Following a recent customer-facing reorganization, Nokia announced further structural and leadership changes as the vendor readies for a ramp up in 5G-related activity.

The latest merges Nokia’s current mobile networks and fixed networks business groups into the newly established Access Networks Division, effective Jan. 1.

As part of the changes, former president of Nokia’s Mobile Networks group Marc Rouanne is departing the company. Nokia has yet to name a new leader of the combined division, though Tommi Uitto was named president of mobile networks effective immediately.

“Nokia has a unique advantage in the 5G era with its end-to-end portfolio,” said Nokia president and CEO Rajeev Suri in a statement. “By creating a single Access Networks organization that includes both fixed and mobile, we can improve our customer focus, simplify our management structure, and more efficiently leverage our full portfolio.”

Earlier this month, Nokia split its customer-facing organization into two groups, naming Ricky Corker as head of customer operations for the Americas and Federico Guillén leading customer operations for EMEA and Asia.

Current head of customer operations Ashish Chowdhary will end his 15-year career at Nokia at the end of the year to take a job at Apple, leading operations in India.  

“As we enter the 5G era, extreme customer focus is a must,” said Suri at the time of the announcement. “The changes we are announcing today will ensure that we continue to have the senior management capacity necessary for superb customer relationships in a world of increasing speed and complexity. I am extremely pleased that we have two very strong leaders, Ricky Corker and Federico Guillén, to lead these new groups.”