Nokia has announced vital appointment of the Chief Marketing Officer for its Devices & Brand licensing business arm Nokia Technologies. Keeping Nokia’s Digital Health focus in mind, Boon Lai who has headed Philips North America’s largest health and wellness business including Sonicare and Avent seems like a good fit for the top marketing job at Nokia Technoogies. Though he was also the CMO of Philips China for all three business segments: healthcare, lighting, and consumer lifestyle, prior to this role.
Nokia Technologies, a leader in technology development and licensing, today announced the appointment of Boon Lai as chief marketing officer, effective immediately. Lai brings to the position more than 18 years of experience in consumer products, marketing and brand strategy, with a successful track record of growing major brands. He will report to Nokia Technologies President Ramzi Haidamus and join the business’ management team.
As chief marketing officer and adviser to Haidamus, Lai will lead Nokia Technologies’ brand, design, marketing and communication segments in line with the overall transition and expansion of the business. He will also manage teams responsible for conducting multi-channel marketing campaigns to introduce new technologies and products to market.
Lai previously served as VP, Marketing for Philips North America, where he oversaw Philips’ largest health and wellness business including Sonicare and Avent, created breakthrough omni-channel campaigns, and managed strategic partnerships with the brand’s largest retailer partners. Prior to that, he was headquartered in Shanghai as the chief marketing officer of Philips China, where he was responsible for Philips’ three business units: healthcare, lighting, and consumer lifestyle.
Prior to Philips, Lai held a global strategy position at Castrol and numerous senior marketing roles with consumer goods company Reckitt Benkiser in the United Kingdom and advertising agencies Leo Burnett in Singapore, and McCann Erickson. Lai has been awarded the International Marketer of the Year and Media Excellence awards, and was recognized by Brand Innovators’ “40 Under 40” in 2015. He holds a Business Administration degree from Boston University and a MBA from the London Business School.
Nokia has already announced it first ground-breaking product OZO in Digital Media category. CEO Suri has also confirmed venturing into “Digital Health” business and we have seen multiple job openings hinting Android based Health & wellness related wearables. And most awaited “Android-based smartphones” may hit markets by end of 2016 next year.
