The development makes Leong one of the handful of marketers that have used China as a springboard to a global role, and comes two years after she left Grey Singapore to relocate to Nokia in Beijing. In addition, Nokia China president Colin Giles has also been handed a new role, overseeing sales for the entire Eastern hemisphere, covering Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and China, excluding Korea and Japan.
While Leong declined to comment, a Nokia spokes-man confirmed that she would head marketing services in Nokia’s various global markets, reporting to the newly-installed global marketing head, Pekka Rantala (Media, 16 July).
The spokesman added Leong will remain in Beijing “for now”. Nokia’s global headquarters is located in Espoo, Finland, while much of its global marketing function is situated in London. The centralisation of global marketing resources occurred under the oversight of global SVP of mobile marketing Jo Harlow, whose own new role within the new Nokia structure has yet to be clarified.
Leong’s successor has not been confirmed, but sources tip China marketing director Yee Wee Koh as a strong contender for the position.
Giles is promoted after almost four years of running Nokia China, and 15 years with the company in total.
