When we spoke to Symbian's Chairman at 3GSM, Sir Peter Gershon said that the Symbian Board would take as long as they needed to find a replacement for David Levin. That search is now over with the appointment of Nigel Clifford. Mr Clifford's background includes time at Tertio Telecoms (who sold a number of software solutions to Telecoms Operators such as T-Mobile and Vodafone), a Senior VP role at Cable and Wireless, and five years as the Chief Executive of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. All About Symbian wish him luck when he takes up his new role in June.

Full Press Release.
Symbian appoints new Chief Executive

LONDON, United Kingdom – 18 May 2005 – The Board of Symbian is today pleased to announce the appointment of Nigel Clifford to the post of Chief Executive Officer. Mr Clifford will take up his position in June 2005.

Mr Clifford has wide experience of successful leadership across a number of sectors, including the technology sector. Mr Clifford was appointed Chief Executive of Tertio Telecoms Ltd in July 2000. Tertio Telecoms is an international telecoms software product and services company backed by Apax Partners, Advent International and GE Equity. Mr Clifford led the sale of Tertio Telecoms to Evolving Systems Inc. in November 2004. Tertio Telecoms develops and markets software-based solutions that improve the roll-out, management and billing of voice and data services for fixed, cable and mobile operators. Customers include Hutchison Global (“3”), T-Mobile, Telenor, Telewest and Vodafone Group.

Before Tertio Telecoms, Mr Clifford spent two years as Senior Vice President, Service Delivery with international telecommunications company Cable & Wireless, serving on the company’s United Kingdom Board. Mr Clifford successfully led a 2,000 person organisation, managed a capital program of more than £200m and was responsible for delivering all customers’ orders to, from and in the United Kingdom.

Mr Clifford spent five years from 1992 as Chief Executive of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary University National Health Service Trust, one of the UK’s largest hospital trusts, employing more than 5,000 staff in five city centre hospitals to provide the city of Glasgow with the full range of general and specialist medical services.

Prior to 1992 Mr Clifford spent eleven years with British Telecom, most latterly as Head of Business Strategy and Market Development for British Telecom’s Mobile Communications business unit, and before that as Senior Strategist in the Chairman's office.

Mr Clifford is a graduate of Cambridge University and holds an MBA from Strathclyde University.

Sir Peter Gershon, Independent Non-Executive Chairman, Symbian, said:

"On behalf of the Board of Symbian I am delighted to welcome Nigel Clifford as Symbian's new Chief Executive Officer. The Board conducted a wide-ranging search for a Chief Executive Officer with the right experience and balance of skills to take Symbian into its next stage of development and Nigel was our unanimous choice. Symbian's latest results show shipments of Symbian OS phones are growing rapidly, earning Symbian OS a leading position in the global market for smartphone software. Symbian's next challenge is to achieve a leading position in the higher volume, lower cost, mid-range phones market segment. Nigel Clifford's impressive track record in leading international technology organisations to deliver both complex products and excellent commercial results give Nigel the expertise and experience to lead Symbian successfully in the future."

Nigel Clifford said:

"I am delighted to be appointed Chief Executive Officer of Symbian. I am very impressed by the momentum Symbian is achieving and I am looking forward to the challenge of leading Symbian as the mobile market continues its rapid evolution."