Nokia has appointed Samar Mittal as India Country Business Leader, effective April 1, 2026. In this role, he will lead Nokia’s go-to-market strategy in India, drive strategic engagements with telecom, AI, and cloud providers, and strengthen partnerships while unlocking new growth opportunities in the market.
Mittal has been associated with Nokia for over two decades, previously serving as VP & CNS Market MEA Head at Nokia from May 2022 to March 2026. He earlier held roles as VP & NSW India Market Head (October 2019 – May 2022) and CBT Head for Vodafone & Idea Account (September 2014 – October 2019).
His previous positions include Head of Sales Development, India Region (March 2012 – August 2014), Head of Sales, Global Services India (January 2009 – April 2012), Head of CSI, Asia South (September 2007 – January 2009), and Business Development Manager & Principal Consultant (September 2004 – August 2007). He has also worked with Ericsson and Openwave prior to joining Nokia.
In addition, Nokia has appointed Vibha Mehra as India Country Manager. In this role, she will lead and strengthen Nokia’s strategic presence in the country, driving communications, government relations, and public affairs. She will also oversee the India site strategy, advance the people agenda, and steer CSR initiatives, positioning Nokia as a responsible and trusted technology leader in the market.
These appointments come at a time where Nokia is reportedly planning a major global workforce reduction of up to 14,000 roles, which is nearly 20% of its total employee base, as part of a broader restructuring. The move is linked to declining performance in key markets and an effort to streamline operations amid a challenging telecom environment.
The layoffs are expected to impact multiple regions, including India, where Nokia employs over 17,000 people. Media reports also suggest Indian operations could see some impact as the company realigns its business and cost structures in response to shifting market conditions.
