Nokia Hires Former PepsiCo Vet as VP-Marketing

Nokia Americas has hired former PepsiCo marketing veteran Craig Coffey as VP-marketing for mobile phone and customer market operations.

Coffey, who began the new role on Monday, will oversee the marketing of Nokia's mobile phone, multimedia and enterprise solutions divisions covering the U.S. and Canada, company spokesperson Keith Nowak said yesterday.

Coffey takes the post from Jo Harlow, who had been acting as VP-marketing after being promoted several months ago to VP-global marketing. Before assuming the position, Coffey worked for PepsiCo. Foodservice as VP-marketing and strategy. He had been with PepsiCo for 20 years.

Coffey will build on the Irving, TX-based company's performance in the competitive mobile device marketplace that continues to see rapid growth.

Nokia estimates that the global market for cellular phones grew 24% in 2005, to 795 million units for the full year, with an estimated 2.2 billion mobile subscribers worldwide by that year's end.

Nokia's sales grew 16% during the period, the highest sales growth the company has seen since 2000.