Nokia's search for a new CEO is said to be largely focused on inside candidates, although the company is still open to an outsider taking the top spot.
This is according to New York-based media company Bloomberg, which cites "people familiar with the matter". Rajeev Suri, head of Nokia's network equipment unit, is said to be one of the prime candidates to take the spot formerly held by Stephen Elop.
Apart from Suri, says Bloomberg, Nokia's finance chief, Timo Ihamuotila, is also up for the top spot in what looks to be a race of two internal individuals. The publication's source says external people have not, however, been ruled out.
The new CEO will have the formidable task of turning Nokia's floundering handset unit around, following Microsoft's $7.4 billion buyout of the division. Elop, who was instrumental in orchestrating the deal, stood down as group CEO of Nokia after the company announced the sale of its phone division last year. He is set to move with the company to Microsoft.
The Nokia-Microsoft deal is expected to be completed this quarter, after final regulatory clearance has been obtained.
Microsoft's unexpected bid for the Finnish maker's handset division has been seen as a way to solve Nokia's flagging smartphone situation and a boost for Microsoft's lagging mobile strategy. Microsoft sees the bid aiding its smartphone strategy, which will boost tablet sales and aid PC movement.
Nokia and Windows Phone have less than a 10% market share in nine markets, but the handsets are outselling BlackBerry in 34 markets.
IDC expects the global PC market to decline by 9.7% this year as mobile devices continue to explode at the expense of PCs. "The market as a whole is expected to decline through at least 2014, with only single-digit modest growth from 2015 onward, and never regain the peak volumes last seen in 2011."
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