Symbian appoints new CEO

Symbian has selected a new CEO to replace now-departed helmsman David Levin.

Nigel Clifford joins the smart-phone software developer next month. He arrives from a stint as chief executive of Tertio Telecoms, and he spent two years as a senior VP with Cable & Wireless, serving on the company's UK board. Before that, from 1992, he ran the Glasgow Royal Infirmary University National Health Service Trust for five years, moving to the Trust after 11 years in senior roles within BT.

Former CEO David Levin announced his decision to leave Symbian back in December 2004, though he promised to stay on until March this year while a replacement was found. CFO Thomas Chambers acted as interim CEO from that point, and will relinquish the role when Clifford arrives for work next week.

Levin quit Symbian to run United Business Media.

During Levin's final quarter as Symbian CEO, Q1 2005, the company saw some 6.8 million Symbian-based handsets ship, 180 per cent up on the year-ago quarter. To date 32 million machines running the Symbian OS have been sold. Nine new phones from four OS licensees shipped taking the total to 48 devices, up from 18 in Q1 2004. ®

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