and corporate strategy into two distinct but interconnected teams.
Justin Hotard, Nokia’s CEO, emphasized that the new structure is about execution and focus. “We need to differentiate through our core technologies, strengthen our AI capabilities, and ensure we build long-term value through partnerships,” he said in the announcement.
Why This Matters
Nokia’s restructuring highlights the growing importance of AI across telecommunications and enterprise technology. The TAO aims to embed AI more deeply into Nokia’s networking solutions, from 5G and cloud infrastructure to cybersecurity. Meanwhile, the CDO is expected to sharpen Nokia’s ability to form global partnerships and capture opportunities in adjacent markets.
The move also positions Nokia to compete more aggressively with rivals like Ericsson, Huawei, and Cisco, all of which are making similar AI-driven plays. By creating specialized leadership structures, Nokia is betting that clearer accountability will speed up innovation cycles and help the company seize opportunities in a fast-evolving industry.
What’s Next
The creation of TAO and CDO is not just an internal reshuffle. It signals Nokia’s strategic direction for the next decade: a stronger push into AI, deeper collaborations with global partners, and a more aggressive corporate development playbook. If successful, this new leadership era could mark Nokia’s transition from a traditional telecom vendor to a broader AI and technology powerhouse.
