D Shivakumar

Nokia India's managing director and vice president D Shivakumar (Shiv) has been elevated as the firm's head for India, Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. In his new role at the world's largest mobile handset maker, Shiv would try to fend off competitions owing out of intense competition and global slowdown. [caption id="attachment_98597" align="alignleft" width="380" caption="D Shivkumar of Nokia. Image courtesy Nokia"][/caption]Shiv, who would perform his duties from Dubai, spoke to Times of India on his new role, "Operationally nothing changes for India also, there will be negligible impact here of the 3,500 job cuts announced globally. This decision is in line with making us more competitive and consolidating the business as we make each of the regions strategically independent and empowered."He believed that Nokia's windows phone early next year in partnership with Microsoft will give an impetus to the firm in the growing smartphone market as estimated by research firm IDC. This segment is likely to grow almost 70% a year until 2015.Nokia is facing a stiff challenge from South Korean firm Samsung which has 27 percent Indian market share against Nokia's 38 percent. Cheap Chinese mobiles, high end sets like Apple's iPhone and RIM's BlackBerry are other threats. Prior to joining Nokia in 2006, Shiv was heading Consumer Electronics business for Philips India as senior VP and executive director on the Philips India board. He also had a stint with Hindustan Lever before that.Shiv holds a degree in management and engineering and is passionate about writing and teaching. He used to contribute for a marketing column in Business World between 1985 and 1992.