Nokia Appoints Kristen Pressner as Chief People Officer
Nokia has named Kristen Pressner as Chief People Officer and part of its Group Leadership Team, starting 1 May 2026. Pressner has more than 30 years of global expertise in human resources, talent development, and organizational change.
She comes to Nokia from Roche Holding Group, where she recently held the position of Global Head of People & Culture for Roche Diagnostics.
At Roche, Pressner spearheaded initiatives to enhance leadership skills, transform the company’s operational framework, and instill a culture aimed at fostering innovation and tangible business outcomes.
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In her prior position at Texas Instruments, she took on several HR leadership roles, concentrating on both capability enhancement and cultural change throughout worldwide technology operations.
Nokia’s President and Chief Executive Officer Justin Hotard said the appointment reflects the company’s focus on cultural renewal and high-performance leadership. “I am thrilled to welcome Kristen to Team Nokia as we work together to build a culture of empowerment, accountability, and a customer-first mindset to increase focus and improve performance across our business,” Hotard said.
He added that Pressner will play a central role in leading Nokia’s cultural evolution towards an AI-empowered and unified organization, designed to capture the opportunities emerging from the global AI supercycle.
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Pressner characterized her transition as a remarkably thrilling period to become part of Nokia.
Pressner says, “The company is evolving for the age of AI, cloud, and advanced networks, with its people at the heart of that evolution. Nokia's achievements rely on the creativity, bravery, and teamwork of its global teams, and I am motivated by the chance to contribute significantly to realizing that potential."
Pressner, a citizen of the United States and Switzerland, possesses a Master of Business Administration in International Human Resources Management from the University of Dallas and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from Purdue University. She will be located in Finland and report directly to Hotard.
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Pressner’s hiring occurs as Nokia seeks to redefine itself as a leader in technology and networks for the AI and cloud age, emphasizing talent, culture, and performance to achieve sustained growth.