Nokia Siemens Networks appoints Samih Elhage as CFO

Nokia Siemens Networks has appointed Samih Elhage as its chief financial officer.

Elhage, who was previously the company's chief operating officer, will continue to report to CEO Rajeev Suri as a member of the company's Executive Board. Elhage replaces Marco Schroeter, who leaves Nokia Siemens Networks with immediate effect.

"Samih has made significant contributions in his role as chief operating officer and is well prepared to step into the role of CFO," said Suri.

He has deep commercial skills and a strong command of company financials - competencies built over the years as an operating executive at Nortel and as a senior advisor to leading private equity and global management consulting firms added Suri.

Elhage joined Nokia Siemens Networks in March 2012 and has been instrumental in driving thecompany's restructuring: strengthening operational efficiency; improving performance management; and enhancing accountability and discipline at all levels of the company. With Elhage'smove to become CFO, the chief operating officer role will be discontinued.

Elhage has more than 23 years of telecommunications experience in both financial and operational roles. Immediately prior to joining Nokia Siemens Networks, he served as a senior advisor to leading private equity and global management consulting firms, focusing on investments and improving the operating performance of companies in the telecommunications sector.

Prior to these advisory positions, until August 2010, Elhage held a number of leadership roles at Nortel, including president of Carrier Voice over IP and Applications Solutions, and vice president of Corporate Business Operations.

Marco Schroeter, who joined the company in March 2011, was part of the team leading the successful restructuring of Nokia Siemens Networks. "Marco played a key role in stabilizing our financial situation and delivering our recent, very strong, financial performance," said Suri.