HMD Global, the company that makes the new Nokia Android smartphones, has announced that Arto Nummela is stepping down as its CEO. The announcement arrived just a day before the company launches its flagship smartphone, the Nokia 8.

HMD Global says that Nummela’s departure from the company was through a mutual agreement between Nummela and the company’s board of directors. His departure from the company is effective immediately.

“Arto Nummela has played a key role in the creation of the HMD Global operation, building the team and launching our first products,” HMD Global chairman of the board Sam Chin said. “On behalf of the whole Board, I thank Arto for his contribution and wish him well in his future endeavors.”

READ: New Nokia 8 Android Flagship Leak Confirms Dual Cameras With Zeiss Optics​

HMD has appointed Florian Seiche as the company’s acting CEO. Seiche has also been HMD Global’s president since the start of the company. Before being part of HMD Global, Seiche worked with Microsoft, Nokia, HTC and Siemens.

Nummela’s departure as HMD’s CEO is quite abrupt, and the company didn’t provide any other information as to exactly why he left. Nummela joined the company last year after having worked for Nokia for over a decade. He has also worked with other big tech companies such as Microsoft, HTC ad Orange, according to Android Authority.

Nummela is also credited for playing a major role in reviving the Nokia brand. Under his leadership, HMD Global released three Android smartphones with the Nokia 3, 5 and 6. It was also during his time that the company refreshed the classic Nokia 3310 feature phone for 2017. His future plans remain unclear.

With Nummela stepping down as HMD Global’s CEO, it remains unclear whether this would affect the company’s current goals and or change its ongoing Nokia Android smartphones strategy. However, it really is too early to tell how his departure would impact the company.

What’s also interesting is that Nummela stepped down just before the launch of the Nokia 8 flagship, which is rumored to be announced today. The Nokia 8 would be HMD Global’s first real attempt at competing with other major players in the smartphone market.

READ: Nokia Renews Partnership With Zeiss Optics For Its Android Smartphones​

Previous leaks and rumors suggest that the Nokia 8 will be powered by the Snapdragon 835 processor. This is the same Qualcomm system-on-chip that’s being used by the Samsung Galaxy S8, Sony Xperia XZ Premium, HTC U11 and the OnePlus 5.

The Nokia 8 will also feature 4GB or 6GB of RAM, 64GB of storage and a 5.3-inch quad HD display. This is also the first Nokia Android smartphone to feature a set of dual 13-megapixel cameras on its back. Recently leaked renders may have also confirmed that the Nokia 8’s cameras will have lenses provided by Zeiss optics.

HMD Global hasn’t made an official announcement yet on its pricing, but a Scandinavian retailer has already listed the Nokia 8 with a €589 price tag, which is around US$675. The Nokia 8 also appeared briefly on Nokia’s Chinese website yesterday, before being taken down, according to NokiaPower User. The Nokia 8’s display is showing the July 20 date, which many speculate to be the device’s announcement date.

Nokia-HMD Global
Arto Nummela resigns as HMD Global's CEO just before the company launches its Android flagship smartphone, the Nokia 8. REUTERS/Paul Hanna
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