British satellite telecommunications company Inmarsat announced that Rajeev Suri, former Nokia CEO, will join the business and assume the role of CEO and become a Director of Connect Bidco Limited, the holding company for Inmarsat, from 1 March 2021. Rupert Pearce will step down as CEO from 28 February 2021.

Rajeev’s most recent role was President and CEO of Nokia, a position he held for six years. Prior to that, he was the CEO of Nokia Siemens Networks for five years, a joint venture company that merged Nokia’s and Siemens’ networks businesses. Since stepping down in August 2020, Rajeev has worked in senior advisory roles with private equity firms Warburg Pincus and Apollo Global Management.

Rajeev most recently led Nokia’s leadership in 5G for communication service providers and successfully diversified Nokia into new business areas. He established an independent software business that became the leading telecom software business in the world, quadrupled the annual recurring revenue run rate of the patent licensing business and led a new foray into large enterprise networks with double digit revenue growth over the last several years. Rajeev will be based in the UK.

Andrew Sukawaty Inmarsat’s Chairman, said: “Rajeev’s experience will support Inmarsat’s future growth and we look forward to the business transitioning successfully to another capable leader.”

Rajeev Suri said: “I am very excited to join Inmarsat, and to work closely with such skilled people, at such an important moment for the company and the satellite communications industry as a whole.”

Sukawaty continued: “Rupert has been with Inmarsat for 16 years and as its CEO for just over 9 years and has led many initiatives and accomplishments which have laid the foundation for the future.”