Telenor names DNA CEO as head of new Nordic cluster

Telenor has named Jukka Leinonen, the CEO of Finnish cable and telecom operator DNA, as head of its new Nordic cluster following its acquisition of the Finnish company earlier this year.

Jukka Leinonen

Leinonen will be part of Telenor’s Group Executive Management and assume the role of chair of Telenor Sweden and Telenor Denmark, in addition to retaining his responsibilities as CEO of DNA in Finland.

Leinonen has worked at DNA since 2010, joining as Senior Vice President, Corporate Business before being appointed CEO of DNA in 2013. From 2002-2009 he held various senior management positions in corporate business sales, marketing and product management at TeliaSonera.

Telenor currently owns 97.87% of DNA following its mandatory tender offer. The group initiated a Nordic cluster reorganisation in the wake of the acquisition and the departure of Morten Karlsen Sørby, EVP and acting head of Telenor’s previous Scandinavia cluster.

As part of Telenor’s reorganisation, Telenor Norway CEO Petter-Børre Furberg will as of November 1 join the group executive management in addition to being part of the collaborative work and innovation within the new Nordic cluster.

Furberg has previously been a member of group executive mnanagement in his roles as cluster head for emerging Asia and CEO of Telenor Myanmar.

“Jukka Leinonen is a well reputed telco leader with more than 30 years in the ICT industry. He has been instrumental in making DNA into the successful business it is today. The position of DNA and its continuous growth is truly impressive. Leinonen’s growth mindset and experience from the highly digital Finnish market is perfect for leading the new Nordic cluster and for joining Telenor Group’s management,” says Sigve Brekke, President & CEO, Telenor Group.

“I am honoured to head the new Nordic cluster and look forward to further developing Telenor Group’s position in the region through strengthened collaboration between the Nordic Telenor companies. I see great potential for value creation, for instance better roaming for customers, developing the B2B segment in the cluster, 5G and IoT,” says Leinonen.