HMD Global, maker of Nokia devices, loses its CEO

The Nokia 3310 gets reimagined under HMD Global

Ahead of the rumoured release of a new Nokia device (the Nokia 8), HMD Global, the company who makes Nokia-branded phones, just lost its CEO in a rather abrupt exit. According to HMD, the parting with former CEO Arto Nummela is based on a “mutual agreement.” Not much else was said except it comes at a weird time when HMD has started to build up momentum for the new Nokia devices. Nummela will be temporarily replaced by current President and founder Florian Seiche while the company looks for a new CEO.

Source: Android Central

Netflix’s long-time product chief leaves the company

Neil Hunt, Netflix’s long-time chief product officer, is stepping down from his post after 18 years with the company. After joining the company in 1999, he has led the development and launch of Netflix’s streaming service back in 2007. And he as even led development efforts from Netflix’s office in Tokyo since 2015. Hunt will be replaced by Greg Peters, who has been with Netflix for the past nine years. “Greg and Neil have collaborated through the years to make the Netflix experience all over the world absolutely incredible,” Netflix CEO Reed Hastings says in a statement. “I look forward to having Greg take on this role and to celebrate with Neil our 100 millionth member.”

At the same time, Netflix’s Chief Talent Officer Tawni Cranz will also be leaving the company to “pursue other interests.” Netflix hasn’t said who will replace Cranz. Hastings comments, “Over the last decade, Tawni has played a formative role in developing our business culture as well as developing an amazing talent team. We deeply appreciate her contributions.”

Source: Variety

Google’s chief game designer leaves the company in hopes of designing games again

Looks like Google’s Chief Game Designer Noah Falstein still has some unfulfilled goals he wants to pursue. Falstein has announced his resignation from the tech giant after “the opportunity to actually build the big, consequential game” had “failed to materialize.” He was hired back in 2013 when Google was still the parent company for game developer Niantic, which just released the game Ingress a year before. He seemed to have fit right in, bringing in over 30 years of game development and design experience to the company.

But following the restricting in 2015 when Google became Alphabet, Niantic became an independent company. And Google hasn’t really focused on those “big, consequential games” Falstein wanted to make. He hasn’t announced any future plans yet but with his experience, we won’t be surprised if we see him soon.

Source: Android Central

HTC’s lead designer resigns from post less than a year after predecessor

There seems to be a pattern when it comes to HTC these days. Shortly after the M9 release, HTC’s Vice President of Industrial Design Jonah Becker steps down from his post. Last year after the release of M8, Scott Croyle, the former lead designer, also resigned from the position. Becker and Croyle were part of One & Co., a company HTC purchased in 2008. Becker will be replaced by another former colleague of his in One & Co., Daniel Hundt. Let’s hope he sticks around.

Source: Android Police