An interview with Prem Chand
Prem Chand, the Chairman of the Finland Australia Chamber of Commerce and long time Nokia Australia executive is leaving Sydney to take up a position in Singapore where he will be responsible for Nokia’s CDMA sales in the region as well as for business development activities for India.
We asked Prem to give us a quick insight into recent Nokia Australia and some of the latest news from the world’s leading mobile and telecommunications company.
“While I will be sad to leave Australia, I am looking forward to what I believe will be a very exciting opportunity to help Nokia expand into the growth markets such as India.”
“Nokia Australia has gone from strength to strength since we opened our doors here in 1985 as a network infrastructure business helping to build the country's mobile telecommunications networks. In September 1993, Nokia Mobile Phones started in Australia and introduced mobile handsets to Australian consumers.
“Then later in 2000, Nokia Internet Communications began operations providing internet security products and solutions for enterprises. Today, all of Nokia’s major business units are represented in Australia, including Mobile Phones, Multimedia, Enterprise Solutions and Networks. Since our humble beginnings Nokia has grown to become one of the most successful and well-recognised brands in Australia, leading the market with its mobile technology, enterprise products and services, and network infrastructure.
“Helping to give us this leadership has been the quality of our people. Nokia Australia has also provided a strong talent pool from which Nokia has drawn from extensively, with a number of Australian’s taking senior roles at regional and global levels.”
“Australian’s typically are industrious, innovative and very candid and these are qualities which we share with our Finnish colleagues. So while we are literally almost as far apart as you can get in terms of geographic location and climate, the Finns and the Aussies share a common spirit and I think this is part of the reasons while Australian’s work well in the Nokia culture.
“The most recent example is 46 year old Australian, Simon Beresford-Wylie’s promotion to take over Sari Baldauf’s positing as head of Networks. Simon is an excellent example of a talented executive that has come from Australia and found a place in the Nokia organization. Simon joined Nokia in June 1998, after 10 years with Telstra Corporation. Simon’s previous roles in Nokia include being country director for Networks in India, as well as being responsible for Nokia’s infrastructure business with the Vodafone Group and was most recently head of Networks in Nokia in the Asia Pacific.
“While we are all sad to see a quality executives such as Matti Alahuhta, Sari Baldauf and JT Bergqvist leaving Nokia, we also know that change is good for any dynamic company. They have each left a strong legacy with Nokia which will be continued by their replacements.
“I think we are a company that thrives on challenge so that’s why I believe that the future is very bright for Nokia Australia and Nokia internationally”
Prem Chand
| 
