John Harrington
- President & CEO
- Nokia Japan
- www.nokia.com/ja_jp
Date of birth: Aug. 4, 1969
Hometown: Swindon, England
Number of years in Japan (cumulative): Less than 1 (as of October 2018)

I noticed that people take pride in their work, are conscientious and loyal. Business etiquette is very professional, polite and punctual. The workplace, like the city, is very well organized. I’m very impressed with public transportation system and how easy it is to move around the city.
“He who dares wins.” I have chosen this because it reflects an entrepreneurial spirit of taking risks. Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. I’ve worked in Europe, North and South America and now Asia and I’m grateful for the opportunities and experiences I’ve encountered by daring to take on new challenges.
I’m proud to have secured 3G and 4G LTE network contracts with AT&T. These contracts led to considerable business for Nokia and created many new jobs. I feel proud to have developed and won the business. After the 3G award, I relocated my family from the U.K. to Atlanta to manage the customer team for several years. It was a professional and personal adventure.
I want to make Nokia the employer of choice in telecommunications in Japan. I want to foster an environment of innovation and creativity where people share their ideas and collaborate. By 2020, I want our workplace to improve our efficiency and productivity by 20 percent. I would like to create a legacy of improving Nokia’s business and positioning the company for growth in the next generation of networks.
Respect the culture and etiquette, and don’t try to cut too many corners or impose a completely new style. Raise your emotional intelligence, understand nonverbal communication, read body language and appreciate the integrity of doing business in Japan. Earn respect with honesty, humility and by listening to your employees and customers.