Verizon Communications said it has hired Rima Qureshi, the former president and CEO of Ericsson North America, as executive vice president and chief strategy officer.
Qureshi, who starts that job effective Nov. 6, will succeed Roy Chestnutt, who had previously announced plans to pursue interests outside Verizon and is expected to leave the company by year-end. Chestnutt had joined Verizon in 2011 from Motorola.
Qureshi will report to Verizon chair and CEO Lowell McAdam, and will take over responsibility for development and implementation of Verizon's overall corporate strategy, including business development and strategic investments, the company said.
Prior to becoming president and CEO of Ericsson North America in 2016, Qureshi was Ericsson's chief strategy officer and head of M&A.
Qureshi, who joined Ericsson in 1993, is currently on the board of MasterCard Inc. and Great West Lifco. She earned her undergraduate and master's degrees from McGill University in Montreal.
"We thank Roy for his leadership and strategic focus, which have helped transform Verizon into a major player in next-generation markets," McAdam said, in a statement. “The addition of Rima is another game-changer for Verizon. She's a visionary leader, with a global perspective and a thorough understanding of our industry and where it's headed."
