Verizon Communications has hired Rima Qureshi, former president and CEO of Ericsson North America, as executive vice president and chief strategy officer.
Earlier, Hans Vestberg, former CEO of Ericsson, had also joined Verizon.
Rima Qureshi will succeed Roy Chestnutt, who previously announced plans to pursue interests outside Verizon. Roy Chestnutt joined Verizon in 2011 from Motorola and was senior vice president – Corporate Strategy before being named chief strategy officer in 2013.
Rima Qureshi, who will report to Verizon chairman and CEO Lowell McAdam, will be responsible for development and implementation of Verizon’s corporate strategy, including business development and strategic investments.
Rima Qureshi has experience in successfully managing various business segments, including strategy, sales, product management, and research and development. Rima Qureshi has extensive experience in acquisitions and integration.
Before becoming president and CEO of Ericsson North America in 2016, Rima Qureshi was Ericsson’s chief strategy officer and head of mergers and acquisitions. Rima Qureshi joined Ericsson in 1993.
Verizon said Rima Qureshi also served as chairman of Ericsson’s Northern Europe, Russia and Central Asia group and chairman of Ericsson’s Modem division before becoming chief strategy officer.
Rima Qureshi has undergraduate and master’s degrees from McGill University in Montreal.
