Ericsson Shakes Up Its Management

Sweden’s Ericsson, a leader in wireless technology, announced sweeping changes in its management structure as it changes its approach to customer service to face an international market downturn.

The company, which has been especially hard hit in its cell phone division, named Per-Arne Sandstroem to the new role of chief operating officer in charge of a revised product and service structure based on five units for large global customers.

The global customer units will be focused on five large customers: Vodafone, France Telecom, Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica and TIM, and the unit heads will report directly to Chief Executive Kurt Hellstroem, the company said.