October 10, 1967, marks the birth of Rajeev Suri in New Delhi, India. Now a Singaporean citizen, he has navigated the complexities of global telecommunications and satellite operations through a series of high-level executive appointments, most notably steering Nokia through a significant corporate transformation during his tenure as chief executive officer.
Formative Education and Early Career
Suri attended The Indian Community School in Kuwait during his youth. He subsequently pursued higher education in India, earning a bachelor of engineering degree in electronics and communications. His academic foundation was established at the Manipal Institute of Technology, an institution affiliated with the Manipal Academy of Higher Education and Mangalore University. These technical credentials provided the basis for his eventual entry into the telecommunications sector in 1995.
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Upon joining Nokia in 1995, Suri moved through various organizational roles over nearly two decades. In October 2009, he succeeded Simon Beresford-Wylie as the chief executive officer of Nokia Solutions and Networks following the merger of Nokia Networks and Siemens Networks. His scope of responsibility widened in April 2014 when he assumed the role of CEO for the entire Nokia corporation. He remained in this position until August 2020, at which point Pekka Lundmark succeeded him.
Transition to Satellite and Telecommunications Governance
Following his departure from Nokia, Suri shifted his focus toward satellite communications and corporate governance. In February 2021, he replaced Rupert Pearce as the chief executive officer of Inmarsat. His involvement in board-level oversight expanded further in late 2023 and 2024. As of November 29, 2023, he serves as the chairman of the Digicel Group. Additionally, he accepted the position of chairman at M-KOPA on December 1, 2024.
Fast facts
- Born: 10 October 1967, New Delhi, India
- Citizenship: Singapore
- Education: Manipal Institute of Technology
- Nokia CEO tenure: April 2014 – August 2020
- Inmarsat CEO appointment: 24 February 2021
- Digicel Group Chairman appointment: 29 November 2023
- M-KOPA Chairman appointment: 1 December 2024
Questions readers ask
What is Rajeev Suri's current professional role?
He currently serves as the chairman of the Digicel Group and the chairman of M-KOPA.
Where did Rajeev Suri receive his engineering degree?
He graduated from the Manipal Institute of Technology with a bachelor of engineering degree in electronics and communications.
Achievements
- Affiliated with Nokia
- Educated at Manipal Institute of Technology and Manipal Academy of Higher Education
