Justin Hotard, EVP/GM of Intel’s Data Center and AI Group, is leaving the company after a year to become CEO and president of Nokia.
Hotard began his position at Intel in February of 2024 and reported directly to former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger, who left the company two months ago and has been replaced by two interim co-CEOs, Michelle Johnston Holthaus and David Zinsner.
As recently as last October, Hotard (at right in photo) identified himself at an Intel event as “an HPC guy,” having previously served as general manager of HPC and AI at HPE, the culmination of an eight-year tenure at that company. Intel’s hiring of Hotard last year was called “a huge coup” in a CRN article.
Intel, meanwhile, recently announced another change to its product line roadmap for GPUs, a technology that has bedeviled the company for at least the past six or seven years. In addition, Intel has been rumored to be an acquisition target.
Today on his LinkedIn profile, Hotard said, “I am thrilled to share the news of my appointment to President and CEO of Nokia, beginning 1 April 2025. From mobile phones, to networks, to now leading the advanced connectivity that enables AI and cloud, Nokia has a unique heritage of innovation and reinvention. I am excited to lead Nokia into its next chapter of innovation, growth, and value creation.”
He added, “I want to thank Sari Baldauf (chairperson of Nokia) and the Board for entrusting me with this opportunity and look forward to getting started.”
Hotard brings more than 25 years of technology company experience to Nokia. Prior to Intel and HPE, Hotard held senior positions at NCR Corporation.
Hotard will be based at Nokia’s headquarters in Espoo, Finland.
Current Nokia CEO Pekka Lundmark will step down on March 31, 2024 after nearly five yers as chief executive to pursue new opportunities. He will serve in an advisory role to Hotard until the end of this year. Nokia said Hotard’s aim with the company is to drive Nokia’s growth in data centers and AI.
“I am delighted to welcome Justin to Nokia,” said Baldauf. “He has a strong track record of accelerating growth in technology companies along with vast expertise in AI and data center markets, which are critical areas for Nokia’s future growth. In his previous positions, and throughout the selection process, he has demonstrated the strategic insight, vision, leadership and value creation mindset required for a CEO of Nokia.”
